This in from IW NHS, in their own words. Ed
Isle of Wight NHS Trust is one of 116 hospitals and care homes across England that have been awarded a share of a £50 million fund to create pioneering care environments designed for the needs of people with dementia.
The Island’s project forms part of the first national pilot to showcase the best examples of dementia friendly environments across England, to build evidence of the type of changes that have the most benefit for dementia patients.
Working together to improve environments
Isle of Wight NHS Trust in partnership with eight (8) residential and four (4) nursing care home providers on the Island and the Isle of Wight Council, are working together to improve environments for people with dementia across a range of settings, including three wards – Appley, Colwell and Shackleton – in St Mary’s hospital.
Although Shackleton at St. Mary’s was recently opened as a state of the art dementia facility the funds will enable a special garden to be created for dementia patients.
Welcoming the news, Dr Richard Braithwaite, Consultant Psychiatrist and Lead Clinician for the Memory Service at Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said,
“The risk of developing dementia increases as you get older, so it is becoming more common as we all live longer. Going into hospital or being discharged into a care home can be very daunting experiences for many people. But those with dementia, who may be unable to make sense of their surroundings, can find such moves even more unsettling. This funding will enable our hospital and community accommodation and facilities to become calmer and less threatening for these patients.
“Colour schemes and facilities will be consistent between care homes and the hospital, so that when patients are admitted and discharged they will be in a familiar environment. We hope this will be reassuring to patients and assist their carers in looking after them. In this way, the funding will enable us to put the Island at the forefront of excellence in dementia care.”
The £987,362 funding, which must be used by 31st March 2014, is being allocated as follows:
- Nursing Homes – £316,175
- Residential Care Homes – £272,154
- Isle of Wight NHS Trust – £399,033
Nursing and Residential Care Homes who were selected from initial expressions of interest will be presenting their proposals for use of the funding following a workshop being held on 23rd August 2013.
Sian Bayer, Service Manager in the Memory Service at Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s said:
“The project will be a step towards creating a dementia friendly island, by providing some of the most vulnerable people with dementia with an environment which is standardised and harmonised across different care settings. This will reduce the distress caused by movement between for example nursing homes and hospital and should improve the quality of life and safety in each care environment.”
The funding will be spent on improvements to the care environment and facilities and will include improved lighting to promote mobility, new flooring (non slip and non shiny), redecoration (based on a ‘dementia friendly style guide’ to create a consistent approach, e.g. yellow doors, across hospital, nursing and residential care settings, new signage, the garden project at St. Mary’s, dementia activity equipment and new crockery.
Speaking about the award of the funds Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt MP said:
“There is little doubt that our home and work environment has an important impact upon our day to day lives – and our care environment is no exception.
“We can encounter any number of places and spaces in one day, and yet for someone with advanced dementia even walking from one room to another can be difficult. This pilot scheme will form an important first step towards driving forward better care environments for people with dementia.
“Funding was awarded to projects that demonstrate how practical changes to the environment within which people with dementia are treated in will make a tangible improvement to their condition.
“The projects will form part of the first national pilot to showcase the best examples of dementia friendly environments across England, to build evidence around the type of physical changes that have the most benefit for dementia patients.
“Cluttered ward layouts and poor signage in hospitals and care homes were cited as the top reasons for causing confusion and distress in people with dementia in research conducted by The King’s Fund.
“Replacing reflective sanitary ware and surfaces, and installing clearer signage using distinctive colours and pictures, has been shown to help dementia patients manage their condition better by helping to reduce confusion and agitation.”
Nursing and residential care homes and voluntary organisations interested in the project can contact:
- Sian Bayer, Service Manager and Project Sponsor – [email protected] or 01983- xx5397
- Linda Keighley, Project and Service Development Manager – [email protected] or 01983-822099 Ext 5655
The majority of services provided by Isle of Wight NHS Trust are commissioned and funded by Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS England and Isle of Wight Council.
Image: CJ Isherwood under CC BY 2.0
