Journal of Dementia and Mental Health
Care of Older People
Editorial -Dr Christina Maciejewski
Foreword -Dr Simon O'Donovan
Reflections on establishing and delivering a dementia advisor service - Lorraine Cullen and Jenny La Fontainet
Music and poetry for those with dementia - Dr Jim Ellis
Cognitive stimulation therapy group - pamela Noble
Dementia: Enriching life with creative expression - Claire Ford
Development of Physiotherapy guidance for people with Huntington's disease- Lori Quinn and Monica Busse
Huntington's disease conference reflections - Dr Christina Maciejewski, Dr Delyth Alldrick and Dr Rachel Brewer
'In your mind's eye' - using art in the assessment of dementia -Phil Thomas
The use of GPS tracking in Alzheimer's disease -KERUVE
Achieving a culture of person-centred dementia care in acute hospitals - Jo Crossland and Professor Murna Downs
Update on the training initiative Wales
Book reviews
About me - Del Payne
News and web - Pia Pulkkinen and Lucy Young
Signpost update
Editorial
As I write this editorial I am reflecting on the changes in the field of mental healthcare over the last 24 years that Signpost has been in production and the challenges for the future. I believe this edition of Signpost ably reflects many of the current exciting areas for future development. The issue includes an article by Lorraine Cullen and Jenny LaFontaine describing the role of the Dementia Care Adviser in Worcestershire. Whereas these posts have been in development for a little while in England they have only recently been introduced in Wales and we have yet to see their full potential.
We also have two articles exploring how arts and creativity can be used to aid assessment and also enrich the lives of people living with dementia. Claire Ford describes, among other experiences, the inspiration she gained whilst a Churchill fellow visiting the programme at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Phil Thomas describes the collaborative arts project entitled 'In Your Mind's Eye' which aims to bring professionals from the nursing and artistic worlds together to add to the body of knowledge about the assessment of patients with dementia. Both these articles describe the role that the arts can play for people with dementia and emphasise what can be achieved once we open' our minds to potential.
We also include an article by Pamela Noble in which she describes a local cognitive stimulation group and goes on to describe how the group members have gained in confidence and enthusiasm as the group has progressed and jelled. What struck me overall about this article is that the author was describing a group of people enjoying themselves and making the most of life.
I was particularly drawn to a quote from Anne Basting in Claire Ford's article
'Alzheimer's is a hundred year old myth that is over the hill. The entire scientific, technological and political framework needs to be reassessed...'.
As Signpost enters a new phase in its production by becoming an e-journal based on the Dementia Services Development Centre– Wales web-site I am confident that it will continue to bring you the mix of articles that embrace this challenge.
Dr. Christina Maciejewski