Funding for a million dementia volunteers

Thanks, Jane I was going to do a link to this but you've saved me the faffing about. Agree absolutely with what he says. Anyone who has looked after someone with dementia knows that being kind may be an essential but is not going to get you very far on its own!

Gosh. In the Telegraph too. It makes sense. Mental illness has long been the poor relation, and what is the poor relation in the world of mental illness.... the old, and I suspect the young too. Under 18s are rarely diagnosed as having mental health needs and end up being supported by "learning mentors" and the like, if they are lucky.

If only we could be sure that Dr Pemberton and other experienced qualified medical and nursing staff would be heard.

Training in common sense and patience might be useful, not only for volunteers. My Dad was not diagnosed with any type of dementia. But, after a week in hospital with a fractured hip, he was certainly confused; dehydrated; unable to eat, because his false teeth were out of reach; labelled as uncooperative, when his hearing aids were there on the locker, but no-one realised he could not hear instructions; 'did not ask for pain killers' when the nurse stood at the end of the bed and asked if he was in pain (he was an old soldier-I never heard him admit to pain in his life).

But I'm afraid politicians will support initiatives that they think will make them look good, rather than providing trained staff, with staffing levels that allow them time to do their job.

He's talking a lot of sense. Even to get the diagnosis can be difficult.
Once again I'm appalled by medical services in this country. I see so many psychiatric patients in the tribunals who are under or wrongly treated by GPS!
I could rant on, but I get very angry, so I won't!