Tag Archives: Dementia

BUDI Orchestra Volunteering Opportunity

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BUDI-imageBU’s Dementia Institute (BUDI) are teaming up with professional musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to create a music group for people with dementia and their carers.

We are looking for up to 5 students to work alongside the musicians, to plan and run the workshops with people with dementia and their carers. You will support them to learn new instruments, sing and re-learn previous skills.

We’re looking for volunteers with a genuine interest in working with older people, and those who are able to commit to most, if not all, of the 8 weekly sessions. We also ask that individuals have some musical knowledge, either through singing or playing an instrument, as you will be supporting people to maintain rhythms and sing along to the music.

For more information about the project, please see our YouTube Video.

The workshops will run for 8 weeks, from Wednesday 4 February – Wednesday 25 March 2015, in the Student Hall, Talbot Campus. These rehearsals will culminate in a final performance on Friday 27 March, in the Atrium, Talbot Campus, to showcase the group’s efforts.

Previous volunteers have found this to be a fun experience that has helped them to gain confidence and communication skills.

For more information, and to volunteer, please contact Laura Reynolds: 01202 962546, or email lreynolds@bournemouth.ac.uk

Deadline for contact: 6 February 2015.

Disability History Month

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To highlight Disability Month, a number of events are being held across both campuses in December. 

Tuesday 9 December – ‘Dementia Friends’

People with dementia get by with a little help from their friends; and anybody can become a Dementia Friend. It’s just about understanding more about dementia and the small things you can do to help people with the condition.

Dementia Friends learn a little bit about what it’s like to live with dementia and turn that understanding into action. Come along to this session to become a friend and get a simple introduction to Dementia, and find out how you can help.

For full details and to book, please head to the Eventbrite page.

Wednesday 10 December – Exploring the use of video within social media

The use of video within social media is providing researchers with novel ways of publicising research findings. This is inspiring researchers to think outside of traditional academic approaches, and enabling research to extend to new and wide-ranging audiences.

This event focuses on the Living Well with Dementia project, which was designed to use video to raise awareness and challenge gaps in perceptions and understanding of dementia. The project involved filming and disseminating a video featuring people with dementia and carers talking about what it means to live well with dementia.

The finished video was uploaded to YouTube, with members of the public invited to complete a short survey to establish whether watching the video challenged their understanding of dementia.

For full details and to book, please head to the Eventbrite page.

Friday 12 December – Changing attitudes: Paralympian’s perspectives on disability

Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, there has been an increasing interest in the Paralympics, which resulted in the highest level of interest so far for London 2012, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The impact of the Paralympics and, in particular, London, suggests the games have had a positive impact and have helped improve public attitude towards disability within Britain.

At this event, three Paralympian’s –  Kate Grey, swimmer and Sky Sports Living for Sport Mentor/BBC sports reporter, Ben Rushgrove, sprinter and Lucy Shuker, tennis player – will share their reflections on disability.

For full details and to book, please head to the Eventbrite page.

Why revolutionising dementia technology deserves your Longitude Prize vote

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By Anthea Innes, Director, Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI)

The Longitude Prize is a challenge that offers £10m in prize money to help solve one of the greatest issues of our time. The public chooses the cause through a public vote and if a project then goes onto succeed, it wins the prize. Among the six categories this year, three cover health: paralysis, antibiotics and dementia. And it is the last of these that I think should get your vote.

The dementia challenge is to develop intelligent, yet affordable technologies that revolutionise care for people with dementia enabling them to live truly independent lives. The aim is to help people with dementia to live longer and better lives in their own homes.

Dementia is a public health challenge acknowledged by the World Health Organisation as well as by many individual county’s governments, including the UK with the launch of the Dementia Challenge. Dementia costs the UK more than stroke, heart disease and cancer put together, yet is has not been afforded the same research funding. While more has been made of it of late, it wasn’t until recently that it received much public attention.

Recent campaigns by Alzheimer Associations across the world have led to increased attention to the need to not only educate people about the signs and symptoms of dementia, the potential risk reduction strategies that we can employ, but also the need to approach the support of those living with dementia now in a more positive and proactive manner.

The creation of the BUDI orchestra is one way we have created the opportunity for people with dementia to learn (or relearn) musical instruments providing support to those living with dementia and their family carers. Music and singing has a positive effect in people with dementia, with music more ably recalled when there are memory problems, and here people not only come together to sing, but to play instruments and perform to the general public.

Technology already helping

Technology offers many potential opportunities for those living with dementia to live better, for longer and more independently. For example devices that support people with dementia to go out and about in their communities independently giving themselves and their families reassurance that they can be found using satnav technology to locate them, or a panic button if they need help. Other devices such as those that autocut gas supplies on cookers enable people with dementia to cook for longer. And memory devices that are activated when a person with dementia is about to leave the house reminding them to take their keys, purse or other items are also innovative and promote independence.

Equally people who work in a range of public settings, like shops, banks, buses, trains, leisure centres, as well as traditional health and social care settings like hospitals can all learn to adapt and improve their communication skills to enable people with dementia to live more active lives.

This is a critical aspect to consider as people with dementia require those around them to be aware that they might need a little longer to process information, that they may ask the same question again, that they may not understand complex questions and find it easier to have a complex question broken down into bite sized chunks. For example, rather than a supermarket worker saying “that’s £20 please, have you got a club card, and did you use any of your own bags, or did you only use ours?”, they could break the sentence into four chunks and wait for the response after each before moving on the next question.

Lives can be made better now

Small things can make a huge difference to people with dementia and their families as our recent footage from those living with dementia in Dorset demonstrates. Those with dementia and their family clearly articulate that it is possible to live well with dementia and to overcome or compensate for some of the difficulties dementia creates.

An estimated 135m people worldwide will have dementia by 2050. While scientists look for ways of curing or stopping the disease in its tracks – something that remains a considerable way away – it’s clear that supporting and improving the lives of those living with dementia now is just as important.

The need to include people with dementia in society at large is evident in promoting well-being and quality of life. It also offers us the opportunity to promote inter-generational engagement to help future generations understand about dementia, recognise the signs and symptoms and to reduce the fear and stigma that is often evident in general discourse that surrounds dementia.

Dementia is often presented as a health issue; although it can be dealt with in this way it is perhaps more fruitful to consider dementia as a social issue, a societal challenge that affects us all. One in three people over 65 will develop dementia and one in three people will know a person with dementia as a neighbour, friend or family member. Therefore dementia does already touch many, and this will grow as our population ages and people live for longer. Dementia is a true worldwide challenge and definitely deserving of the longitude vote.

The Conversation

Anthea Innes receives funding from a range of sources for her research including the NIHR, Bournemouth University, NHS Wessex, Bournemouth Borough Council, NHS Dorset, Brendon Care, Guild Care, Gracewell, TLC PLC, EU Erasmus Mundus, Alzheimer Society and NHS South of England.

This article was originally published on The Conversation.
Read the original article.

Public meeting to explore dementia-friendly care environments

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A public meeting organised by the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI) will explore how care home environments and designs can be dementia-friendly.

The free event, which is supported by charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, takes place on Wednesday May 14 at the Executive Business Centre on Holdenhurst Road.

It will run from 12pm until 4.30pm and features talks on dementia-friendly care environments, and ways people with dementia can be supported by the physical environments.

The event includes lunch and will be followed by a networking session with information stands and the opportunity to speak to dementia researchers.

Professor Anthea Innes, Director of BUDI, said: “Following the success of our last two annual public open meetings – the first on diagnosis and the second on care homes – BUDI is hosting our third annual public open meeting to provide anyone who is interested in dementia-friendly environments the chance to come along, hear some interesting presenters and to share their ideas and experiences.”

Researchers from the Alzheimer’s Research UK South Coast Network will also attend the meeting to tell the public about their research into the causes of Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “This public meeting is a fantastic opportunity for people to learn more about dementia care, as well as hear about the ground-breaking research taking place into dementia in their region.

“We would encourage anyone wanting to know more to come along, listen to what is being done to tackle the condition and have their questions answered in an informal and friendly environment.”

Although the event is free, places must be booked in advance by visiting http://bit.ly/1hDOJuF or calling BUDI on 01202 962771.

Find out more about the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute

Anthea Innes talks to BBC Radio Solent about carers

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The Director of the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute Professor Anthea Innes discussed on the Steve Harris show on BBC Radio Solent, the issue of overstretched carers providing 15 minute visits to patients.

Innes suggested 15 minutes would not even provide enough communication and social contact time between carers and patients and by doing so people’s basic care needs are not being taken into account.

Steve Harris highlighted the increasing drive for people to be treated at home. Innes replied saying “most people would rather stay in their own homes for as long as possible which is still a cheaper option than hospital or nursing home treatments.”

Innes implied change is needed by describing the situation as “a square peg in a round hole. There isn’t the supply of carers to give people what they want and need”.

By Peter Blackhall
2nd Year Student at Bournemouth University, BA Public Relations

Portrait and postcard exhibition at BU to give voice to people with dementia

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An innovative exhibition created by the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI) and artist Derek Eland will give a voice to people with dementia.

(Don’t) Mention Dementia is an immersive pictorial exhibition, featuring hand–written postcards and portrait pictures.

A diary room approach was used to capture the honest and emotional stories of nearly 600 Dorset residents about dementia, and the views of those living with dementia about their experiences.

The exhibition follows on from Derek’s ground–breaking work with soldiers and civilians on the front line in Afghanistan, and reveals the gap in perception between those who live with dementia and the general public.

Professor Anthea Innes, Director of BUDI, said: “Whilst the work was undertaken in Dorset, the response and the messages is universal from those living with dementia, family members, carers and members of the general public, with the postcards and pictures acting as an innovative voice to express their fears, their concerns and their hopes for the future.”

(Don’t) Mention Dementia will be on display at Kimmeridge House, on Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus, from 10am on Monday 3 June.

The exhibition will be closed by broadcaster and Alzheimer’s Society ambassador Angela Rippon on Thursday 13 June at 12.30pm.

She said she was looking forward to seeing it.

“As an Alzheimer’s Society ambassador, I know how important it is to challenge the stereotypes surrounding dementia,” she said.

“That’s why projects like this are so important in showing the public the real face of dementia, the person behind the diagnosis.”

(Don’t) Mention Dementia has received support from The Alzheimer’s Society, Age UK, Brandon Care Homes and local community groups and businesses in Dorset.

It has already attracted international interest, and is also due to be displayed in Malta in October 2013.

The (Don’t) Mention Dementia exhibition is free to visit, and takes place as part of BU’s Festival of Learning. To find out more visit the Festival of Learning page.

Find out more about Bournemouth University Dementia Institute

BU Dementia Institute meeting looks at care homes and dementia

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Issues around care homes and dementia were explored at an open meeting held by the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI).

BUDI aims to support those providing care, through research, service evaluation and education, and the meeting was attended by key stakeholders from across the area – including health professionals and care home providers.

Titled Care Homes: Raising the Standards, the meeting discussed the difficulties faced by many care homes, and considered ways to improve care practices and the quality of life for people with dementia.

Around 70 per cent of those living in care homes will have dementia, and around one third of people with dementia will need to live in a care home at some point.

Professor Anthea Innes, Director of BUDI, said that the idea for the topic came from requests following the Institute’s launch event last year.

She said: “Dementia causes some distinct challenges to care home providers because of the complexity of the care needs, so the idea is to bring people together who are interested in improving their care provision.

“It’s really encouraging to see people wanting to improve the services that they offer to people with dementia.”

She added: “We’ve got a long way to go – there’s lots of training and development work that needs to be done and general awareness-raising about good dementia care, but hopefully we’ve kick-started a discussion.”

Speakers at the meeting included Associate Director of BUDI Michelle Board, who talked about the importance of staff development in care homes, and Dr Jane Murphy, Framework Leader for Health Sciences at BU, who discussed the nutritional needs of dementia patients.

She said: “Food is a very powerful way of understanding that person and using that to provide the best quality of care and ensure that their nutritional needs are met.

“It has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia.”

Janet Pitt, a compliance inspector from the Care Quality Commission spoke about standards and the inspection of care homes, before a panel discussion which featured representatives from care homes and dementia charities.

Professor Gail Thomas, Dean of the School of Health and Social Care, opened the meeting.

She said: “In the School of Health and Social Care, our mission is to make people’s lives better and the work of BUDI is instrumental in helping us to achieve that.”

Find out more about Bournemouth University Dementia Institute

BU experts talk on ageing society

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BU’s Health and Social Care experts were in demand this week as a Lords committee announced that the UK is “woefully underprepared” for the social and economic challenges presented by an ageing society.

The committee said “the gift of longer life” could lead to “a series of crises” in public service provision, and Keith Brown, from BU’s National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work, and Anthea Innes, from BU’s Dementia Institute, were on hand to tell radio listeners what this could mean for their respective industries.

Speaking to Julian Clegg on BBC Radio Solent’s Breakfast show (and tying in nicely with the morning show’s biscuit theme), Keith Brown said, “I wonder whether listeners see the NHS as a tough ginger nut or a crumbling cookie at the moment.”

Keith continued, “One of the things that is often missing on these reports is that the majority of the elderly in our society have always been cared for by their family. We really need to think about how we are going to support people to care for the elderly in their own community.”

The conversation moved on to the subject of paying for all of the expertise needed, with Keith stating, “We have got to get some sort of stability in the system. We in society need an honest debate about how we value the elderly in our society and how are we going to care for them.”

Anthea Innes, Director of Bournemouth University’s Dementia Institute, was asked to comment on the same story for local radio station Wave 105. Anthea spoke about the pressure that will be put on dementia carers with the rise in elderly people.

She stated that, “Dementia has more of a financial burden than cancer on the NHS already” and that the financial burden would only get heavier as the number of elderly people increases.

For more information about the work of the National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work you can visit their website.

For more information about BUDI you can visit BUDI’s web pages.