Editorial: Innovations in dementia and ageing care

Abstract

KEYWORDS Alzheimer's disease, carer, psychosocial interventions, health serivces, community, quality of life, frailty Editorial on the Research Topic Innovations in dementia and ageing care The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how quality of life can readily be compromised in vulnerable older people and the fragility of health and care systems that aim to promote well-being in this population (1, 2). People with dementia have been impacted by diminished face-to-face access to health, care and community services (2-4). Supporters of people with dementia were also significantly affected (5, 6). Many services have still not reopened , funding revenues for the voluntary sector have been affected and there has been a shift to delivering services remotely either over the telephone or online, e.g., telemedicine or telehealth (7). The challenges faced during the height of the pandemic and this period afterwards also present opportunities to consider how health and social care services and community assets can be remodeled to be more responsive to the physical and psychosocial needs of this population. In this Research Topic we focused on innovative approaches in dementia and ageing care to identify ways in which people can be better supported. The papers selected highlight opportunities to make changes within hospitals, primary care, memory clinics, the community and also in the way services are developed. Although dementia is the focus of all the papers within this special edition the themes that run through them have relevance to a wider population of frail older people. An important aspect of developing effective support for individuals with dementia is to understand what it means to them to live well (8). Increasingly people living with a diagnosis of dementia are seeking to share their experiences to improve the support and experiences of others. The paper by West et al. describes an innovative approach of involving people with dementia in co-producing and co-delivering a course within a mental health Recovery college. Recovery colleges are educational settings for people who access mental health services, their families and staff. The "process" of recovery within these colleges focuses on the core outcomes of connecting with others, inspiring hope, maintaining a positive identity, finding meaning and empowerment. This study found that this co-production approach could be a positive experience for all involved and offer opportunities for vicarious learning. Recovery colleges offer peer-support and people with dementia and carers often value having opportunities to meet others in a similar situation to share their concerns and learn from others who would understand them (9). Peer support can be offered within other group-based interventions. The paper by Chadwick et al. evaluated an exercise programme for people with dementia and carers, identifying multiple benefits in terms of being able to take part in activities they enjoy and helping them to maintain their TYPE Editorial PUBLISHED