Recent news headlines have reported dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK. Dr Clare Walton from the Alzheimer’s Society research team looked at the reasons why deaths from dementia are on the rise and how the numbers compare with deaths due to other major diseases.
The latest death statistics for England and Wales, released by The Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed the number of people dying of dementia is steadily increasing year on year.
In contrast, the number of people dying from heart disease and stroke has been declining. In 2015, dementia overtook heart disease and stroke as the UK’s biggest cause of death.
The percentage of all UK deaths from the top four leading causes in 2017 were dementia, heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.
Check out Karolina Gerlich story – a care worker and chief executive of the National Association of Care & Support Workers…..
In the decade I’ve worked in frontline social care, I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve told me that anyone can do this job because it’s so easy. I explain to them that care workers are highly skilled professionals and that the job is hard, but extremely rewarding.
I strongly believe that professionalisation – registration, better training standards and development opportunities – is essential to ensure good quality care. If we want happy people receiving social care, we must professionalise and invest in the workforce.
When I heard that the all party parliamentary group (APPG) on social care is to look at professionalising the workforce, I felt a seed of hope being planted. I wondered whether the issue will start being treated seriously in England. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales each have different levels of care worker registration, so why is England behind?
Registration of care workers is the driving mission of the National Association of Care & Support Workers. We have submitted written evidence to the APPG, focusing on registration as a route to professionalisation which, supported by good training and professional development opportunities and together with better pay and working conditions, should improve the quality of care.
To read more about this story visit the Guardian website OR if you would like to find out more about becoming a care worker call us today.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its first ever guidelines on how people can help avoid getting dementia. It looked at the evidence of what works and what doesn’t for lowering risk. Things to avoid include smoking and drinking too much alcohol.While eating a healthy diet is beneficial, popping vitamin pills makes no difference to dementia risk, it advises.
There is no good evidence that brain training works but some studies suggest it may be worthwhile, says the WHO.
Dementia affects around 50 million people around the world and is becoming more common.While there is no treatment that can cure it, there are things people can do to lower their risk of the disease or slow its onset. Old age is the strongest risk factor, but it is not a natural or inevitable consequence of ageing.Genetics also play a role, but many risk factors are modifiable.
Experts have previously suggested lifestyle changes could prevent around a third of dementia cases.
Carrying out even basic activities in older age might help maintain brain health.
Recent research suggests that doing even low-intensity physical activity allows older people to reduce their risk of dementia.
There are several factors can affect a person’s chance of developing dementia.
Some of the factors, such as age and genetics, are unavoidable. Others, such as smoking and other unhealthful behaviors, are lifestyle choices that a person can change.
Regularly exercising and eating a healthful diet may prevent the onset of symptoms, say the Alzheimer’s Association.
However, a new study that appears in the journal Neurology has revealed that any kind of physical activity — including basic tasks such as doing housework — may protect a person’s brain when they have already reached old age.
Recent news headlines have reported dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK. Dr Clare Walton from the Alzheimer’s Society research team looked at the reasons why deaths from dementia are on the rise and how the numbers compare with deaths due to other major diseases.