Admiral Nursing in Primary Care: Peri and Post-Diagnostic Support for Families Affected by Dementia within the UK Primary Care Network Model

Abstract

The UK population is ageing. In 2017 approximately 18% of the UK population were aged 65 years or over and projected to grow to almost 21% by 2027 according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) (2018a). Increased age is the greatest risk factor for developing dementia (Van de Flier & Scheltens 2005). It is estimated that there are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and, if current figures relating to incidence and prevalence are realised, this will increase to 1 million people by 2025 and 2 million by 2051 (Prince et al. 2014). The NHS England Long Term Plan (2019) aims to move services closer to home and improve ‘out of hospital’ care. The overall aim being to reduce the pressure on acute hospital resources, give people more control over their own health and more personalised care closer to home when they need it . Given the increasing numbers and often complex needs of people with dementia and their families there is a growing need to ensure primary and community services are developed to meet their needs. Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses that could support the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan(NHS 2019) aims to families affected by dementia within new models of care.