Speaking at Boots Subject Focused Conference on Dementia - Person Centred Care I’ve spent a little time considering whether Dementia is actually mental health or disability.

When I say that I mean where it sits on funding streams as well as approach.

The issue IMH have been raising at the conference during our address is the The Culture Shift in Information and Dementia in the context of wider Mental Health services.

As we begin to see the Recovery model become mainstream and we also see the beginnings of the implementation of the Dementia Strategy it is becoming clearer that the term Recovery is mis-leading within Dementia focused work.  And greater practical application of research addressing how society disables those with dementia is needed.   There’s an interesting mix of person-centred care, recovery and the social model of disability that seem to need to be employed when thinking about the individual who happens to be experiencing dementia.  Or those that are caring for that individual.

Dementia seems like an older persons issue (aside from the fact with early-onset dementia - it’s not).  Older people are using the internet on a more regular basis but at present online Dementia services seem a long way from reality.  And anyway what is an online dementia service?

The future of the next generation of older people and the next is that they will be using the internet.  They will be using online dementia services.  Once they are available.

IMH’s interest remains on the innovation that drives the development of those services.  We call it ‘The What Happen’s Next’

We’re as interested in doing the ‘What Happen’s Next’ as we are collaborating on it.  If you have any workable thoughts you’d be very welcome to get in touch.  We’d love to hear from you.