Trust investigates care for dementia patients

Lack of solid research into dementia and sight loss is hampering the provision of services and there is 'a long way to go' in improving the visual health of sufferers according to the Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT).

To address the lack of knowledge available to optical practitioners, the TPT has published a study entitled The development of professional guidelines for people with dementia, which was presented at the first national Dementia and Sight Loss conference in London on December 1.

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Bradford Schools of Optometry and Health Studies and found that policy and practice were hampered by 'a serious lack of basic research into concurrent dementia and sight loss'.