Scaling the Dragon's Back was written to raise awareness and continue fundraising for Dementia UK, Admiral Nurses.
Dementia UK say there are more carers of those living with some form of dementia than caring for those living with cancer or heart problems combined.
This startling statistic is why Dementia UK need your help and support more Admiral Nurses are needed. Whilst the number of Admiral Nurses continues to grow, there are now 144 working in the UK, many more are needed.
There are currently 800,000 people today living with dementia in the UK, many of whom are cared for by loved ones, friends and other important people in their lives. In the UK alone it is estimated 1,000,000 people will be diagnosed with dementia in the UK by 2025, which means many more will be thrust into the role of becoming a family carer.
The north of England, Manchester, has only just got its first Admiral Nurse who is working in acute care, one of only four Admiral Nurses working in acute care. You can read more about this important development in dementia care services by clicking on the following ITV news link: http://www.itv.com/news/2015-
What do Dementia UK, Admiral Nurses Do?
Research has found 4 out of 10 carers of those living with dementia suffer depression. The University College London (UCL) has published survey results based on a
number of studies around the world, which found 40% of people looking after
loved ones with dementia are clinically depressed or suffering from
anxiety. Professor Gill Livingston said "caring for a relative
with Dementia can be particularly taxing because of the length of the illness
and its nature."
Admiral
Nurses can support families from the point of diagnosis to post bereavement.
They are able to work with families who have complex needs and provide
specialist support and advice, giving families the knowledge to understand the
condition and its effects, and the skills to improve communication and
behaviours. They also provide specialist emotional and psychological support through periods of difficulty in the
dementia journey when carers are under the most stress and in danger of
suffering a breakdown e.g. at diagnosis; through physical and behavioural
changes; moving a loved one into residential care; during end of life care and
bereavement.
Living
with the effects of dementia can have a significant negative impact on the families’
mental health and well-being. Admiral Nurses work with both the person living
with dementia and the family carer, supporting family carers in the following
ways by;
- Focusing on the needs of the family carer developing coping strategies.
- Helping families better understand dementia developing skills to improve communication and cope with feelings of loss and bereavement as the condition deteriorates.
The help and support of an
Admiral Nurse is only a phone call away...
Dementia UK runs a national helpline,
Admiral Nursing Direct, that can be contacted on 0845 257 9406 or direct@dementiauk.org.
A common comment from those caring for dementia sufferers, most often but not exclusively, the partner of the dementia suffer, is that "no one visits anymore." Many friends and relatives say they prefer to remember the sufferer as they were before the onset of the illness. And no doubt it is emotionally challenging and painful to see someone they know, who probably now no longer recognises them 'alive on the outside but seemingly dead on the inside.' Many find it uncomfortable to sit in silence when a dementia suffer hardly speaks or when they are confused constantly repeating themselves, often their conversation making no sense. Friends of the carer find that conversation with their friend becomes impossible given the often disruptive behaviour of the sufferer, which is disturbing, and demands so much attention from the carer. Admiral Nurses are able to provide much needed advice and support to carers who often feel isolated and abandoned.
The following Dementia UK article explains why more Admiral Nurses are needed in acute care: http://www.dementiauk.org/
Can you help to develop the growth of the Admiral Nursing service make a direct donation to Dementia UK.
