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22.03.29
13 Deputy K.G. Pamplin of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the
Dementia Strategy within the Jersey Care Model (OQ.50/2022)
Will the Minister advise what work has been done to date in regards to the implementation of the dementia strategy as part of the Jersey Care Model?
The Deputy of St. Ouen (The Minister for Health and Social Services):
Work has recently commenced on developing a dementia strategy, which is an agreed priority within the Jersey Care Model for this year. To date, work has been undertaken to identify key stakeholders and individual meetings have been held with them. Preparatory work has also started to consider what should be included in the strategy and how this may best be developed. The next steps are that a working group will be initiated within the next 6 weeks to bring together the identified stakeholders and agree the approach developing the strategy as well as agreeing a proposed work programme and completion date.
- Deputy K.G. Pamplin:
I thank the Minister for his answer. According to public health statistics, by next year one in every 5 people will be aged 65 and over and dementia will affect 7 per cent of that age group. Will the Minister ensure by the end of his term that this urgent matter is addressed, that the due date for the implementation will be as soon as possible?
The Deputy of St. Ouen :
The end of my term is in June and I think this is a piece of work which needs to be thoroughly worked through. Stakeholders will be doing that during the whole of the year rather than the end of the electoral term, which is unrelated really to what they need to do but the target is for completion by the end of the year.
- Senator S.W. Pallett:
From what the Minister said, it very much sounds as if the intention is to co-produce a dementia strategy. I just would like some reassurance from the Minister that those with lived experience, those that have unfortunately suffered from dementia and their families will be part of that process.
The Deputy of St. Ouen :
That would be so valuable and I am sure that that is included within the work going on because organisations such as Dementia Jersey, Family Nursing, Mind Jersey are all involved. It is going to be very much co-produced and not just an H.C.S. matter.
- Connétable S.A. Le Sueur -Rennard of St. Saviour :
Is there help now for families who have someone with dementia or do they have to wait until towards the end before they can get States help which means that up until then the families are having to pay to have people in homes and to be cared for?
The Deputy of St. Ouen :
Well help starts with the assessment and diagnosis of patients and then Adult Mental Health Services do provide support services and family nursing and other care agencies are involved. But of course where ongoing care is needed, whether for dementia or any other condition, then the long- term care scheme comes into operation which, as we know, does mean that payment is made for services by those who can afford such a payment.
- The Connétable of St. Saviour :
Yes, if it is at all possible. The dementia villages that are in the pipeline at the moment, will they be of help or do they need the staff and will Islanders have to pay for the care there?
The Deputy of St. Ouen :
I think a private company has mooted building a dementia village so this is not something that Government is pursuing. But insofar as it may be a care facility, then I imagine it would operate in much the same way as all other residential care in that patients will be able to claim a benefit under the long-term care scheme for the care they receive if they are eligible for that long-term care scheme. There is one component, which are the living costs, which essentially we all have to pay for.
- Deputy K.G. Pamplin:
While the work continues this year, will the Minister ensure that work is being looked at the current pressures while we wait for the implementation, including the legal situation that care homes are finding when they cannot deliver the specialist care and the pressure that is putting on government- provided facilities?
The Deputy of St. Ouen :
Yes, we continue to look at pressures and needs and try and address those as best we can with all stakeholders and partners. That includes the charitable sector and those who are providing the residential care.