A new report released today by Red & Yellow Care in partnership with The Alzheimer’s Society highlights that timely diagnosis, increased public awareness and improved flexibility of care need to be addressed to help pave the way for a good life with dementia.

The new report coincides with the launch of Red & Yellow Care, a new service which uniquely offers specialist, integrated dementia care that is centred around, and is tailored to the person with dementia.

The report explores what a ‘good life’ with dementia could look like and shows that currently diagnosis is often drawn out and can be needlessly stressful. What happens after diagnosis was also highlighted as being remarkably variable. Experts interviewed in the report agree that there is a need for better post-diagnostic care and support.

Arguably the single biggest barrier to achieving a good life with dementia is the acceptance and understanding of the experience of dementia in the wider community. To overcome the loneliness, alienation and segregation currently felt by many people the report states that it is imperative that dementia is accepted as a ‘new normal’, just one more of the many challenges faced by people across all walks of life. It also calls for individuals with dementia to be treated as people and not to be feared or kept ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

Additional research of members of the public commissioned to support the report backs this up by showing

that 43% of people do not think you can live a good life if you have dementia and 65% of people are scared that they or a family member will get dementia.

Unsurprisingly, there is a strong desire from individuals with dementia to remain in their own homes and to be looked after by a loved one. Yet some carers can struggle to adapt to the changing needs of their loved ones, and few have the specialist expertise to ensure that individuals receive the highest quality care at every step of their dementia journeys.

The report outlines a six-part framework for enabling a ‘good life’ with dementia – one rooted in universal notions of identity, happiness and fulfillment:

• How to better support people with dementia to maintain their sense of uniqueness and personal identity (Respecting identity: ‘It’s not one size fits all’)
• Achieving the right balance between memory-based activities and enjoying the here and now (Embracing now: ‘It’s a moment-living life’)
• Ensuring people with dementia are able to experience meaningful human connections (Sustaining relationships: ‘ You don’t always need words’)
• Ensuring people with dementia are able to experience a full range of emotions (Valuing contrast: ‘Good days and bad days’)
• Taking risks – what are we protecting people with dementia from? (Supporting agency: ‘What’s there to worry about?’)
• Promoting good overall health with those who are living with dementia including physical and emotional wellbeing (Maintaining health: ‘My priority in life’) 

Red & Yellow Care commissioned the report to better understand the impact of dementia on the individual, their family and carers. The right clinical care can make a big difference, but few people with dementia receive the care they need; it can be difficult to access or is completely fragmented. Red & Yellow Care was set up to overcome this fragmentation and provide high quality clinical care and support. They are a group of dementia specialists who believe in providing the quality of care that we would all want for ourselves and our loved ones.

The Red & Yellow Care team of dementia experts have ignored the status quo and designed the ideal scenario; a care system that revolves around the individual. This is delivered by providing patients with a named dementia nurse, who is supported by a fully integrated, multi-professional healthcare team. Red & Yellow Care provide a common-sense solution to a complex problem via their:

• Diagnostic Service
• Post-Diagnostic Care & Support Service

To find out more check out their web site at

www.redandyellowcare.com

BACKGROUND AND REGIONAL INFORMATION 

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,347 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th – 27th February 2014.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

43% of people in the UK do not think it is possible to live a good life if you have dementia. 

65% of people in the UK are scared that they or a family member will get dementia.