The Sound Doctor Living Well with Dementia image

Rosie Runciman, Co-Founder of The Sound Doctor image
Rosie Runciman, Co-Founder of The Sound Doctor

Health educators The Sound Doctor have said that a dementia crisis could occur following the shocking statistic that only three percent of people make active preparations for the disease.

As seen in the Times, while three quarters of the UK’s population are afraid of developing the disease or losing their ability to make decisions, a staggering 97 percent of people have taken no legal steps toward securing care in the future.

As the number one cause of death in England and Wales, dementia made up a total of 12 percent of total deaths in 2016. On top of this, the Times reported that the number of people diagnosed with the disease has increased by 54 percent in the last ten years.

In 7 years, over 13 million people who are at risk of dementia will have no legal or medical arrangements made due to a lack of preparation.

Rosie Runciman, Co-Founder of The Sound Doctor said: “We know first-hand that people are reluctant to talk about the condition.

“Sufferers think they can leave key decisions to their next of kin without taking legal steps to ensure that it happens, whether it be their pension, writing a will or saving for retirement.”

The Sound Doctor’s library of films on dementia, created in partnership with Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, guides people through what to do when they are diagnosed with dementia.

It empowers patients to think about power of attorney, when to move into a care home, when to stop driving and other important questions that they need to consider early on.

Information is provided about early symptoms and whether individuals can reduce their risk of getting dementia with films offering support around memory loss, communication problems and incontinence also available.

Professor Louise Robinson, Professor of Primary Care and Ageing at Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, worked closely with The Sound Doctor to both create and clinically review the films.

“Patient information is critical for anyone living with or caring for those with dementia,” she said. “The Sound Doctor’s films provide an excellent resource, covering every phase from understanding dementia and initial diagnosis, to planning ahead and living through the later stages. There are also valuable chapters for people caring for people with dementia.”

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