Authority braced for rise in Telford dementia cases

Adult care assistant director Sarah Dillion told councillors about the progress her department had made in providing for sufferers, both in residential care and their own homes.

Eighty-one new beds for dementia patients will be available by next summer, and her department are also focusing on early help and prevention.

Ms Dillon started her report, to the Telford and Wrekin Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee, by focussing on the demographic changes in the borough.

“There are around 27,000 people aged over 65 living in Telford and Wrekin,” she wrote.

“The overall population of the borough is due to increase by around 23,300 by 2031, and over half of this increase will be in the 65+ age group.”

Two new nursing homes, managed by Walden Care in Lawley and Rotherwood Care next to Roden Hall, are due to open in the first half of 2019, increasing the number of beds in the borough by 81.

But she added that the council was also helping older people to stay in their homes longer, “moving away from residential care into supported accommodation and developing extra care schemes for older people and particularly those with dementia”.

The department was also “focusing on providing early help and information to enable people to plan their future and avoid early entry into the ASC system.”

Addressing the committee, Ms Dillon said the “huge increase” in over-65s would bring an increase in people suffering Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, which she said affects approximately 25% of people in that age group.

Committee member Councillor Tim Nelson said that figure was “daunting”.

He said: “More of us are going to live longer and have a body that is going to outlive our minds.

“There are different types of dementia and treatments that can, not reverse, but delay it. Early diagnosis is very important.

“The target people aren’t those who are going to suffer memory loss: It’s the people around them.”

The Newport North and West councillor said public information campaigns needed to address the changes people will see in themselves but also each other as they age.

“Tell us what is normal. I can’t remember if I locked my front door any more: Is that normal? Tell people what is normal, that might be really useful in the next 10 or 15 years.”