15.08.12
Dementia self-help project to improve patient quality of life
A new two-year dementia self help project has been set up by a partnership of Housing 21 and the Mental Health Foundation.
The partnership will set up, facilitate and evaluate three self-help peer support groups of up to eight people with dementia living in different Housing 21 extra care, or sheltered housing schemes across London.
The project aims to find whether the groups can deliver an improved quality of life and help patients to remain longer in their current homes.
Groups will meet on a weekly basis to address a range of practical issues about living with dementia, such as understanding and coping with confusion and forgetfulness, how family and staff can help, keeping healthy and mentally active and planning for the future.
Toby Williamson, head of development and later life at the Mental Health Foundation says: “Maintaining independence and a good quality of life is just as important for people with dementia as it is for the rest of us. With more people being diagnosed earlier with dementia this project is trying out an innovative way of doing this using self help and peer support, which will be of interest to housing providers and dementia organisations alike.”
Rachael Dutton, research manager for Housing 21 said: “We’re very pleased to be working with the Mental Health Foundation on this exciting and interesting project. There will be a strong focus on enabling participants to understand more about dementia and the use of simple, practical and coping strategies.”
Funders for the project include City Bridge Trust, Salters’ Charitable Foundation and the Pixel Fund. Joseph Rowntree Foundation will fund the evaluation of the project, which will be carried out by the Mental Health Foundation.
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