Patients not checked for Malnutrition

2 out of 3 hospital patients are not being checked for signs of malnutrition, alarming figures have revealed.

The largest survey carried out by the Patients Association into malnutrition in hospitals and the community also found most carers are not keeping track of nutrition problems among the old – or even weighing them.

Health Service guidelines say all patients going into hospital and all outpatients should be questioned about their weight and diet, as well as all those going into care homes.

The scandal of elderly hospital patients dying of neglect was laid bare earlier last year when official figures revealed dehydration contributed to the deaths of 800 people a year, with malnutrition accounting for a further 284.

But a major survey of 5,000 adults in England, Scotland and Wales commissioned by the Patients Association shows little has changed, even though it is supposed to be a key priority for the NHS.

Altogether 69% of hospital inpatients did not recall being screened for malnutrition on admission. This could mean fewer than one in three are being checked.

Worryingly, the survey found even less action being taken by carers – who are ideally placed to check on the weight of those they are caring for.

More than half of 1,800 carers taking part in the survey had concerns about the weight of someone they looked after but only 8% had used formal assessment methods to check for malnutrition. Just 1 in 6 had ever weighed a person they were looking after.

Among 1,500 people with close friends or relatives in a residential care home, 66% were unaware how often their diet and weight was monitored.

The Patients Association report – Patients' Understanding of Nutrition – says it is 'alarming' that so few are being checked when staff should be following the screening guideline issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The Patients Association has long been campaigningfor all patients to be weighed and screened for malnutrition on admission.

If screening does not take place, malnutrition remains unidentified and untreated which results in increased complications, longer hospital stays and even death. Hospitals have all the evidence, guidance and training materials they need.

NICE guidance states that the NHS should screen all inpatients, when admitted to hospital and at weekly intervals. Care homes should screen for malnutrition upon admission and whenever there is cause for concern.

Still worried that you are getting forgetful with age?

50% of those with mild cognitive impairment will carry on living healthily – in fact, a quarter may see their memory improve.

Neurologists are beginning to put a great deal of work into answering this question. They are concentrating on the medical condition that characterises the grey area between forgetfulness and disease — mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Experts define this as having problems with memory that are severe enough to be noticeable to the affected person or to others, but not serious enough to interfere with their daily life.

In studies, this condition has been found to affect up to 20% of people in their mid-60s. It can begin in people in their 40s and 50s, though the numbers affected are much smaller.

In fact one US study reports that the first signs of memory problems most commonly start to appear in the early 50s. The reason scientists are interested in mild cognitive impairment is that it’s recognised as a warning that a person’s brain is potentially deteriorating in a serious way.

As surveys found on a global scale that people diagnosed with it, have a significantly raised risk of premature death. This is because around half the people who have mild cognitive impairment will go on to develop Dementia.

One of the serious problems with diagnosing and treating mild cognitive impairment(MCI) is that it is often similar to normal age-related memory loss — however, the memory problems it causes are somewhat more frequent and intense.

Simple daily forgetfulness, such as forgetting where you have left your keys, does not seem to indicate problems with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).  But more profound memory lapses are more of a red flag warning sign, such as experiencing trouble finding your way around familiar streets and places.

As well as memory problems, people in danger of Dementia may have other symptoms, such as difficulty in finding the right words for something or problems seeing the reality of a situation.

In the UK, GPs can offer a test to help determine whether someone has mild cognitive impairment (MCI).  This test involves 30 questions, ranging from asking the day of the week and date, to spelling, counting backwards and recalling sets of words.

Other options are drugs to help people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Currently there are no treatments to cure Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, there is hope of a cure for vascular dementia — the second most common type, which is linked to the health of the blood vessels of the heart.

Vascular dementia is caused by brain tissue being damaged or destroyed by insufficient oxygen reaching the brain — and it tends to be preceded by mild cognitive impairment. In some cases, mild cognitive impairment may be the first sign that a person’s brain is lacking oxygen.

There is some evidence that managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels can help to slow down or prevent people developing Vascular Dementia.

According to other research, it reads that in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) the hippocampus — a part of the brain essential for memory — tries to overcompensate for its diminishing powers by becoming overactive. This in turn creates confusion in the brain.

Prevention is the best strategy for avoiding mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and helping stop it progressing into Dementia.  Exercise is the best defence as studies have shown that walking 6 or more miles each week can have huge reward.  Regular medical check-ups also help and are recommended.

According to some medical and health websites, it is also sensible that people known to be at risk get their blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked, and be tested for diabetes, which is also a strong risk factor. Poorly controlled diabetics have a high risk of developing vascular dementia.

Alzheimer's blood test moves closer - and could detect warning signs a decade earlier

Scientists have hopefully developed a screening technique that detects levels of the harmful proteins that build up in the brain, causing memory loss and confusion in Dementia sufferers. If the test proves accurate in larger studies, it could offer a method to identify which people experiencing memory problems are at greater risk of developing the Alzheimer’s. Brain scans can show Alzheimer’s disease ‘plaques’ – which are sticky clumps of a protein called “beta amyloid” – a decade before they cause memory and thinking problems. However, the scans are too expensive and impractical for routine use.

The new blood test, developed at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, measures for 9 biological markers of the plaques. The test performed well In a study of more than 1,100 people.

They first used blood samples from 273 people to identify 9 hormones and proteins that appeared to predict amyloid levels in the brain. A cut-off level was then set for what was considered high. With the thinking that people above that point will then go on to develop Alzheimer’s , with the time between onset being about 8-10 years.

When researchers used the 9 marker blood test on the same blood test, it correctly identified 83% of people with high amyloid levels and correctly ruled out 85%of people without Alzheimers.

The test was then trialled successfully on nearly 900 more blood samples. This blood test has been patented and the owners are talking with numerous companies about making it commercially available. Around 800,000 suffer from forms of dementia in the UK, with the number of cases expected to double within a generation.

NHS should screen over-75s for Dementia as many miss out on treatment that slows disease

Dementia causes distressing memory lapses and confusion and may lead to mood swings in later stages.

The NHS should routinely screen all over-75s for signs of dementia says The Alzheimer's Society as fewer than half of the estimated 750,000 dementia sufferers receive a diagnosis.  This means hundreds of thousands are missing out on treatment, care and support, including new medications that can slow the development of the condition.

However, it is believed that screening may increase anxiety, whilst placing an additional cost burden on NHS resources.

According to research by The Alzheimer's Society there are 750,000 people with dementia in the UK and this will rise to more than 1 million by 2021.

60% with Dementia are ‘never diagnosed’

60% with Dementia are ‘never diagnosed’

Doctors fail to spot dementia in 60% of sufferers, according to figures released late last year in September 2011.

This means thousands of elderly people are not given a diagnosis and so are left to cope with the condition without treatment or help from carers.

Apparently the reason for this is because some doctors are not diagnosing dementia as they feel it is part of growing old.

Research by the Alzheimer’s Society estimates that 766,000 people in Britain, have some form of Dementia.

But on average only 311,000 are diagnosed with the condition, meaning some 400,000+ sufferers are left without any help to tackle the condition.

Currently there is no cure for Dementia, however there are drugs to help treat some of the symptoms including mood swings, confusion and depression.

Additionally experts say that early diagnosis and treatment can significantly enhance a patients’ quality of life and delay the need for care home relocation.

An early diagnosis is essential for access to medication and to give patients and their families help and support.

Separate figures show earlier diagnosis could save the NHS nearly £3billion as patients would spend less time in hospital and care homes.

A report by the charities group Alzheimer’s Disease International, written by researchers at King’s College London, estimates that spotting the disease sooner would save up to £6,125 per sufferer.

If this was multiplied by every sufferer who hasn’t been diagnosed in Britain, it comes to nearly £2.8billion.

Experts say many patients with Dementia that hasn’t been diagnosed who are admitted to hospital for minor illnesses stay on wards far longer than other patients because of problems associated with their condition and many are then placed in care homes.

Exercise gets the heart pumping and cuts your Dementia risk

Any exercise that gets the heart pumping may reduce the risk of Dementia and slow the condition's progression once it starts, according to a Mayo Clinic study published in September 2011 by the Mayo Clinic.

Researchers examined the role of aerobic exercise in preserving cognitive abilities and concluded that it should not be overlooked as an important therapy against Dementia.

Examples include walking, gym workouts and activities at home such as shovelling or raking leaves.

Mayo Clinic concluded that you can make a very compelling argument for exercise as a disease-modifying strategy to prevent Dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and for favourably modifying these processes once they have developed.

The researchers note that brain imaging studies have consistently revealed objective evidence of favourable effects of exercise on the human brain.

More research is needed on the relationship between exercise and cognitive function, the study's authors say, but they encourage exercise, in general, especially for those with or worried about cognitive issues.

Changes in your lifestyle could help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimers

Half of all Alzheimers disease cases could possibly be prevented by lifestyle changes such as exercise, eating healthily and not smoking.

They say hundreds of thousands of patients could potentially avoid the hard hitting illness simply by changing their bad habits. 

Around 820,000 people in the UK suffer from Dementia, of which half have Alzheimers, and this is expected to rise to 1 million within the next 10 years. All factors thought to contribute to the disease is lack of exercise, smoking and obesity. With an inactive lifestyle being the most important possible cause, and obesity in middle-age, high blood pressure and diabetes all increasing the risk of getting the disease.

The Alzheimers Society has predicted that by 2021 there will be more than 1 million British people living with dementia and this is expected to rise to 1.7million by 2050. The numbers are expected to soar as more people live until their 80s and 90s, when they are at highest risk.

Therefore given this research the disease may be partly caused by unhealthy diets, smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol as they cause damage to blood vessels in the brain, leading to death of brain cells. So exercise, eating well and not smoking is the advice for looking after yourself in later life.

Bake a cake or do some gardening to help delay Alzheimers.

As you would expect given that I work in the Mobility Aids sector, I take an active interest in reading about all the Health issues that the elderly face. After all, one day I will also be elderly and in need of various types of support and help – not just Mobility Aids.

Apparently, according to new research conducted by a UK university, there are steps you can take in order to help reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer’s.  Such as baking a cake or even doing some light gardening.

Gardening, cooking and group discussions could help reduce the ongoing progress and development of dementia, according to this research.

The research reports that doing structured activities with others has shown to improve a sufferers’ memory and quality of life. This follows the analysis of 15 studies of elderly people with mild to moderate Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Approximately 50% of the 700 participants received Cognitive Stimulation Treatment (CST), which involved the participants in activities several times each week in groups of 4-5. These patients scored higher in memory tests than those visited by home helps or given medication or physical therapy, with the benefits lasting for up to 3 months after treatment had been completed.

The recipients of Cognitive Stimulation Treatment and their carers also noted improvements in their communication skills and general wellbeing.

Professor Bob Woods of Bangor University undertook the review, and said the findings were ‘the most consistent yet’ in favour of psychological treatments for Dementia.

Professor Woods also said that Cognitive Stimulation Treatment differs from simple ‘brain training’, such as doing puzzles. And announced that further work would focus on whether Cognitive Stimulation Treatment could be carried out by family members, rather than carers, on a one-to-one basis.

How to Improve your Memory

I alike many others can sometimes forget where I put things. And so after tiring, and spending too much time searching for my keys I Googled for help.

How to Improve your Memory

So if you are ALWAYS losing your keys? With the right techniques it is possible to improve your memory.

These are the rules to follow:

ROUTINE: Always put the most easily lost items in the same place. Part of the problem with memory is that we are not paying enough attention, because we are doing too many things at once.

REHEARSAL: Then repeatedly say ‘I have put them on the shelf’ or wherever you have put them. To reinforce this.

Context is also vital for storing and triggering your memories. When it comes to names, try to think of someone else you know called that name such as a famous person or a song with that name in it. The association will help you to remember. Avoid multi-tasking; if you don’t properly process what is going on the information won’t be logged in your long-term memory and you won’t have sufficient clues to access and retrieve it.

What does my friends elderly Mum need? TLC of course.

Just because you put your Mum in a care home doesn’t mean you are uncaring or nasty. Alike lots of people, sometimes they just have no choice whatsoever. As my mum’s friend who is now well into her 80s has needed an ever increasing level of care.

Initially the routine was easy, as my friend said that her carers would be able let themselves in the front door 2-3 times a day. And then, a full-time nurse was recruited, to provide live in care for her throughout the day. As time passed, they then needed an extra person to come 2 times a day to help the nurse get his Mum both in and out of her bed.  And my friends pain was made worse as him Mum insisted that she should stay in her own home. But this was all very daunting and tiring for them. But his Mum insisted, and right through to today this is where she still lives.

Why? Because that is what she wants, as this is where she has spent all her life. And why I help and provide him with all those things he needs to keep her in her home.

The double bed she slept in and wanted to stay in was moved downstairs.

Her furniture was either moved from her rooms to make it easier to get around without falling over it. And some special chairs and a rollator introduced so she can get around and into the kitchen if needed.

So with effort and friends help, an elderly person can stay in their own homes. She has a carer who ensures his mum drinks enough water, and who out of the kindness of her heart will remember birthdays and even helps decorate her Christmas tree. Such people are hard to find.

And he is lucky enough to live nearby to her and so can keep a close eye on her and visit regularly. Not everyone is so lucky. But any talk of moving his mum into a care home is quickly binned. And the concerns of expensive care costs, red tape and funding to negotiate to put them off.

And his mum insists that she would rather die than live away from her home and not the way she currently does. In fact, he thinks that this probably keeps her alive, the fact she is still living at home, rather than in a care home she would hate.

This is the first time where we as middle-aged or older adults, are left to deal with having to look after our parents (I also do this, and share some of my friends experiences).

So ask yourself, would you rather spend the money on care homes or would you rather share the burden of providing care to your parents (as hard as it is)? It’s a hard call, but one that my friend is happy to make, with my help (and I don’t just mean Mobility Aids, I mean the furniture moving etc etc) and I always will. I’d like to think that someday, someone will do it for me – fingers crossed.

Care watchdog accused of worrying more for itself than their patients say MPs

It was reported earlier this year, that the Commons Public Accounts Committee believes the care watchdog (The Care Quality Commission) is more worried about its own reputation rather than the safety of vulnerable patients.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee accused the Care Quality Commission of attempting to silence its staff to prevent them from releasing crucial information about the organisational shortcomings.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee said that the watchdog had persistently ‘let patients down’ by failing to inspect hospitals and nursing homes to ensure they are safe, the MPs warned in a report.

The commission has been under pressure since May 2011, when it was reported that it had ignored the abuse of adults with learning difficulties at the Winterbourne View care home near Bristol.

This latest report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee warns of ‘serious concerns’ about the CQC’s ‘governance, culture and leadership’.

Margaret Hodge MP, chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said at the time: ‘This is a story of failure that goes right to the top of the organisation. The former chief executive has moved on but it is too soon to tell what difference that has made.’ She added: ‘The CQC completed less than half its target number of inspections.