Concern over lack of support

CHARITY leaders have expressed concern about a lack of support services for people with dementia who are deaf and their carers.

The British Deaf Association called for more training in British Sign Language (BSL) for healthcare professionals in care homes, charities, organisations and dementia friendly communities.

The charity has been awarded £150,000 by the Life Changes Trust to help improve support services which will include a dedicated dementia webpage with accessible BSL videos.

Avril Hepner, BDA Scotland’s community development manager, said: “For some time I have been concerned about the lack of provision, care and support services for deaf people living with dementia and their carers.

“I bring my experiences of caring for my father, who was deaf and lived with Alzheimer’s.

“This project will enable us to develop a toolkit for carers and families with ideas and tips on coping strategies and communication strategies.

“Diagnosis and provision of dementia support was not accessible for my father.

“An education programme and BSL dementia-friendly training are needed for healthcare professionals in care homes, charities, organisations and dementia-friendly communities.”

The Evening Times has launched a year-long campaign to shine a light on a condition, which is predicted to affect one in three of the population in future decades.