Journal of Dementia and Mental Health
Care of Older People
Editorial -Dr Christina Maciejewski
A link nurse role for care homes - Kim Sweet
Attending a therapeutic group for people with dementia - Dr Rosslyn Offord
Amyloid-Beta Protein underlying memory deficits in ALzheimer's disease - Professor Kei Cho
What makes a difference in early dementia? - Gemma Budge
Dance movement psychotherapy - Dr Richard Coaten and Nicola Jacobson
Update on the Wales dementia care training initiative - The project team
Activity monitoring - supporting people with dementia in their own homes - Dr Celia Price
Music therapy in a day hospital - John Cheer
Maintaining function and well-being in later life -Catherine Macleod
Sixth anniversary with Alzheimer's - Barry Pankhurst
Support. Stay. Save - Chris Quince
About me - Dr Bernadette Fudge
Dementia Matters Training for employees in a residential home - Julya Jayne
Changing attitudes to dementia - Stephen Weeks
"Our House" press release - Rachael Litherland
Editorial
I hope you will agree with my thoughts that this edition of Signpost embraces all aspects of dementia care, from upcoming research, through examples of innovation and good practice to personal accounts of the experience of dementia.
On the research front, Catherine MacLeod describes the latest advances with the Cognitive Function in Ageing Studies (CFAS Wales and CFASII). This exciting work will include consideration of possible social network differences in relation to changes in cognitive impairment. I was intrigued by the research question of whether bilingualism may delay the onset of dementia. Is it a case of 'use it or lose it' or something more complex relating to the way the different languages are stored within the brain systems?
This edition also includes examples of service innovations. Kim Sweet describes a link nurse role for residential homes which has led to positive working relationships between residential home staff and nurses and a reduction in hospital admissions. Is this a service development that could be applied in your local area? Do you have an innovation in service delivery that you would like to share with other Signpost readers? Dr. Celia Price's article focuses on activity monitoring of people with dementia. We would welcome your thoughts on the practical benefits and ethical considerations accompanying the use of technological advances.
Focusing on therapeutic interventions for people with dementia it was inspiring to read about John Cheer's work with a lady with dementia where music offered a 'point of contact' and with a lady with depression, where music offered a boost to her sense of self worth.
From the perspective of the person living with dementia we have an article facilitated by Dr. Rosslyn Offord where Joyce and Peter describe their experience of Joyce attending a post-diagnostic support group for people with dementia. I was particularly struck by Joyce's comment 'I'll accept things because I know about them. If I don't know what's coming it's harder'. Dr. Offord reminds us of the dangers of deskilling and infantilising people with dementia in our sometimes misguided attempts to protect them.
Dr. Christina Maciejewski