Biography:
Peter worked for a US IT company, resigning to look after his wife who was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia at the age of 59. After she began living in a nursing home he wanted to use his experiences to improve the lot of others affected by dementia. He campaigned to get the plight of carers recognised, helped design the implementation plan for the UK Dementia Strategy, and served two terms on the Board of the Dementia Action Alliance. With others he built a charity, YPWD, to support people affected by young onset dementia where he is now a trustee. He is on the Dementia Programme Board overseeing the implementation of Government strategy for dementia. He also helped form, and is on the steering group of, the Young Dementia Network, on the Carer’s Advisory Panel of the charity Dementia Carers Count, and a member of the Thames Valley Dementia Network.
Abstract:
A diagnosis of dementia so often leads to social isolation, exclusion from “normal” activities, unmanageable carer stress and unplanned calls on NHS resources. It needn’t be like that. Providing quality respite for carers knowing the person they care for is receiving support that makes life meaningful and worthwhile helps alleviate these problems. The charity YPWD in Berkshire, UK delivers activities reflecting typical community life – art, sport and exercise, gardening, music and drama. Group activities take place within the community bringing “normality” and reducing stigma. Education courses for patients and carers run in parallel. Outcomes include longer time to residential care need, fewer unplanned medical interventions, some stabilization in MMSE scores, and expressions of greater wellbeing by patients and carers. The empowerment realized has delivered self-help peer support between both groups. YPWD delivers these services to those affected by young onset dementia, but it is equally applicable across the dementia spectrum.