Family and friends urged to spot signs of dementia over Christmas

Family and friends can play a key role in spotting signs of dementia when meeting loved ones around Christmas time, a NHS the expert said.

Forgetting the names of loved ones or setting the oven for the Christmas turkey, as well as being confused in another environment could all be signs of illness.

It comes as hundreds more people will be checked for dementia at a new specialist ward being piloted across England.

Professor Alistair Burns, NHS England’s national clinical director for dementia, said: “The pandemic has naturally had an impact on the number of people being diagnosed with dementia, with older people seeing fewer people to protect themselves from Covid-19 .”

He adds: “The NHS is committed to ensuring that those who have developed dementia during the pandemic are diagnosed, as this will open doors to further support for people and their families who suffer from this heartbreaking disease.

“There is a lot we can do in the NHS to care for and support people if they are diagnosed, and importantly there is also support for their families and carers.

“So if you have noticed over the festive period that someone is showing symptoms, please encourage them to see their GP for an assessment – ​​the sooner someone is seen the sooner the NHS can support them .”

The NHS has said the following could be signs of dementia over the Christmas period:

Someone may become disoriented or confused when in a new place.

Being with a relative where the layout is unusual could test a person’s memory and orientation.

Forgetting the name of loved ones or forgetting a gift to the point of causing embarrassment.

Complex tasks such as preparing a large Christmas dinner for a large number of people.

The sign can be something like forgetting to turn on the oven, forgetting to put in the sprouts, or cooking things in the wrong order.

The health service announced that care home residents will be proactively assessed by specialist nurses and other healthcare professionals in 14 new pilot programs to be rolled out.

GPs will share a list of care home residents without a dementia diagnosis and staff will check those listed for memory problems, before offering them a full face-to-face assessment.

NHS England is investing £900,000 to launch two pilots in seven regions.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay: “We want a society where every person with dementia, their family and carers receive high quality, compassionate care in the right place.

“This new service is a step in the right direction towards better support for those whose conditions went undiagnosed during the pandemic.”

Mark MacDonald, of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Diagnosis of dementia is crucial to unlocking the right care and support, so we are delighted that NHS England is prioritizing the diagnosis of people in care homes through this initiative.

“Knowing that someone has dementia can transform their care, ensuring that they receive the right kind of support and that families and carers receive the information and advice they also need after a diagnosis. “