Region facing massive rise in dementia cases

May 13 2009 by Julie Watt, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

DUMFRIES and Galloway is facing a dementia crisis.

The number of people with the condition is expected to increase by nearly 40 per cent in the next 20 years.

According to NHS estimates around 1,000 people in the region have dementia.

The figures were revealed in a report to the health board on Monday.

Members were told that the region has the largest number of people aged over 65 per head of population in the country.

By 2050 the number of dementia cases is expected to have increased by 150 per cent.

The figures were included in a plan of action, known as the Single Outcome Agreement, which has input from the NHS, the council and the Scottish Government.

According to the report, the number of people over the age of 65 is expected to grow by 51 per cent by 2024, but those aged under 64 is predicted to drop by at least 14 per cent.

The trend has an impact on the demand for health and social care and on the workforce available to deliver services in the future.

The Single Outcome Agreement aims to improve the health and well-being of everyone across the region and to meet their health and social care needs.

The plan also highlights the regionwide strategy to combat obesity. Health chiefs were told that more than half of the region’s population is obese or overweight.

It states: “Prevention and intervention are key issues. We know that 44 per cent of people are not eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and 57 per cent of people are obese or overweight with a clear upward trend reflecting the national position.”

However health bosses are hoping the new DG One leisure complex will have a positive impact on those wanting to lose weight.

Another key priority health officials wish to tackle is improving care for vulnerable young people.

The report stated: “We are focussed on how we deliver services to vulnerable children, trying to demonstrate that by working together more effectively and making changes to practice, systems and processes where required, we can deliver better outcomes for children, young people and families.”

A total of 94 children within Dumfries and Galloway were put on a protection register as at December last year, which is on par with the national average.