The publication of the national dementia stategy is good news.  In time, it should lead to more people being diagnosed earlier and to improved services, both for people with dementia and carers of people who have dementia.

With funding provided by the Freemasons' Grand Charity, EAC has been working to improve our knowledge of different accommodation and care options for elderly people who have dementia, particularly when they are diagnosed early.  Traditionally people with dementia have usually stayed in their own home, with many being admitted to care homes in later stages.  Late diagnosis has led to there being few alternatives.  This is still what happens for many people.  Housing providers have been working hard to improve services however and now an increasing number of sheltered and retirement housing schemes offer on-site care services.  A small number of these schemes provide specialist services for people who have dementia, enabling them to live in their own flat in a supportive and enabling environment.  EAC is able to advise callers to their Advice Line whether there are any schemes like this in their area.  EAC also has information about care homes for people who have dementia.

The strategy promises a personal dementia advisor for everyone with a diagnosis.  This proposal is particularly welcome.  With the help of an advisor, a person diagnosed at an early stage can be meaningfully involved in planning for their own future needs.

EAC looks forward to assisting in the provision of high quality information for people who have dementia, as well as for their family and carers.

The International Longevity Centre (ILC) has produced a series of four policy briefings on issues affecting older gay, lesbian and bisexual (LGB) people in the UK.

These policy documents were introduced at a meeting held at the ILC in November last year.   We heard about relevant legal issues, about the views of older gay, lesbian and bisexual people, including reports of some direct personal experiences.  The ILC did not include transvestite (T) people in the project, believing that their needs may warrant separate consideration in their own right.  This proved to be a controversial view, with some at the meeting agreeing and others feeling it made no sense.  One person noted the difficulty of making generalisations about any group of people and stated strongly that, "we are not all the same".

ILC carried out a literature review of research findings and noted that there has been very little in the UK.

We were told that 5% of the general population fall into the LGBT catagories.  Two themes that ran throughout the meeting were:

(a) a concern that elderly LGB people seem to be 'invisible'.  This was felt to be due to fear and anxiety of prejudicial attitudes from staff and/or other residents if you are 'out', for example in sheltered housing or a care home.  An example was given of an older man who asked his friends not to visit him in care home, because of his fear of prejudiced attitudes and

(b) concern about ageist attitudes within LGB communities.

A very helpful part of the day was a talk by Jonathan Finney of Stonewall, who gave an update on the legal position.  Since May 2008 there has been a new criminal offence of 'incitement to hatred on grounds of sexuality'.  Jonathan Finney spoke of the importance of the law relating to the provision of goods and services.  This law requires that goods and services must be provided on the basis of equality and covers both direct and indirect discrimination.  It is illegal, for example, not to offer a double room to a same sex couple, if such rooms are offered to heterosexual couples.  Jonathan Finney also reminded us that the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations were implemented in April 2007 and cover both direct and indirect discrimination.  These regulations apply to all publicly funded services, including those that are purchased by a public body in the private sector.  Jonathan Finney noted that changes in the law are important and helpful, but that they not sufficient in themselves to change social attitudes.

The overall message that I took from attending this meeting was of the importance of people respecting each others differences.

I would strongly encourage you to read the International Longevity Centre policy briefings, written by Primrose Musingarimi and funded by Pfizer.  They can be downloaded from the ILC website at  www.ilcuk.org.uk 

Stonewall also have a website at www.stonewall.org.uk