'Dementia Policy - the National Picture', Theresa Douglas

Our speaker, Theresa Douglas is a qualified nurse, Leadership Consultant & Project Leader - Dementia, in NHS Scotland.

The Scottish Government made dementia a national priority in 2007, producing various strategy papers resulting in the publication of Scotland’s Second National Dementia Strategy in 2013.

Of course, dementia is a sensitive and challenging area and it is recognised that most people have had some degree of contact with it over the years. The increase in life expectancy clearly has an impact on the numbers as it is generally, but by no means exclusively, something that happens to older people. Yet there are those with diagnosed dementia who are not old and who continue to work for many years. And there is not just one type of the disease but at least one hundred versions (e.g. vascular dementia, alcohol related dementia) and each diagnosis is very individual.

Theresa made one statement that will stick in the mind - one in three will develop the disease! Two videos were screened explaining aspects of dementia - the death of part of the brain with the symptom focus on memory - age-associated memory or dementia caused memory loss.

The Scottish strategy is to promote excellence in dementia practice throughout the many health boards and a host of partnerships including families and carers. In simple terms, services and support and giving choices to those with the disease.

Three of the key outcomes for the strategy which emerged as priorities are:

- good quality of life at home for longer

- dementia-enabled and dementia-friendly local communities (clearly illustrated by one of Theresa’s videos showing three Before and After scenarios)

- better post-diagnostic support for people with dementia and their families

Theresa explained that there are now a plethora of educational resources including the role of ‘dementia champion’ who is targeted to change perception, behaviour and language. Allied to all that is being done in the expanded health sector is the rising profile of dementia in the media, film and television (including characters in TV soaps).

Finally we learned of the Dementia Friendly Community Initiative being promoted in local areas.

Following a Q&A session the Club’s Vote of Thanks was given by Fraser Marshall.

Report by Ian Greig