The Exeter Daily - Exeter

It's World Alzheimer’s Month - Have you Heard of Young Onset Dementia?

Gina Awad - Exeter Dementia Action Alliance Lead — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 11:11:41 +0000

When most hear the word dementia it’s often Alzheimer’s disease and older people they think about. In fact there are over 100 types of dementia.

However for this piece I want to raise awareness and touch upon one of the more rare types - Young Onset Dementia (YOD) which means the person diagnosed is under 65.

This presents many challenges such as the person may have a young family, be working and also struggle to get a definitive diagnosis.

It is estimated there are over 70,800 people living with Young Onset Dementia in the UK.

Raising awareness is key.

"Dementia is described as ‘young onset’ when symptoms develop before the age of 65, usually between 30 to 65 years of age. It is also referred to as ‘early onset’ or ‘working age’ dementia, but these terms can cause confusion.

‘Early onset’ can be interpreted as the early stages of dementia and ‘working age’ is now less defined as retirement age is more flexible.

As dementia is frequently and wrongly, thought of as a condition that is just associated with old age, the early symptoms of young onset dementia are not always recognised and may be attributed to other causes including depression, stress, menopause, physical health problems and relationship issues.

This can lead to a significant delay (on average four years) in getting an accurate diagnosis and access to appropriate support and can have a negative impact on not just the person with dementia’s life but also the whole family.

Over the past few years I have met a number of people who waited between two and five years to obtain a definitive diagnosis of Young Onset Dementia and were initially misdiagnosed. This is partly due to lack of knowledge, and the person presenting in more unusual ways making it more difficult for loved ones and GPs to recognise what is causing the symptoms".

Three years ago Sarah approached me concerned about her mum Joy, who was 58-years-old. We chatted and she relayed to me a few situations which were beginning to worry her more and more.

Dementia didn’t enter Sarah’s mind, why would it, her mum was 58. It was a disease she knew little about but always assumed “only older people lived with it”. Joy was presenting with symptoms such as confusion, forgetting work meetings and events she would always remember, as well as difficulty following conversations.

I gently suggested a visit to her GP would be worthwhile. Broaching the issue with her mum was tough but eventually she agreed. After nine months of monitoring and a referral to the Memory Clinic Joy was diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia.

Fortunately her employer was understanding and with reasonable adjustments in place she has continued to work.

Dementia is the biggest health and social care challenge of the century and there is currently no cure, therefore information is vital and knowledge is power.

From over a decade learning about dementia and working with families, I understand the fear around the prospect of a diagnosis, but please know there is support available. In the meantime our hope is to one day find a cure.

Do check out the links below as they are extremely informative and offer a wealth of resources…

https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/young-onset-dementia/what-is-young-onset-dementia/

https://www.raredementiasupport.org/

I am a dementia consultant for the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance and an advocate for families affected by dementia supporting them to navigate the complex health and social care system.

Ambulance service and the Prince’s Trust to host a three-day career access course for young people in Devon

News Desk — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 20:12:41 +0000

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) will be hosting a three-day career access course in partnership with the Prince’s Trust, for young people aged 18 – 30 years old, at the Trust’s headquarters in Exeter from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 September.

The course will offer individuals an insight into three job roles at the region’s ambulance service, Emergency Medical Dispatcher (999 call taker), Vehicle Preparation Operative and an Administrator.

Anyone who attends the course will be guaranteed a space on an assessment day to interview for a position at SWASFT.

This is the first access course being run in Devon, after successful courses in Bristol and Dorset, where over 120 young people attended over three days. 79% were offered a role with the ambulance service after successfully completing the course.

A previous candidate who attended a course, said: “It’s really interactive, you get to make new friends and socialise with people with similar interests and values as yourself. You can be yourself and are made to believe you can do it.

“It’s super informative. It gives you great insights into the job you’re applying for, you can ask questions and get responses straight away as opposed to having to wait for emails. I’ve met some great people too, and loved the team that took part in the programme.”

Georgia Boot, Assistant HR Services Manager at SWASFT, said: “It has been the highlight of my career so far to break down barriers and create opportunities for young people in our communities to start their employment with us. They are the future of the ambulance service and I believe they have long careers ahead of them with us!”

Casper from the Prince’s Trust, said: “SWASFT has been excellent to work with, their teams are friendly, compassionate and share my passions of breaking down barriers to employment and creating a diverse healthcare service. We’re delighted to work with SWASFT to offer these amazing opportunities to young people and support them in career development”.

The roles being offered as part of the career access course are integral to SWASFT delivering dedicated patient care.

Emergency Medical Dispatchers are the first point of contact to the ambulance service for people experiencing a medical emergency. When they receive a 999 call, they are responsible for recording patient information and offering advice or reassurance.

The details that they input help to categorise the seriousness of the illness or injury, to ensure that the patient receives the most appropriate care.

Vehicle Preparation Operatives ensure ambulances are ready to treat patients. Main duties include detailed cleaning and infection prevention and control activities, checking and inspecting medical devices, restocking consumables, refuelling, and driving vehicles across various locations.

For more information and to sign up for the course, please visit -https://sectors.princes-trust.org.uk/health-social-care/courses/south-west-swas-10-Sep .

A Feast for the Senses: Powderham Food Festival Returns

CJC_Media — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 08:59:11 +0000

The much-anticipated Powderham Food Festival is back, promising a mouthwatering celebration of the finest food and drink the South West has to offer. Taking place over two days, 5th - 6th October from 10am to 5pm, this year’s event is set to showcase over 100 of the finest food and drink producers from Devon and beyond.

Nestled in the stunning grounds of Powderham Castle, the festival will showcase a huge array of local producers, offering everything from quality meat (Pipers Farm) artisanal cheeses (Quickes Cheese) and handcrafted breads to award-winning ciders, locally distilled gin (Thunderflower Gin) and craft beers (Bay Brewery). Visitors can indulge in a culinary journey, sampling a diverse range of sweet and savoury flavours.

In addition to the mouth-watering food stalls, the festival will feature live cooking demonstrations, offering inspiration for home cooks and aspiring foodies alike.

Families are welcome to enjoy a range of activities, from face painting and climbing walls to live music and entertainment, including the ever-popular chilli-eating challenge ensuring there’s something for everyone.

Derry Tydeman said; “Powderham Castle provides the perfect location for local producers to showcase their craftsmanship each year. We’re delighted to host such a talented roster of local businesses for our community to experience the very best food, drink and entertainment our region has to offer. We can't wait to welcome everyone for a weekend of delicious discoveries!"

Tickets: £5 per adult, kids under 16 go free, dogs are most welcome and Powderham members go free! Tickets also include entry to the Castle, enabling you to enjoy the full Powderham experience.

Parking is free on a first-come, first-served basis, however we encourage using public transport so you responsibly sample the delicious local drinks on offer!

Powderham Food Festival; https://www.powderhamfoodfestival.com/

Devon County Council and ScottishPower charge up one million miles

News Desk — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 21:12:43 +0000

Devon County Council’s network of public electric vehicle chargers have electrified over one million miles of road travel in under two years since installation.

The chargers, installed in partnership with ScottishPower, aim to help tackle the challenges caused by Devon’s rural and disperse landscape. Currently, 30% of the region’s carbon emissions stem from on-road transportation, which the Council hopes to lower through this partnership that has seen 130 charge points installed across 53 sites.

Carried out on behalf of the Devon Climate Emergency (DEC) initiative, the network rollout has been a collaborative effort between ScottishPower, Devon County Council and five other local councils. With the initial installation taking place in 2022, the network went live last year with the charge points compatible with all makes of EVs, fully charging a 50 kWh battery in 2-4 hours, providing a range of up to 200 miles depending on vehicle specification.

This move has helped the area take strides forward in its road map towards sustainable transport with the public EV charging infrastructure benefiting both local residents and tourists. These charge points have been strategically placed in public carparks, including park and ride facilities, to optimise Devon's sustainable public transport network, making it easier for people to adopt greener travel habits.

Last year, the UK Department of Transport reported that the average person in England travelled 5,720 miles in one year, with the majority of these journeys being taken by car*. In the first year of being live, the new network of charge points in Devon has removed the equivalent to 174 of these yearly journeys and replaced them with fully electric miles.

Andrea Davis, Cabinet Member at Devon County Council for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “Our partnership with ScottishPower has been instrumental in driving the adoption of electric vehicles across Devon. With 30% of our carbon emissions coming from road transportation, it was crucial to take bold steps towards a greener future. By installing these charge points, we are not only reducing emissions but also building confidence among our residents to make the switch to electric vehicles.

“ScottishPower's expertise has been invaluable, offering a seamless installation and maintenance process at a cost that benefits the people of Devon. We are excited about the positive impact this initiative has already had and are excited to see these chargers being used even more over time.”

Andrew Bell, EV Public and Business at ScottishPower, said: “From the beginning of our collaboration, Devon County Council had a clear vision to create a sustainable future for the region. Our goal at ScottishPower is to support such visionary projects by providing the necessary infrastructure and expertise.

“Building a robust network of public EV charge points is essential in encouraging more people to switch to electric vehicles. We are proud to have played a part in making Devon a greener place and look forward to partnering with more local councils to extend this transformation.”

Business leaders and local councils interested in learning more about partnering with ScottishPower for green energy solutions can visit:scottishpower.co.uk/greener-business

Lord Mayor of Exeter to attend local summer family fun day

Exeter News Blog — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 19:17:59 +0000

The summer holidays are slowly coming to an end, however there are still plenty of fun-filled events and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Radis Community Care’s Exeter-based extra care housing service, Edward’s Court, is welcoming the local community to its August summer fete and will take place on Saturday 31st August between 1pm-4pm, with the Lord Mayor of Exeter also in attendance.

Providing a day of fun and entertainment for the local community whilst raising money for Edward’s Court’s resident’s activity fund, the summer fete promises to be the ultimate family fun day.

The extra care service provides 53 one and two bedroom apartments, with residents having access to a variety of on-site services, including a restaurant and a hairdressers.

Working closely with Exeter City Council and Devon County Council, Edward’s Court also holds regular activities, groups and classes for residents to enjoy, prioritising a seamless, independent way of living.

The summer fete is open to the public with free entry, and will include a variety of activities, games and entertainment.

With a range of stalls and local businesses also in attendance, they will be selling the likes of jewellery, pre-loved clothes and home fragrance. There will also be a cake sale, face painting and games, as well as bric-a-brac, tombola and live entertainment throughout the day.

Barbara Beames, Activity Coordinator at Edward’s Court said of the upcoming summer fete:

“We love bringing people together, and a summer fete is the perfect way to do that. It’s always a fantastic day, seeing the residents, their families, friends and the local community come together in such high spirits.”

With plenty of live entertainment and delicious food stalls, the staff at Edward’s Court are putting on a show stopping summer fun day.

The summer fete will be held at Edward’s Court, Millbrook Lane, Exeter, EX2 6FU.

For more information on Radis Community Care or the services on offer, please visit www.radis.co.uk or email edwardscourt@radis.co.uk for further information on Edward’s Court.

Non-swimmer becomes lifeguard and swim teacher in two years

Exeter News Blog — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:22:25 +0000

An Exeter Leisure worker who could barely swim less than two years ago has gone on to become a fully qualified lifeguard and swim teacher.

Twenty-five-year-old Paige has shown resilience and determination in her short career so far and demonstrated that she not just content with treading water when it comes to job satisfaction.

Paige started working for the City Council in 2020 as a receptionist for Pyramids Leisure Centre. When the facility closed down to make way for the state-of-the-art St Sidwell’s Leisure Centre, Paige transferred across to work in the creche.

Unfortunately, the creche proved unsustainable and Paige was again forced to look at other options. She was offered a position as a lifeguard but could barely swim a length!

Unwilling to let this be a set-back, Paige set about learning to swim properly. The only catch was she had to do this in around four weeks before her life-saving qualification!

“At the time I was in the process of buying my first house and I needed to ensure I had something secure, but my biggest worry was that I could barely swim!” admitted Paige.

No problem at all! She set about the task with dogged determination, teaching herself and enlisting the help of one of the Exeter Leisure lifeguards. Paige passed her NPLQ first time!

“After I had completed my course, some other job opportunities came up (swimming instructor and a swimming co-ordinator). I thought if I could teach myself to swim in such a short period of time, I could teach other people too.

“I’ve always loved working with children, so I applied for both and I am now a fully qualified level two teacher and I manage the swimming lessons at Exeter Leisure.”

Charlotte Tregedeon, General Manager at Exeter Leisure, said Paige’s character and determination shone through in her role: “She has not let minor setbacks get in her way and has embraced opportunities even when they have been out of her comfort zone.”

Cllr Duncan Wood, Lead Councillor for Leisure Services & Healthy Living, said: “Paige’s story is a wonderful example of triumph through adversity. A number of times in her career she was not willing to admit defeat and instead strive to learn new skills. She is a fantastic asset to Exeter Leisure and we’re proud to have her onboard.”

Photo: Exeter City Council.