Rachel Hayden and Sara Paterson are Admiral nurses Abigail Kusi Otchere is the dementia specialist nurses for HHFT. They work closely with the associate practitioners and senior health care support workers.
Their roles include providing support to patients, relatives, and carers of patients with dementia who are admitted to the hospital.
The ‘This is me’ booklet is available for all patients with dementia. The booklet lists the patients likes, dislikes and interests and allows us to tailor our care to his/ her preferences.
We also use our Sunflower Scheme to assist us in improving the care and safety of patients in the hospital who have dementia. A discreet sunflower picture is placed above the patient’s bed so that staff can easily identify those patients who will need additional support, reassurance and assistance.
Virtual Appointment with Admiral nurse: Closer to home - Dementia UK
The Trust supports John’s Campaign.
John’s Campaign is the capacity for the main carer to stay with the patient during their hospital stay and to have open visiting hours. John’s Campaign aims for carers to have a right to continue to care for their loved one throughout a hospital stay, should they wish to.
We work closely with the activity coordinators who provide various therapeutic activities that have been designed to stimulate.
Level 2 - Care and communicaion
Click here for further details on dementia training and how to book
Barbara, the whole story - an interesting video of a patient's experience in hospital and in the community
A walk throgh dementia - unique view of putting you in the shoes of someone living with dementia
Alzheimer's Society Real Stories- real stories of individuals living with dementia
Dementia team newsletters
Memory Box Project newsletters
Reminiscence activities
Media has played an important part in raising awareness about dementia and often helps promote and communicate the difficulties' that individuals can face . Some staff may find such films educational and useful as conversation starter with collegues.
We should remember that films often do not portray the illnesses accurately and other reinforce stereotypes. However, below are a list of films that have attempted to handle the subject in a sensitive manner .
- Away From Her (2007)
- Still Alice (2015)
- The Savages (2007)
- The Notebook (2004)
- Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch (2001)
- Still Mine (2012)
- The Iron Lady (2011)
John’s Campaign is the capacity for the main carer to stay with the patient during their hospital stay and to have open visiting hours. John’s Campaign aims for carers to have a right to continue to care for their loved one throughout a hospital stay, should they wish to. This is already supported in children’s services and the same approach would benefit distressed patients removed from their normal environment.
The work has come out of the experiences of Dr John Gerrard in a district general hospital in 2014 – “my father entered hospital articulate and able: he emerged a broken man.” Nicci Gerrard.
Phase 1 of John’s Campaign is being implemented across the whole trust on the 18th May 2015. The opportunity to stay with the patient at night is at the discretion of the ward sister with consideration for if the ward environment is able to accommodate this while still meeting the need for the privacy and dignity of all patients to be preserved.
For more information please go to www.johnscampaign.org.uk
Useful document: Johns Campaign poster
If staff have any issues or help needed to fill in any forms please contact the team
