Championing dementia Dr Kritika Samsi Research Associate Social Care Workforce Research Unit Kings College London [email protected]

Championing dementia

Dr Kritika Samsi

Research AssociateSocial Care Workforce Research Unit

King’s College [email protected]

Addressing Equalities in Older People's Social Care, 26th Jan 2012

What is dementia?

Short-term memory problems

Confusion

Changes in mood

Communication can be affected


Mental Capacity Act

Aims to protect people with decision-making capacity problems

Applies to those with loss of capacity

Respects autonomy and choice


Mental Capacity Act & Dementia

Encourages people to plan in advance

People can appoint Lasting Power of Attorney

Criminalises wilful neglect and ill-treatment


Money management and people with dementia

Dementia can impact severely on ability to manage money

Technical financial management tools Sensitivity of topic Carers may face barriers when helping


Financial abuse and people with dementia

May be isolated May be trusting of strangers May feel pressured and unable to seek

appropriate help Capacity to recognise danger may be

impaired


Our research during stages of dementia

Phase II:

After receiving a diagnosis of dementia

Phase III:

When person finds it difficult to make decisions

Phase I:

Before memory loss and forgetfulness


Our research during stages of dementia

Phase II:

After receiving a diagnosis of dementia


Alzheimer’s Society project on financial abuse Focus group with people with

dementia Focus group with carers Survey data of

Alzheimer’s Society staff Nursing & social services staff People with dementia Carers

Interviews with Safeguarding Adult Coordinators


What people with dementia face

Pressure when out shopping with limited time to count change

Financial abuse often goes undetected Problems when reporting abuse Talking about abuse


What carers said

Difficulties dealing with banks Unaware of implications of unintentional

fraud Unsolicited salesmen ‘Stranger abuse’


Common obvious signs of potential financial abuse reported by Alzheimer’s Society staff

Change in relationship with money

Personal situation

External or internal influence


Direct payments/Personal budgets

Potentially risk Anxiety over ‘stranger abuse’ Abuse within families

BUT May be opportunity for safeguards to be

put in place Risk empowerment


Recommendations

Need for all to remain risk and abuse aware, while balancing the rights of person with dementia


Societal obligations: what society-level organisations can do

Identify and target abuse early:What practitioners can do

Prevent abuse: What people with dementia and carers can do

Thank you!

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

Documents

Championing dementia Dr Kritika Samsi Research Associate Social Care Workforce Research Unit Kings College London [email protected]