n DEMENTIA NEWS

By Harry Mottram:

Recently the Mission Theatre in Bath staged the Florian Zeller play The Father which has as its main theme dementia - as the eponymous character’s personality slowly shifts into a twilight zone where memory and moods are affected.

The theatre held a collection after each performance for The Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE) based in the RUH.

RICE is an internationally renowned research and treatment centre as well as an independent charity focused on essential research and providing support for people with dementia and other conditions of older age, their families and carers; dedicated to improving the quality of life of everyone involved.

The play at the Mission had pricked my interest and so intrigued I visited their HQ to chat to Dr Cathy Wernham, Clinical Research Fellow and Academic Geriatrician about the work they do.

“I have two jobs here, one is with the memory clinic and the other is in research where we do a lot of exciting work,” she said, “I was working at Batheaston as a GP and partner at a practice and we did some research with older folk and I found it enjoyable and interesting.”

The work sparked her interest and so the Bathonian switched to RICE to help in the pioneering work. Currently there are three clinical research trials running at RICE.

Local people with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment are welcome to apply to RICE to take part in these trials free of charge. They can contact RICE at info@rice. org.uk’

Back to the trials: there is the Evoke trial (with the Danish multinational pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk); Autonomy trial (with Belgium based Janssen); and the Envision trial (with Biogen from Massachusetts) - so clearly an international effort in the research which will only grow as the population lives longer.

And that is reflected in the increase in the number of patients being referred to RICE via their GPs.

One of the things Melissa Hillier, CEO at RICE wanted to stress was their rating as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission who judge standards in the medical field. She showed me around the centre - a modern and stylish three storey building on the RUH campus with its waiting room, therapy rooms, gardens and clinical research area. All very impressive as clearly this is a centre of international importance. And dare I say it a facility that many of us of a certain age may well be grateful for its work in the future.

How it works: patients are usually referred to RICE by their GP. The GP may conduct blood tests before referral to check other potential causes of memory problems. They may also order a head CT scan. RICE checks the test results and at that point the patient enters the Memory Clinic Cathy spoke about. Patients take thinking tests she explained and a medical history is built up as the patient is examined. A likely diagnosis is arrived at and a suggested treatment set in train which include follow up appointments. It’s all very friendly and welcoming for a period in a patient’s life which is inevitably unwelcome.

With Hollywood star Bruce Willis recently diagnosed with dementia and the news of break through drugs like Lecanemab - the development of the condition is a subject set to see further research news and understanding. For more on RICE www.rice.org.uk/

By Harry Mottram.

It was 25 years ago that a scheme was founded in the days of New Labour amid concerns about young people being at a ‘risk of offending’.’

Mentoring Plus has come a long way since then with an emphasis on Mentoring as a more positive view of helping a new generation negotiate life with the use of adult mentors.

In that quarter of a century Mentoring Plus has helped more than 1,000 young people with finding ‘a positive path forward, helping them cope with life’s challenges and feel happier and more confident,’ as they put it.

The charity based at the Riverside Youth Hub in Victoria Place tucked down a short lane off London Road is seeking new voluntary mentors as well as help in funding.

In 2005 the funding for the scheme was axed by the Government in the new era of austerity but Bath’s Council stepped in with an annual sum of £65,000. Today that figure hasn’t risen so finding the shortfall of around £35,000 is down to fundraising, applying for grants and donations from the public.

The Mentors have one to one relationships with the young people who need help and they come from all corners of society.

Ruth Keily, the charity’s CEO said that meeting once a month with the volunteer mentors restores her faith in humanity.

Keily a the Riverside Youth Hub off London Road community manager at the youth hub has previously volunteered in a number of organisations including Bath City Farm and has been with the hub for three years.

“We have 60 mentors and they come from all sorts of backgrounds,” she said, “former social workers and teachers who perhaps have moved into management but miss working with young people. Some are looking to move into social services as a career switch and want to gain experience, while others just want to make a difference.”

Ruth has a background in in marketing in banking and has been with the charity for nine years. Her colleague Becki Fox who is the

Young people often struggling in school, with family difficulties or with mental well being need time and help to stay safe and fulfil their potential with mentors who are fully trained she explained.

Mentors build up a relationship with a young person who can be any age from five to 25 over a year gaining their trust and a shared interest such as dance, sports or animals and the countryside.

Becki said that often the young person may only really unload what concerns them after several months but it’s important that they are listened too as the many testimonials on their website illustrate what a life transforming time being mentored can be.

For instance one girl had been affected by bullying, low self-esteem, social isolation, low mood and significant challenges at home. Following mentoring she changed, became more confident and developed an interest in drama.

Another, this time a young lad came to the scheme depressed and angry but mentored with a strong female role model with a shared interest in music led to him recording his music in the hub’s studio.

The mentors have a budget of £45 a month which can be used for tickets or admission charges - and it doesn’t matter who the mentor is they all get the same - so it keeps activities realistic with as Ruth puts it: so no trips to Disneyland.

For more information about Mentoring Plus - to find out about mentoring and whether it’s for you and also to help with fund raising if possible visit https://mentoringplus. net/or call Becki or Ruth on 01225 429694.