Latest news with #dementiaawareness
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Young-onset dementia patients 'falling through gaps in care'
When someone develops dementia before the age of 65, it is known as young-onset dementia. Thousands of people in the UK have been diagnosed with the condition and each one will have specific care needs. To look at David Sincock beating his dad Ian at snooker, you wouldn't think he had any health 48-year-old, a former Home Office civil servant, was diagnosed with young-onset dementia in 2023. Today, he is largely sister, Dawn Sincock, says the symptoms of his condition emerged gradually."We noticed that David was maybe mixing up times and dates, and travelling was starting to become a problem whereas before he was very independent."We got David an appointment with the GP and went from there. It was quite a lengthy process - lots of tests - and eventually in 2023 he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia."David was initially looked after by his elderly parents at their home in Darlington, but in October he became a resident at The Manor at Eighton Lodge - a purpose-built unit in Gateshead for people with young-onset the eight-bed facility, he gets care targeted to his age Beckett, from Wellburn Care Homes, which runs the unit, says younger patients have particular needs compared with the elderly."They're much more active, especially David. He walks every single day and the levels of care are very, very different."[The Manor] is very much like a home. It's a much smaller unit and the kitchen facilities are all open and accessible, which you couldn't do in an elderly residential home." Dawn says her brother has made progress since his arrival."As soon as David came here we had reports that he'd started responding more and instead of giving a thumbs up or thumbs down, he was maybe communicating more and getting more enjoyment out of activities and still being able to do the physical activities that he needs."People diagnosed before the age of 65 are generally classified as having young-onset Research UK says 5% - about 70,000 - of the total number of dementia patients in the UK are classified as is unclear how David's condition will develop, and now it is uncertain where he will has been paying for his own care at The Manor and his house in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, is being with his savings now running out, Gateshead Council has not confirmed whether it will take over the cost of him staying parents both have ongoing illnesses and say they are unable to look after him at is 77 and has cancer. He says the uncertainty about his son's future is difficult."The stress is unbelievable because it's continuing," he says. "Going forward, I want David to have the best possible quality of life while he can in an environment that suits him."His sister is also concerned."It's just the constant worry for the family," she says. "Because we don't know if there's a future here and how David is going to be cared for." The North Yorkshire-based charity Dementia Forward says young-onset patients are falling through gaps in the care system across the charity's chief executive, Jill Quinn MBE, says there is "a vacuum" in terms of age-appropriate care for people."There's extremely poor data [on young-onset dementia patients]. For example, in North Yorkshire it was estimated there were 173 young dementia patients, but Dementia Forward is currently supporting 450."Councillor John Adams, cabinet member for adult social care at Gateshead Council, said "ensuring people get the best support to live as independently as possible" was the local authority's "top priority"."This is key to our Home First approach, which focuses on supporting people to remain in their own home and communities for as long as they can," he said in a statement."We know that for many, living independently within a supportive community and appropriate solutions, such as tech-enabled care, leads to the best health and wellbeing outcomes."We cannot provide details of the support that is being offered to Mr Sincock for confidentiality reasons, but we can confirm that following recent contact for support, the council is concluding the essential assessment and working towards agreeing a suitable outcome as soon as possible." If you have been affected by the issues in this report, there is help and advice available at BBC Action Line. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Young-onset dementia charity expands activities in Woking
A charity set up to help people with young-onset dementia is expanding its operation in People With Dementia organises activity for people affected by the condition under the age of organises activity-based workshops in Guildford and is planning pilot sessions in worker James Goodman said: "We were set up because there was a need. You hear dementia and you assume it affects older people." What are dementia and Alzheimer's?How does young-onset dementia affect people?'Groundbreaking' dementia trial starts in Surrey Mr Goodman told BBC Radio Surrey: "We're providing activity and social interaction for the person living with dementia, but we're also providing respite for their carers because, more often than not, carers are in full-time work when their partner's diagnosed."There's not as much opportunity for them for help," he said. "We've worked with people as young as in their 30s, so [dementia] is something that really doesn't discriminate." The charity runs gardening workshops, a choir, cookery classes and racket sport events, changing activities every six one of the service users, said the group had "become a community"."The variety of people and personalities is what makes it special," he said."The choir is the one where there's most people, about 40, maybe 50."There's no stigma, everyone's accepted by default," Ian said. "At the end of the day we're just human beings getting on with life as best we can."People under 65 who have a diagnosis of dementia can self-refer through the charity's website.
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Barbara Windsor's widower defends romance with her EastEnders co-star as he admits he still ‘wakes in terror'
DAME Barbara Windsor's widower Scott Mitchell has spoken out to defend his relationship with her former EastEnders co-star Tanya Franks. Scott, 60, who was married to the Carry On icon for 20 years until her death from Alzheimer's disease in 2020, said he 'still wakes in terror' without her. But he insists Barbara would have given her blessing for his new romance with Tanya, 56. The couple went public with their relationship last year, having grown close while campaigning together for dementia awareness following Barbara's diagnosis. Tanya, best known for playing Rainie Cross in the BBC soap, worked with Barbara on EastEnders before her health began to decline. Speaking to Kate Thornton on her White Wine Question Time podcast, Scott admitted: 'I still wake in terror. I still have moments - this morning I was quite emotional - where I just miss her. "That doesn't change. I think it will be with me forever.' He added: 'I would like to believe she would be happy that someone was there by my side and that I wasn't on my own. She always used to say to me, 'I never want you to be on your own.'' Scott also revealed that despite public support, there had been some backlash to his relationship with Tanya - and he felt compelled to respond to those who criticised him for moving on. He said: 'There was a bit of, 'Oh he's moved on too fast.' And you just think, 'How dare you?' People don't know the pain. They don't know what the grief has been." Scott and Tanya initially bonded through their work with the Alzheimer's Society and were close friends for years before their relationship turned romantic. Barbara, who played the iconic Peggy Mitchell on EastEnders, was diagnosed in 2014 but kept the news private until 2018. Barbara Windsor's widower Scott Mitchell praises new partner Tanya Frank for supporting him as she describes how romance grew naturally She died in December 2020 aged 83, with Scott by her side. He has since become a prominent campaigner for dementia awareness and was awarded an MBE in 2022 for his efforts. Reflecting on his ongoing grief, Scott said: 'I don't think anyone ever gets over a loss of someone they love so deeply. "I think we find ways of carrying them with us, and that's what I try to do every day.' Scott and Tanya previously appeared together on This Morning to raise awareness of dementia and campaign for vital research. The recruitment consultant told host Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley: 'We forged an incredible friendship over the four years and something wonderful blossomed out of it... 'The exact opposite of what dementia is. I'm very fortunate that I have a partner that doesn't mind me speaking about my late wife.' Tanya joined Scott in fundraising after her step father Derek went through a similar thing. She said: 'I can do nothing but support him in talking about it. You often feel alone in it when you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's... 'The communication allowed the support system to grow. Barbara is as much about the legacy of Alzheimer's as it is me going through it with my step father. It is hundreds of thousands that we've raised from doing the three marathons.' Scott went on to reveal he would take part in another marathon – but there were certain conditions. He said: 'If for next year's marathon someone would like to give a million pounds, a big company or sponsor, I will do another marathon and shave my hair off as well, and that is the big one, shaving my hair off.' 4 4 4
