I wrote this article for the DEEP Network Website , my photo makes me look menacing! So, read this instead..
Scotland is above England, not only geographically, but also in Dementia support. This is because health and social care have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Nationally, the government has made Personal Care free for all with an overriding condition, not only those over 65. This came about from Franks Law, named after Frank Koppel (a footballer). The government has created “Health and Social Care Partnerships”: each Local Authority is partnered with the corresponding Health Authority. Mine is Aberdeenshire partnered with Grampian NHS. Grampian NHS is also partnered with Moray and Aberdeen City: woe betide those who think the City and Shire are the same! The government has a National Dementia Strategy, which says for instance every person newly diagnosed with dementia will have a named Support Worker for a year. Sometimes this is provided by the Alzheimers Society, in other cases the local NHS. They are currently starting consultation on the next strategy: DEEP and other dementia groups are involved.
That is the national theory, locally can be different. I have never had a formal link worker, instead I am “lucky” to have a rare dementia: Posterior Cortical Atrophy, so I have the local Outreach Nurse who admits that she is learning from me so comes every six weeks, and will carry on doing so until I go into Care. She is a lovely woman; a shoulder to cry on for both myself and Ethel, my supporter. The introduction of Franks Law obviously created funding problems for the Partnerships. For instance, in Aberdeenshire it costs £9 million extra a year, although Edinburgh only gave them £1.5 million. This highlights the difference between national theory and local practise. What it means in reality is that the definition of “personal care” is extremely tight.
There are loads of opportunities to get involved in research in Scotland: being relatively small means, when an organisation has the will, that research can be done even up here in Aberdeen very easily. Last week I was involved in research over cars parking on pavements and road works. It will be illegal for cars to park on pavements in Scotland from 2021. Scotland has a few Dementia Dogs, which are similar to “Dogs for Good”, but are the carers responsibility. I am going through Guide Dogs, as my PCA affects my senses, have been assessed as being suitable for a dog. I just hope that I will get one in time, as I will be responsible, thus keeping my independence.
The main downside for me personally is that rural Scotland makes the Lake District look positively urban! You have the Shetland Isles and the Northern Isles all of which depend on subsidised transport. I live 25 miles north of Aberdeen but because I cannot travel far, I am a bit stuck, and that is where DEEP is a saviour as I can Zoom in to see people.
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