How can we improve acute care for people with dementia?
Introduction
Hospitals have a large population of people who are living with dementia yet this group has some of the worst outcomes.
The hospital environment can be disorientating and frightening for people with dementia. These acute care settings are designed for young patients which is problematic for those with dementia.
The University of West London's Professor Katie Featherstone, Professor of Sociology and Medicine, and Director of the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory within the School of Medicine and Biosciences, and Dr Andy Northcott, Senior Lecturer in Sociology of Medicine, carried out research to improve acute care for people with dementia.
They undertook a full year of observations on acute care wards and documented their findings.
Video
The research found that care given to patients on the wards was fast-paced and rigid which has negative repercussions on patients but also on staff.
Improving the system to allow more time for staff to provide emotionally driven care, to talk to patients and to make them feel safe can have a significant impact on those with dementia.
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