Issue - meetings

To receive an overview of dementia services and support in B&NES including information on the Alzheimer’s Social Care campaign.

10.40am – 15 mins – Chris Atkinson and Ben Stevens (Alzheimer’s Society)

The Board received a presentation from representatives of the Alzheimer’s Society which provided an overview of dementia services and support available in the B&NES area.  The presentation covered the following matters:

·  Information regarding the Alzheimer’s Society

·  Dementia statistics in Bath and North East Somerset – the diagnosis rate in the area is 61.9% which is well below the target set by NHS England (66.7%) and below the West of England average (67.3% and the South West average (62.2%)

·  The percentage of residential care and nursing home beds rating as good or outstanding is only just over half as compared with 62.4% across the South West region.

·  The Alzheimer’s Society delivers many services and projects to help people with dementia in the B&NES area.  There are a number of support workers who aim to eradicate the social isolation for those people with dementia.

·  Local Authorities have a great impact on the experience of residents with dementia and it was noted that B&NES Council has made a commitment to becoming more dementia friendly.

·  There are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this number is set to rise to 1 million by 2021.

·  The Government is due to release a Green Paper over the summer and this provides an opportunity to affect the future of social care in the UK.  The Alzheimer’s Society will be campaigning to ensure it reflects the needs of people with dementia.

The following issues were then discussed:

·  Tracey Cox stated that the CCG is working to improve diagnosis figures in line with NHS targets.

·  James Scott pointed out that the RUH undertakes a lot of work with the Alzheimer’s Society and the Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE) including research regarding dementia.  This is an important issue for the RUH which is aiming to become the most dementia friendly hospital in the country.  With the increasing age expectancy this will become more and more important.

·  Steve Kendall reported that the police service has contact with a growing number of people suffering from dementia.  More training in this area would be welcomed by the Police Service.

·  It was noted that “dementia friends” can help to give confidence when interacting with people with dementia.

·  Jane Shayler stated that the Council is aware of the below average number of care home beds which were rated as good or outstanding and informed the Board that action is being taken to improve this.  This statistic could be linked to the high cost of living in the B&NES area which in turn leads to rising staffing costs and recruitment difficulties.  The Council is working closely with the Care Quality Commission on this issue.

·  It was noted that the Alzheimer’s Society can provide courses for staff working in care homes.

RESOLVED: To note the information provided in the report and presentation.