A new strategy for patients with dementia

There are 800,000 people with dementia in the UK, of whom about 82,000 live in Scotland. The general population is ageing, and because the risk of developing dementia increases with age, the number of people with dementia in Scotland is expected to double over the next 25 years (Alzheimer Scotland 2011). A sharp increase in the number of people with dementia who present to emergency departments (EDs) and acute care settings. Up to one in four of all general hospital beds in the UK are occupied by people aged over 65 years who have dementia (Alzheimer's Society 2009), yet their specific needs are often poorly understood by healthcare staff (Alzheimer's Society 2009, Mental Welfare Commission 2010). This article describes the development of an online resource for ED staff in Scotland, and of the associated infrastructure, to improve the care experience for people with dementia, their families and carers.