uk Therapy

There are nearly 18 million people in the world with dementia and the experience of this debilitating condition is unique for each individual, although sadly not so for their family support group for whom it is a universally depressing and frustrating experience.

As the “baby boom” of the 1940’s moves inexorably into a peak in pensioners in the immediate years ahead, this figure is set to rise dramatically and with it, the implications for society of the cost of care and its provision.

Already, much of the cost is met outside the public health sector by the families themselves, an intolerable burden to meet at a time when they themselves need support in all aspects of the care provision.

Dementia

Dementia takes many forms although Alzheimer's disease is the most common form comprising approximately 55 per cent of all cases of dementia. Other forms of dementia include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and Pick's disease.

Many famous people have had Alzheimer's disease. They include the writers Iris Murdoch and Enid Blyton, footballer Danny Blanchflower, US President Ronald Reagan, actors Rita Hayworth and Charles Bronson and the singer Perry Como.

Dementia is not a natural consequence of getting old. 95% of people over 65 and 80% of people over 80 DO NOT suffer with dementia. However, with one person in 20 over the age of 65 and one person in 5 over the age of 80 being affected by dementia it is highly likely that such people are already in your care.

While the physical changes to the brain inherent in the process of Alzheimer’s developing are currently irreversible and incurable, their life limiting affects may be alleviated by improving the quality of life of the person living with Dementia through therapy.

The emotional wellbeing of the individual’s family support group may also benefit from the use of such therapy in easing their understandable feelings of frustration, anger, guilt and grief.

Supporting a loved one suffering from such a condition has often been described as “mourning the living” and much can be done to alleviate the stress of this on the family support group.

What Can Be Done?

Recent research conducted by Dr Daniel Nightingale, Senior Dementia Consultant for Southern Cross Healthcare, in conjunction with Dr Simon Duff of the Division of Clinical Psychology at Liverpool University has shown that specialised hypno-psychotherapy can be effective in improving the quality of life for Alzheimer patients in seven main areas:

1. Concentration on daily tasks thus retaining valued independence
2. Relaxation thereby reducing anxiety which is a common feature
3. Motivation, which helps to avoid depressive states
4. Undertaking daily activities and keeping active
5. Short term memory retention
6. Memory for significant life events
7. Socialisation, thereby avoiding the tendency for self-isolation and depression.

A later study showed that these beneficial effects lasted beyond the original trial period and in some cases had continued to improve.

The Paloma Centre

David Dove of The Paloma Centre in Banbury is one of only a handful of therapists in the UK who have been trained by Dr. Nightingale in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Society and the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy, in these therapeutic techniques and is already receiving requests for support from as far afield as Kings Lynn in Norfolk.

David says “With the shortage of trained therapists it is difficult to meet the demand or even provide limited support in some areas but more trained therapists are coming through the system, although given the specialised one-to-one nature of the training it is going to be some time before there is an adequate number to cover the country”.

He continues “The family support groups are in equal need to the patient. They carry immense burdens of emotional pain and mental anguish which can be hard for them to bear at times and I feel that the benefit of such therapy is as great for them as it is for the patient”.

David is the Principal of The Paloma Centre and is a registered Hypno-Psychotherapist, a Meridian Energies Therapist, a licensed Business Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming and a Life and Executive Coach.

He says “The aim of The Paloma Centre in Banbury is to help clients find their own way of living their life in a more complete, satisfying and resourceful manner. We provide a holistic approach to emotional healing and personal development utilising aspects of psychodynamic, behavioural and person-centred therapies aligned with hypnotic and NLP techniques where appropriate”.

The Paloma Centre is a regulated practice and practitioners are obliged to conform to a strict code of ethics and professional practice which includes being fully insured, undergoing regular clinical supervision and undertaking Continuous Professional Development.

Contact: David Dove

Tel Number: 01295 277686

E-mail: dove@thepalomacentre.com

Web: http://www.thepalomacentre.com

Address: The Paloma Centre Suite 14 Borough House Marlborough Road Banbury OX16 5TH