Dementia specialist support provider Dementia UK and Lewy Body Society, a charity which funds research and raises awareness of this dementia subtype, have jointly announced the appointment of the first ever Consultant Admiral Nurse for Lewy body dementia.

The appointment of Rachel Thompson, hosted by Dementia UK and funded by the Lewy Body Society, will see her working exclusively on Lewy body dementia for the next two years. Her role will include supporting professionals working with people affected by Lewy body dementia, encouraging links between research and practice, and developing new materials.

Prior to this new role, Rachel Thompson was the Professional and Practice Development Lead for Admiral Nursing at Dementia UK. She played a key role in leading a team which ensures that Admiral Nurses are at the forefront of dementia care through learning and development opportunities, such as through coaching and mentoring.

Rachel Thompson said: “This role gives me a unique opportunity to help embed good practice in care and support those affected by Lewy body dementia, and connect the many professionals who are focusing on the condition. The Lewy Body Society is a small charity that makes a big difference in raising awareness and supporting research, and I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Jacqueline Cannon, Chief Executive of the Lewy Body Society, said: “We would like to welcome Rachel to the team. With her 30 years’ experience as a nurse, plus her expertise in delivering training and in developing services and tools for practitioners, we are sure she will make a big impact on care for people living with Lewy body dementia and their families.”

Lewy body dementia is estimated to affect more than 100,000 people in the UK. It can be diagnosed wrongly and is often mistaken for Alzheimer’s.
The Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline is in partnership with the Lewy Body Society to ensure that anyone affected by Lewy body dementia can access specialist advice and support.

www.dementiauk.org
www.lewybody.org