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To purchase a copy of John Suchet's book, My Bonnie- how dementia stole the love of my life, call 020 7874 7207 or download the Order Form here.

End of Life Care and Dementia

Demographic trends show that the numbers of older people living in the UK will increase over the next 20 years with a particularly marked increased incidence in people over 85 years. The prevalence of dementia in the UK is estimated at around 820,000 people (Alzheimer's Research Trust 2010) and 1 in 5 of the older population over the age of 85 years will have a type of dementia (Alzheimer's Society 2007).

Approximately 100,000 people with dementia die each year in the UK and the end of life care received by this group is often poor (Sampson et al, 2006) with inequitable access to palliative care services (Hanrahan & Luchins, 1995).

This inequality in access to palliative care services has led to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to announce its development of quality standards for End of Life Care in 2010/11.

Dementia UK Training recognises the need to equip staff with knowledge of the challenges that arise in caring for people with dementia and their carers throughout the trajectory, including end of life and have developed an intensive course to tackle these issues. For further information on the course and the cost click here.

'End of life care and dementia' takes place on 22nd and 23rd September and places are limited so book your place today by downloading the Booking Form or call us on 020 7874 7215/22.

It's a long way down!

After a year of contemplation Karen Harrison Dening, Consultant Admiral Nurse for Haringey, finally ‘took the leap' and sky dived on the 12th August to raise money for Dementia UK.

Karen said, "On the build up to the day ‘well wishers' would tell me how brave I was and then would promptly follow up with some horror story about someone they knew or had read about that have suffered horrendous injuries at some point of the dive, often the landing. However, undaunted I visited my GP to gain a medical certificate to undertake the dive (essential at my age!). He told me of his sky dive and how it was a fantastic experience and one that I would love. It was good to hear at least one positive view!

On the day, armed with camera and husband, I turned up at 9am at Hinton Airfield, Brackley. It was cold and overcast and before long was raining. I started to believe it would be called off but then the lead trainer said ‘We're off' and my name was called out over the loud speaker. It felt like a wartime RAF muster! We ambled over to the smallest of aeroplanes donned in jump suits, harnesses and helmets (goggles to be applied when in the air).

At two miles up against the bluest sky I have ever seen we all dropped from the plane like petals falling. The parachute cord was pulled at 5,000 feet and from there on the skydive was an absolute delight; ‘cloud walking', circling with the controls of the chute and spotting landmarks.

And the landing you ask? Not a broken bone or sprained ankle in sight, I simply ‘stepped down' onto soft grass, was detached from the harness and simply walked over to a relieved husband.

Would I do it again? Yes, yes and yes again!!! To date I have raised over £1,000 and the amount is still rising!"

If you would like to sponsor Karen, visit her JustGiving page.