Can an EASYcare based dementia training programme to improve diagnostic assessment and management of dementia - RCT

   Can an EASYcare based dementia training programme to improve diagnostic assessment and management of dementia by general practitioners and primary care nurses? The design of a randomised controlled trial, BMC Health Services Research 2008, 8:71 doi:10.1186/1472-6963-8-71
For the full-text of this article please click on the Title above
Abstract:
Early diagnosis of dementia benefits both patient and [...]

Elderly - NHS Choices story on whether limb length affects dementia risk

NHS Choices story on whether limb length affects dementia risk, NLH, May 2008
“Longer limbs ‘mean less risk of dementia’” reads the headline in The Guardian today. It goes on to report that a study in the US followed 2,798 people, with an average age of 72, over a period of five years. It found that [...]

Court of Appeal ruling on NICE guidance on the use of Alzheimer’s drugs

 
Court of Appeal ruling on NICE guidance on the use of Alzheimer’s drugs ,2nd May 2008, NeLM, Nice Guidance & BBC news   

Abstract: BBC Health news reports that the Court of Appeal has ruled that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) should have been more transparent in the way it made decisions over Alzheimer’s [...]

Dementia Care - 4 Part special from British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing

   Care for the person with dementia, 1: The meaning of symptoms and memory loss  Kirsty Beart , British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, Vol. 3, Iss. 12, 14 Dec 2007, pp 568 - 574
Abstract: The aim of this series of articles is to provide a resource for helping individuals live with dementia. The traditional view [...]

Dysphagia - Administring Medication to people with dementia

Administering medication to people with dementia, Linda Nazarko
Nursing & Residential Care, Vol. 10, Iss. 1, 19 Dec 2007, pp 622 - 625
Abstract: Dementia related swallowing problems can result in difficulties in medication administration. Linda Nazarko explains how a problem solving approach can prevent nurses using covert medication.
Concealing medication in food and drink can [...]

Managing depression among older people in care homes

Managing depression among older people in care homes, Charles Morris, Amanda Thompsell
Nursing & Residential Care, Vol. 10, Iss. 3, 20 Feb 2008, pp 145 - 148
Abstract: Charles Morris and Amanda Thompsell discuss the management of depression in their concluding article on depression among older people in care homes. Drug-based treatment, psychological therapies and [...]

Recognizing depression in older adults in care homes

Recognizing depression in older adults in care homes, Amanda Thompsell
Nursing & Residential Care, Vol. 10, Iss. 2, 16 Jan 2008, pp 95 - 97
Abstract: In the first of two articles on depression in older adults, Amanda Thompsell discusses the prevalence of depression in care homes, and the importance of recognizing the clinical features and [...]

Living on the Edge: enabling older owner occupiers with moderate learning disabilities to live independently

  Living on the Edge: enabling older owner occupiers with moderate learning disabilities to live independently, Care and Repair, 15th April 2008
Abstract:
National housing charity, Care & Repair England, is calling for a radical change in the way that older people are dealt with if their homes degenerate into chaos.
 In a hard hitting report, ‘Living [...]

Dysphagia - Best practice guideline for medication-related dysphagia

  Best practice guideline for medication-related dysphagia, Nursing & Residential Care, Vol. 10, Iss. 4, 19 Mar 2008, pp 180 - 183
Abstract: Consensus guidance for managing dysphagia has been developed to reflect the problems that nurses and care staff encounter when managing the growing numbers of residents who have difficulties swallowing their medication.
For [...]

Nursing - Positive dementia care: taking perspective

  Positive dementia care: taking perspective, Nursing & Residential Care, Vol. 10, Iss. 4, April 2008, pp 184 - 187
Abstract: Clive Evers discusses the importance of understanding the needs of the person with dementia from the person’s perspective. Facilitating independence in completing tasks such as dressing and grooming can help maintain self-esteem.
For the full-text please email: [...]

Transforming Lives - Tackling Poverty and Promoting Independence and Dignity through Information and Advice

  Transforming Lives - Tackling Poverty and Promoting Independence and Dignity through Information and Advice, 11th April 2008, Age Concern
Abstract:  This report highlights the vital role played by information and advice services in tackling poverty, promoting dignity, and providing support for older people. It focuses particularly on the role services play in ensuring they claim [...]

Age Concern Campaign: The Price of No Advice

  Age Concern Campaign: The Price of No Advice, 11th April 2008, Age Concern
Age Concern have launched the campaign - The Price of No Advice - because older people are at risk of missing out on the support provided by independent, trusted information and advice services.
Although, as the new report ‘Transforming Lives’ shows, support from information and [...]

Occupational Therapy - The Care Home Activity Project: Does introducing an occupational therapy programme reduce depression in care homes?

  The Care Home Activity Project: Does introducing an occupational therapy programme reduce depression in care homes? Aging & Mental Health, Volume 11 Issue 1 January 2007 , pages 99 - 107
Abstract:
The primary aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that depression severity in care homes for older people would be [...]

SPARC - Research Studies on the Elderly

   Executive summaries of SPARC (Strategiec Promotion of Ageing Research Capacity) projects have been added to the library on falls, health and construction workers, and vision and physical activity in older people.      Research Studies,  Publisher: SPARC, April 2008
Click below for Full-text of the Research Studies
Mind Where You Walk! Older people’s vision and stepping
Modelling Health Systems: Delivering care [...]

Elderly - Improving Strength and Balance: Avoiding falls in later life

  Improving Strength and Balance: Avoiding falls in later life , 4th April 2008, QMUL, Patient Information
The site contains the following:

Some facts
Why falls occur
Consequences
Treatment and rehabilitation
What to do if you fall
Prevention
Printable factsheets
Test your knowledge
Local information

Document of the Week from NLH - The evidence base for palliative care at the end of life.

   Evidence-based interventions to improve the palliative care of pain, dyspnea and depression at the end of life.
Click on the links below for full-text
The evidence base for palliative care at the end of life.
The first paper is a clinical practice guideline and the second paper is a systematic review, providing the evidence for improving the [...]

Dementia - Top 10 Most Read Articles from - Dementia

   The Top 10 most read articles from the journal - Dementia
Some links below will take you straight through to full-text, for all others contact myself at the email address below.
How can occupational therapy improve the daily performance and communication of an older patient with dementia and his primary caregiver?: A case study, Dementia, 2006; [...]

Dementia - Using the Senses Framework to achieve relationship-centred dementia care services

   Using the Senses Framework to achieve relationship-centred dementia care services: A case example, Dementia, Vol. 7, No. 1, 71-93 (200  
Abstact:
This article describes the development of a new service for people with dementia and their carers in a large post-industrial city in the north of England, UK. The service arose in response to [...]

Dementia - Journal of Quality Research in Dementia

  Journal of Quality Research in Dementia, Issue 4, September 2007 , click on the link above for full-text:

Probing the mechanisms linking hypoxia with Alzheimer’s disease:
a key role for Ca2+ channels?

Chris Peers, John P Boyle, Jason L Scragg and Hugh A Pearson

Immunotherapy and Alzheimer’s disease

Rhian S Thomas, Emma J Kidd and J Eryl Liddell

Analysis [...]

The 10 Most Frequently Read Journal Articles from Evidence Based Mental Health Journal

   These articles have received the most “hits” in Evidence-Based Mental Health during February 2008
There will be some full-text and some abstracts, just click on the links to find, if you only locate an abstract please email susan.jennings@lancashirecare.nhs.uk to request the full-text.

1. 
Julie Glanville, Carol Lefebvre

Identifying systematic reviews: key resources

Evid. Based Ment. Health 2000; 3: 68-69.
(In [...]

Alzheimer’s - Videos from the Alzheimer’s Society

   Videos from the Alzheimer’s Society, March 2008, Alzheimer’s Society
Here you can find videos made by the Alzheimer’s Society and its supporters.
Videos include:

About My Grandparents

Malcolm and Barbara

Kal Ki Baat

My Voice

Dementia - Living with Dementia Magazine March 2008

  Living with Dementia Magazine March 2008, from the Magazine of the Alzheimer’s Society
Living with Dementia Magazine
March 2008

Life goes on
Partners in care
One day at a time
The helmet heading for success?

OT & Occupation - Experiences of People with Alzheimer’s Disease

   Awareness through interaction in everyday occupations: Experiences of people with Alzheimer’s disease, Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, Volume 15, Issue  2008 , pages 43 - 51
Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the characteristics of awareness of the consequences of having Alzheimer’s disease on everyday life occupations. Six community-dwelling participants [...]

OT - Creative Activity for Elderly People and Occupational Therapists

   Creating connections to life during life-threatening illness: Creative activity experienced by elderly people and occupational therapists,  Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, Volume 12, Issue 3 September 2005 , pages 98 - 109
Abstract:
Objective. The aim of this study was to discover and characterize components of engagement in creative activity as occupational therapy for elderly people [...]

OT - Activity Engagement for the Elderly

  Development of the Activity Card Sort — Australia,  2007, (Online Early Article) Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy,
Despite the growing interest in measuring activity engagement and evidence that engagement is beneficial, there are few tools available to measure or monitor engagement of older adults.
Abstract:
Aims: To develop the Activity Card Sort (ACS) — Australia as [...]

Personality Disorder in Older People: How common is it and what can be done?

  Personality disorder in older people: how common is it and what can be done? Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, Jan 2008; 14: 71 - 77.

Abstract:There has been little systematic study of personality disorders in older people s(65 years of age and above). However, with an ageing population worldwide we should expect to find increased numbers [...]

New Dementia Strategy

   National Dementia Strategy, 10th March 2008, Department of Health
National Dementia Strategy
The objectives of the project are to develop a national dementia strategy and implementation plan for publication in October 2008. The strategy will address three key themes – raising awareness, early diagnosis and intervention and improving the quality of care.
Improving services and support for [...]

Independent Living Strategy: A cross-government strategy about independent living for disabled people

  Independent Living Strategy:  A cross-government strategy about independent living for disabled people, 6th March 2008, Office for Disability Issues HM Government
Link from the Learning Disability Specialist Library - NLH
During July 2006, the Independent Living Review was set up to develop a five-year strategy for independent living.
The aim of the strategy is that:

disabled people, (including [...]

Information for Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech & Language Therapist, Nurses, GP’s - The professional’s guide to Parkinson’s Disease

   The professional’s guide to Parkinson’s Disease
The guide is written by experts from different professionals groups and is divided into eight sections, each tailored to the relevant discipline:
 dietician
 GP
 nurse
 occupational therapist
 pharmacist
 physiotherapist
 social worker
 speech and language therapist

For the Elderly - Your Guide to Healthy Living

  Your Guide to Healthy Living  26th February 2008, Age Concern
It is never too late to think about adopting a healthier lifestyle. Small changes can make a big difference to your health:

making you feel better
giving you more energy
helping you to sleep more soundly.