DEMENTIA care will need ongoing improvement to meet the needs of the Island’s ageing population, according to the Health Minister.
In an amended statement, Deputy Tom Binet spoke about the government’s dementia strategy, which was published in partnership with Dementia Jersey in June last year following a decade of campaigning by charities.
His comments come just days after Islander Trudy Robinson’s experiences of her husband’s decline into dementia – and issues with the care he has received – were highlighted in the JEP recently.
Mrs Robinson highlighted the need for greater awareness about the different types of dementia, more specialised care homes and better training for professional carers.
Her experience reflects a wider concern, with government data published last year predicting that dementia cases in Jersey could increase by as much as 52% by 2043.
In a statement initially provided to the JEP, Deputy Binet said: “We know that dementia care cannot be ignored as the condition – with its personal, social and economic impacts – is set to rise both globally and in Jersey.”
However, in a revised statement, the minister acknowledged the need for greater investment and reform.
He said: “It’s clear that dementia care must continue to be improved, and that more and better care must be made available as we progress, to take account of our ageing population.
“As part of that ongoing process, in partnership with Dementia Jersey, we published the Island’s first dementia strategy in June last year.
“This strategy, along with its implementation plan, explain how dementia care will evolve in Jersey over the next five years, with the funding currently available.
“It also sets out five key priorities to develop and improve the support available to people living with a dementia, and their families or care partners.
“As in so many other areas of healthcare, the improving and increasingly comprehensive level of care that we would all like to see cannot be delivered from the current health budget.
“One way or another, if we want the best, we will have to face the reality of having to contribute a little more towards it.
“The work to define how this might be done is currently under way and will be completed later this year.”
Claudine Snape, the chief executive of Dementia Jersey, said the charity recognised the “troubling picture” painted by Mrs Robinson and had heard from a range of families and professional care workers as part of its consultation work on the dementia strategy.
“They all told us there is a need for improved training for staff in care homes, domiciliary care, social care, the General Hospital, primary care and specialist dementia services,” she added.
“They also say that better knowledge about dementia and its impacts on people and those around them is needed across the whole workforce, particularly on communication skills.
“At Dementia Jersey we believe that introducing standards for dementia care and mandatory dementia-specific modules within existing care qualifications will lead to vital improvements in care for people with dementia.
“We welcome working with the Jersey Care Commission on the development of dementia-specific solutions”.
