Spotlight on dementia

Throughout the summer and autumn of 2015 Healthwatch Hampshire embarked on a large scale outreach project looking into the experiences of people living with dementia, their families, carers and professionals. The evidence gathered on our database of feedback strongly indicated that people living with dementia and their families were finding it difficult to access the support they required, particularly as the disease progressed and increased pressure is faced by family members who provide care.

The findings in the report relate to key themes around signposting to support after diagnosis, information about financial support and inconsistency of care in the home.

Healthwatch Hampshire recommend one point of access for signposting and support information. Healthwatch feel that the best placed organisations to do this is the Dementia Advisor Service (DAS). Patients should be referred at diagnosis to their local DAS who will have access to all local services and information about relevant financial support. This should be done via e-mail or telephone so that they can make contact with the patient and follow up on progress. All new health and social care settings commissioned, built or re-designed should consider the needs of patients with dementia and become ‘dementia friendly’. If a setting is suitable and accessible for someone with dementia then it is very likely to be accessible for everyone else. All staff who come into contact with people living with dementia should have adequate awareness training. Healthwatch Hampshire would recommend that all commissioners encourage GP surgeries to become dementia friendly. The iSPACE model is a good example of how this could be achieved but other options are available.