Learn more about the most pressing care sector news from January 2019 in our monthly review, focusing on care news, medical research and awareness initiatives.
Happy new year, and welcome to the January 2019 edition of our Care Sector News Review.
Here, we’ll update you on the latest care sector news, medical research and awareness initiatives relating to elderly care.
Find out what’s been happening across the care sector in January 2019:
Care news
- NHS England believes its ‘long-term plan’ – released this month – could save up to half a million lives by shifting the onus towards the prevention and early detection of medical conditions. GPs, mental health departments and community care providers will receive the highest proportion of funds.
- Two other key facets of the long-term plan involve increased focus on support for family carers and those with dementia. The plan involves the introduction of new regulations to improve recognition of the former. Meanwhile, the total investment in dementia research should double in the period from 2015-2020.
- 32,115 sick and vulnerable people passed away while awaiting access to social care during 2017/18, Age UK research has revealed. The same study indicated that the total beds available for elderly care nationwide has fallen by 8,000 since 2015.
Medical research
- New research indicates that a hormone produced naturally as we exercise could delay the onset of dementia, and slow its eventual progress. The hormone under the microscope is irisin, which appears to have a variety of functions.
- IBM has joined forces with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research with a view to applying its advanced AI system in order to better understand the onset and progression of the condition.
- Neurons developed in the brain following a stroke may not develop properly, research released this month has found. By investigating reactions in the brains of mice, researchers were able to show that while the generation of replacement cells took place, many were unable to perform their designated role.
Awareness initiatives
- 11 January marked International Paget’s Awareness Day, with this year’s theme focusing on improving early diagnosis of the condition. Paget’s is the second most common bone condition encountered by older people, and affects how bone is recycled.
- Holocaust Memorial Day took place on 27 January, and was marked by a number of remembrance events nationwide. The event gave elderly survivors, their children and victims of modern day atrocities a platform to share their stories.
- A host of EastEnders stars have announced plans to run in this year’s London Marathon to raise money for dementia research. The husband of former EastEnders star Barbara Windsor, who received a dementia diagnosis in 2014, will lead the star-studded team.
Join us again in the last week of February for the next edition of Care Sector News Review.
If you’d like to find out more about The Good Care Group’s live-in care services, contact our friendly team.
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