Consultation document from the Department of Health which is developing a national strategy for dementia services. This consultation draws on evidence from a wide range of reports and stakeholders, a series of listening events involving over 3,000 people and the recommendations of an External Reference Group. It invites everyone to give their views on the ideas set out in the document, as well as contribute new ideas to the debate.

Supporting older people in care homes at night is a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that identifies that although night-time care forms a significant part of care home provision, there is little research on the subject. Night staff are a vulnerable group, receiving less training, supervision and support than day staff, but with high levels of responsibility.

This report examines the perspectives of residents, relatives, staff and care home inspectors. It identifies both good and poor practice, and recommends improvements through a series of interventions.

Issues explored in depth include:

• the role of regulatory bodies in night-time care inspection;
• the role of managers in supervising and monitoring night-time care;
• causes of distress and sleep disturbance amongst residents;
• the need to reduce the number of checks that occurs throughout the night;
• the training of night staff in areas such as dementia awareness and the management of continence;
• guidance on appropriate noise and light levels; and
• strategies for developing more person-centred care at night.

The Alzheimer’s Society’s Home From Home report calls for care homes to begin operating as specialist dementia care providers. Research shows a typical person with dementia in a care home spends just two minutes in every six hours socially interacting with other people - most of these residents are in the advanced stages of dementia and rely on the support of trained staff.

The Home From Home report features a survey of more than 3,500 people, including relatives of people with dementia, care home staff and managers. The survey shows;

• More than half of people with a relative in residential care say there is not enough for the person with dementia to do each day
• Over one in four family carers feel they do not receive enough information about the care and treatment of the person they care for
• Care home staff say providing care that improves the quality of life of residents with dementia is the top factor in job satisfaction