Letter to the Editor

In light of current variation in the quality of services provided for older people with dementia in the UK, it is suggested that the speech & language therapy profession undertake a commitment to improvement & regularization of services by offering & advocating interventions. The timeliness of this position is supported by reviews of recent developments in two areas. (1) Research on dementia has led to recognition of different pathological types with characteristic patterns of breakdown in communication & has indicated that the differentiation of the latter may involve problems of access vs storage. Other studies reveal the therapeutic effectiveness of person-centered approaches & a view of patients & caregivers as partners in communication. (2) Increasing evidence supports the effectiveness of speech & language intervention in elderly dementia, particularly with respect to service delivery, direct intervention programs, & patient & carer communication programs. 50 References. J. Hitchcock