03 Dec 2010
Chairing the first national "Dementia and Sight Loss conference" in London, Baroness Sally Greengross will announce that two per cent of people over 75 will have both conditions. They face double the burden when performing simple tasks like going to the toilet or moving around, and with perception.
The conference brings together 100 professionals in the fields of dementia and sight loss to improve awareness, policy and practice for people with dementia and sight loss. It is one initiative of the Dementia and Sight Loss Interest Group (DASLIG), an alliance of charities, including Alzheimer's Society, leading work to raise awareness as the number of people with both dementia and sight increases.
Clive Evers, Head of Professional Liaison at Alzheimer's Society, says,
'The needs of people with dementia and sight loss are poorly recognised and not adequately addressed. Professionals in the field of dementia lack knowledge about sight loss and sight loss professionals are not equipped to deal with dementia. Nor do they actively communicate with each other. The impact is 100,000 people who have to deal with two of the most challenging conditions.'
Graham Doggett, who has dementia and problems with his vision, says,
'You fall over and do all sorts of funny things. If I go to the loo there's a good chance I'll go into the women's because of the stylised signs. There are so many mirrors I'll think there are lots of people in the room. But we've got a Radar key, which gives us access to disabled toilets so we can go into a simple situation like this and cope with it.'
Hilary Dyce cares for her mother who has vascular dementia and sight loss. She says,
'There is still a lack of joined up thinking and communication between different departments and services. In mum's case: the falls clinic, the eye clinic and the elderly care team. This has been hugely frustrating and upsetting.'
The conference will hear research from leading expert Professor Sube Bannerjee followed by people with both conditions and their carers speaking powerfully about their experiences. Leaders in the care home and skills regulatory sectors will also speak of the need to improve and change practice.
Notes
*Dementia and serious sight loss by Prof. Roy Jones and Dr Richard Trigg. Thomas Pocklington Trust Occasional Paper February 2007 No.11.
About The Dementia and Sight Loss Interest Group
- The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Alzheimer's Society and Thomas Pocklington Trust formed the Dementia and Sight Loss Interest Group as part of VISION 2020 UK. The Group's formation was triggered by the growing realisation that, although large numbers of people with dementia also have problems with vision and visual perception, awareness of the particular difficulties faced by those affected by both conditions is very low.
Aims of the Dementia and Sight Loss Interest Group:
- To improve the lives of people affected by dementia and sight loss.
- To develop and promote a better understanding of the issues facing people affected by dementia and sight loss.
- To support and influence initiatives around dementia and sight loss, initially at Alzheimer's Society, RNIB and Thomas Pocklington Trust but over time among policy makers and practitioners.
- To develop and disseminate materials, resources and tools that contributes to good practice.
The Group's focus is on issues relating to the concurrence of loss of vision and dementia. This includes issues of visual perception that may be related to dementia and issues related to eye conditions, such as cataracts.
Activities:
- The group organises and contributes to seminars and conferences about dementia and sight loss.
- It has launched a microsite which can be found here to support the growing number of organisations and individuals with an interest in concurrent dementia and sight loss and create a community of practice meeting place.
- Responds to enquiries from individuals and professionals about dementia and sight loss.
Source:
Alzheimer's Society
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/210005.php
