UWB - Dementia Services Development Centre Wales

Welcome to Dementia Services Development Centre Wales

Dementia in Wales

Dementia is the family name for a number of disorders, all of which have in common a loss of memory and other intellectual functions, a reduction in the person's ability to care for him/herself, often accompanied by emotional changes and disturbances of behaviour. There are many types of dementia: the most common are Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Lewy body demenita. These conditions are usually progressive and there are, as yet, no curative treatments; the available medications for Alzheimer's disease are thought to slow the rate of decline in a proportion of those affected.

It is estimated that over 40,000 people suffer from a dementia in Wales. This number will increase still further with the projected growth in the number of people over 80, who are most at risk of developing a dementia. When family and other informal care-givers are taken into account the total number of people involved is several times greater. The economic impact of dementia in Wales could be as much as £500 million (at 1997/98 prices), if indirect costs such as informal carers' opportunity costs are taken into account. Dementia is a major concern for health and social services; it is the single most frequent cause of admission to residential and nursing homes, and of the need for community care services in older people. Younger people may also be affected, and often must be cared for by services designed for older people.

The Network of Dementia Services Development Centres

The first Dementia Services Development Centre in the UK was established at the University of Stirling in 1989 and has since won international recognition as a centre for excellence in the field of dementia care. In recent years there has been a major initiative to develop further centres to serve most of the British Isles. Centres have already been established in Oxford, Bristol, Newcastle, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Canterbury, Dublin and London, and are providing services to their respective catchment areas.

In Wales, a unique partnership has been established between Bangor University and the Service Development Team (EMI) in Cardiff in order to provide, on an all-Wales basis, a Dementia Services Development Centre, following the same principles as those established elsewhere. With the appointment of an Information Officer in August 1999, Wales was able to take its place as an operational centre. As part of the DSDC Network, DSDC Wales ensures that initiatives and good practice in Wales are disseminated to the rest of the UK and vice versa.

 

These web pages are maintained by Katherine Algar and were last updated on 16th March 2011

 

Copyright © 2001-2011 DSDC - Dementia Services Development Centre Wales

Neuadd Ardudwy, Bangor University, Holyhead Road, BANGOR LL57 2PX
tel: 01248 383719 | email: dsdc@bangor.ac.uk

via bangor.ac.uk