Over 100,000 older people have sight loss and dementia

Chairing the first national 'Dementia and Sight Loss conference' in London, Baroness Sally Greengross will announce that two per cent of people over 75 will have both conditions.  They face double the burden when performing simple tasks like going to the toilet or moving around, and with perception.

The conference brings together 100 professionals in the fields of dementia and sight loss to improve awareness, policy and practice for people with dementia and sight loss. It is one initiative of the Dementia and Sight Loss Interest Group (DASLIG), an alliance of charities, including Alzheimer's Society, leading work to raise awareness as the number of people with both dementia and sight increases.

Clive Evers, Head of Professional Liaison at Alzheimer's Society, says,

'The needs of people with dementia and sight loss are poorly recognised and not adequately addressed. Professionals in the field of dementia lack knowledge about sight loss and sight loss professionals are not equipped to deal with dementia. Nor do they actively communicate with each other. The impact is 100,000 people who have to deal with two of the most challenging conditions.'

 Graham Doggett, who has dementia and problems with his vision, says,

'You fall over and do all sorts of funny things. If I go to the loo there's a good chance I'll go into the women's because of the stylised signs. There are so many mirrors I'll think there are lots of people in the room. But we've got a Radar key, which gives us access to disabled toilets so we can go into a simple situation like this and cope with it.'

Hilary Dyce cares for her mother who has vascular dementia and sight loss. She says,

'There is still a lack of joined up thinking and communication between different departments and services. In mum's case: the falls clinic, the eye clinic and the elderly care team. This has been hugely frustrating and upsetting.'

The conference will hear research from leading expert Professor Sube Bannerjee followed by people with both conditions and their carers speaking powerfully about their experiences. Leaders in the care home and skills regulatory sectors will also speak of the need to improve and change practice.

*Dementia and serious sight loss by Prof. Roy Jones and Dr Richard Trigg.
Thomas Pocklington Trust Occasional Paper February 2007 No.11.
www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/Resources/Thomas%20Pocklington/Documents/PDF/Research%20Publications/OP11.pdf