The challenge

Older people are more likely to have diabetes, as many as 1 in 4 older people in residential and nursing care will have diabetes.

Diabetes in older people is often a complex interaction between the relentless process of ageing, a major metabolic disturbance, widespread vascular disease and functional loss. Cognitive dysfunction, depressive illness and falls are also important complications which require innovative strategies to minimise their risk of development.

How does the older people network support you?

The developing older people network is being set up to bring together health and social care professionals from a range of disciplines who are concerned with the care of older people with diabetes. The network members may work in diabetes services, older people’s services, social care or the third or private sectors. They all share a common goal: to ensure that older people with diabetes get the best possible care.

This network is in development and the plan is to build regional groups, which meet regularly to discuss issues pertinent to their area. Additionally, NHS Diabetes will support each of these regional networks by providing updates about new developments at a national level, and by supporting regular meetings for the regional network leads to get together and discuss ideas, research and practice from their area and from national bodies.

As for all our networks, the success of the older people groups are dependent on input from our network members. It is your enthusiasm and participation that keeps the network alive.

Network objectives

• Clearly identify existing inequalities in several clinical and social environments and their impacts, identifying additional areas requiring further investigation
• Promote examples of best clinical practice and evidence based interventions: ensure that the housebound, frail, and those in care homes are a priority, recognising the complex nature of the workforce involved in caring for older people (NHS, social care, private and third sector providers) and how best to support them to deliver effective care
• Develop a communication and knowledge management plan which is informed by an equality and non-discrimination policy and is also applicable to people with diabetes from minority ethnic groups 
• Provide a simple but valid cognitive assessment schedule that can be employed widely within community and primary care settings: this will form part of a diabetes-specific toolkit for older people with diabetes
• Develop an audit tool for residents of care homes as a collaborative project with Diabetes UK
• Promote cultural change in how older people with diabetes are cared for
• Provide a ‘good guidance’ document on diabetes care for older people within the United Kingdom

How to get involved

If you would like to find out about how you can get involved with the older people network please contact Julian Backhouse

Download the older people network flyer (PDF 412.7KB)

New Regional Network pages

• North
  
• Midlands and the East of England
  
• London
  
• South
  

Network e-bulletins

• April 2012
• February 2012 (Word 1.7MB)

Professor Alan Sinclair's Blog

• Feb 2012: Diabetes in older people - what is key to improving care?
  
• April 2012: Diabetes in older people – a focus on end of life care and care homes
  

Supporting resources

• Find out more about our older people work

NHS Diabetes Podcasts: National Diabetes and Older People Network