Supporting Dementia patients
Dementia
Visiting the hospital while living with dementia can be stressful and worrying for both patients and their families or carers.
At Royal Surrey, we are continually working towards making the hospital Dementia Friendly. Our multidisciplinary team enhances care and the experience for both patient and carer.
Lydia Russell, the Dementia and Delirium Lead Nurse, oversees all dementia and delirium care and provides support and advice for patients and their families or carers. You can contact Lydia at 01483 571 122 ex 4346 or via email at lydiarussell@nhs.net.
How we identify that you have Dementia
Forget-Me-Not Scheme
The Forget-Me-Not symbol is used in the hospital to identify patients with dementia, prompting staff to adjust their communication accordingly.
My Care Passport
We developed the 'This is me, My care passport' with the Alzheimer’s Society and Learning Disability Specialists. This document offers vital patient information, enabling staff to deliver compassionate person-centred care.
The document can be used when caring for patients with a variety of conditions. Download and fill in your My Care Passport.
Once you have filled out the passport please pass it on to the ward staff.
How we identify that you have Dementia
Hospitals can be disorienting for patients with dementia, however there are ways to make their stay easier:
- Let staff know that you or the patient has dementia.
- Families should ask for the name of the nurse, ward sister or consultant in charge of the patient and inform them you need to be involved when they make any decisions.
- Mention to the nurse or doctor if the patient with dementia is more confused than normal. It may be a sign of delirium.
- Give staff information about the patient's preferences using a My Care Passport. Bring the passport into the hospital and place it on the bedside. Download a My Care Passport. Alternatively, you can ask the ward staff for a physical copy.
- Contact the Dementia and Delirium Lead Nurse and make them aware of the patient. We can learn more about the patient and their family.
- Ask staff members to help the patient if they have trouble eating and drinking or ask if you can help. Finger foods are available to avoid using a knife and fork.
- If appropriate, tell staff how they may communicate that they are in pain or need the toilet.
- Let staff know that a patient is prone to becoming restless and wonders. You can all work together to identify ways of helping the person.
Support our Dementia Care Fund
The Royal Surrey Charity established the Dementia Charity Fund in 2012.
Previous donations have gone towards buying equipment such as a Tovertafel (Magic Table) and Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Activities (RITA) tablets.
All these items, are used by staff and volunteers to help improve a person’s wellbeing, stimulate past memories and encourage conversation. They are used to build trust and a relationship between staff and patients.