Dementia patients get better care (From Bournemouth Echo)

Dementia patients get better care

1:00pm Monday 14th July 2008

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BEING admitted to a busy general hospital is scary for anyone, but more so for people with dementia, who may suddenly find themselves ill or in pain amid unfamiliar surroundings.

The Royal Bournemouth Hospital, in collaboration with Dorset HealthCare Trust, is trying to improve the care of such patients by basing two mental health liaison nurses on the wards.

Sue Scadding, senior clinical leader in rehabilitation at the trust, explained: "We recognised a little while ago that the incidence of people coming in with physical illness and mental problems was increasing.

"The purpose of the nurses is to provide specialist assistance to older patients, and to support patients and their families through often quite difficult times."

Dementia is used to describe a range of symptoms, including a decline in memory, reasoning and communication skills; and a gradual loss of practical skills. One in 20 people over 65 and one in five over 80 have it, but there are many younger sufferers - and the problem is on the increase.

Although the nurses spend much of their time on medicine for the elderly wards, they have been called to every single ward in the hospital, including day surgery. They provide a link between patients and community-based services, advise managers, and educate members of hospital staff about dementia and how it can affect patients' behaviour.

In the past, elderly confused patients have been known to wander out of the hospital. Four wards have now been fitted with an alarm system, triggered when a patient wearing a special wristband tries to leave.

"We have no problems with them wandering on the wards - we need to keep them mobile - and nurses may well wander with them or walk them around the grounds, but safety is paramount," said Sue.

"We've introduced diversionary therapies such as rummage boxes or looking at old photographs, so that if a patient is distressed or frightened, a nurse can sit with them."

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