Research and lived experience expertise from the School of Health and Medical Sciences contributed to a new report launched today by the Welsh Government.
Gill Windle, Professor of Ageing and Dementia Research and Chris Roberts, Honorary Lecturer and living with dementia are members of the Welsh Government Dementia Oversight Implementation and Impact Group (DOIIG). The group informs and monitors progress against the Wales Dementia Action Plan, and has been meeting regularly throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The new report sets out priorities over the next 12 months for strengthening dementia care and support in Wales in light of the impact of Covid-19, which acutely affects some of the most vulnerable members of society, including those people living with dementia and their families. The priorities include:
- Brain health and risk reduction
- Getting a timely diagnosis
- Post diagnostic therapeutic interventions/rehabilitation
- Support for care homes
- Improved hospital care
- Palliative care
- Empowering community action
- Supporting carers
- Learning and development for professional and family carers
- Research
Professor Gill Windle said: “Despite progress in the global response to dementia, a recent report by the World Health Organisation highlights how the world is ‘failing to address the dementia challenge’, with dementia being the 7th leading cause of death world-wide. Although we still have considerable progress to make, Wales is one of only a quarter of countries worldwide that have a national policy, strategy or plan for supporting people with dementia and their families.”
WG confirmed the document will be published on their website on Tuesday, 21st September 2021 alongside a short video that the Deputy Minister will be recording to coincide with the launch of this document. This video will be posted on Twitter on Tuesday and the script made available on the webpage and they ask for this to be shared following publication.
Notes: Membership of the DOIIG, which is chaired by the Welsh Government, includes representation from health boards, people with lived experience of dementia, Social Care Wales, Alzheimer’s Society, Older People’s Commissioners office, academia, Welsh Therapies Advisory Committee and the Association of Directors for Social Services.
Report here: https://gov.wales/dementia-action-plan-strengthening-provision-response-covid-19-html