Govt launches £50m dementia pilot scheme

THE HEALTH Secretary today announced a pilot scheme to create healthier environments for dementia patients in hospitals and care homes.

Jeremy Hunt gave details of the 116 hospitals and care homes across England which have been awarded with a share of a £50m fund to create new care programmes for those diagnosed with the condition.

One of the hospitals was the award winning dementia ward at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust, which received £955,490 to fund their holistic project Designing the Dementia Journey.

Hunt spoke about the importance of placing the needs of dementia patients first when designing new care environments.

He said: “We can encounter any number of places and spaces in one day, and yet for someone with advanced dementia even walking from one room to another can be difficult.

“This pilot scheme will form an important first step towards driving forward better care environments for people with dementia.”

He added: “Funding was awarded to projects that demonstrate how practical changes to the environment within which people with dementia are treated in will make a tangible improvement to their condition.”

The older person’s unit features a specially designed ward environment, with colour-coded bays and symbols to help patients remember their way back to their bed.

Patients with dementia are given blue wristbands so staff can easily identify them, and are served food on red meal trays so that staff know these patients need extra help with eating and drinking.

There an estimated 25,000 people from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups in England and Wales living with dementia.

By 2051 it has been predicted the number of BME with dementia will rise to over 170,000 by 2051.

Health experts have argued that there is lack of awareness of the condition among black and minority ethnics and not enough provisions for support.

Source The Voice