Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s Dementia Outreach Team have extended their community outreach service to provide a seven-days-a-week service, open from 8am to 6pm, for people on the Island who have been diagnosed with dementia.
This change follows a successful trial over the last four weeks to deliver support to people and families experiencing a dementia-related crisis.
To further improve this service, this specialist support is now also available on weekends. People who need this support are seen in their own homes, care homes or residential homes.
Team delivers a specialised community service
It is a small but dedicated team, consisting of Dementia Specialist Interest Healthcare Practitioners based at St Mary’s Hospital.
The team delivers a specialised community service which is focused on the needs of those people and their families, carers and loved ones who have been diagnosed with dementia and are experiencing a dementia related crisis.
Tucker: Team has worked hard to build relationships with colleagues across the system
Jo Tucker, Older Persons Cluster Lead, said,
“Our dementia outreach service was launched just over two years ago, providing a five-days-a-week service. We’ve worked closely with people living with dementia, their families, carers, residential and nursing homes and identified that working seven days a week, would make a positive impact to support people in crisis and to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
“The team has worked hard to build relationships with colleagues across the system, including our partner agencies and independent, third sector and voluntary agencies to help provide the best wraparound support for people living with dementia in our community.
“We’re really pleased that moving to a seven-day service will ensure we are able to provide additional support for people living with dementia across our island community in times of crisis.”
Find out more
You can find out more about dementia and further support including helpful resources on the following Websites:
News shared by Isle of Wight NHS Trust, in their own words. Ed
