Caring for Patients with Dementia

The care patients with dementia receive is very high on the agenda for North Bristol Trust (NBT).

Nationally it has been widely acknowledged that more should be done to support patients with dementia, their carers/family and the staff that are looking after them.

Here at NBT, and in partnership with colleagues at neighbouring University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), we have a series of measures that we continue to implement to ensure this group of patients, carers, family, and staff are offered appropriate ongoing support.

NBT have an established nurse led Specialist Dementia Care Team who offer specialised holistic assessment and care planning, carers support and liaison into community services. We also have a Mental Health Liaison Team who offer specialised medical and nursing support. All of our Care of the Elderly Consultants are experienced in supporting people with dementia and other disorders which cause cognitive impairments. We also have a world-renowned Cognitive Neurology Service specialising in diagnosis and research, Specialist Parkinson’s Consultants, and an Admissions Frailty Unit.

These are the principles NBT have implemented.

1. NBT Dementia Strategy 2022-2025: We are proud of the development of our new Dementia Strategy.
2. Education for staff: All staff, whether clinical or non-clinical, have dementia awareness training to recognise the signs of dementia and to generally raise awareness of the issues affecting people with dementia and their families.
3. Dementia champions: All wards and departments have identified Dementia Champions who receive additional regular training and support. Their role is to support patients with dementia and staff by promoting good practice in this area and they also provide feedback to the Dementia Care Team.
4. Environment: NBT continues to improve the environment of care for people with dementia. Changes include recent environments updates to Elgar House, ongoing changes to signage and clocks for every patient room, larger white boards so nurses can write information for individual patients, and reminiscence walls in the Emergency Department and some wards.
5. Use of This is Me: NBT has embraced the use of the ‘This is Me’ document for patients with any cognitive issue. Wards can order these to give to patients/carers/family to complete and we have several dementia stands where these are available. The ‘This is Me’ document enables staff to know more about the person and how to support if the carer/family is not present. 
6. Nutritional care: Specific assessments for elderly patients to make sure they are eating and drinking enough have been rolled out across the Trust. Elderly patients are particularly susceptible to malnutrition, and we are committed to ensure that this doesn’t happen whilst they are with us. We offer a range of food to meet the dietary requirements of induvial patients and have a Dietetics department.  We also offer specialist swallow assessments when required from the Speech and Language Department.
7. Johns Campaign and Carers Support: NBT support carers; we have a Carers Charter and offer ongoing support via the Carers Liaison Service, a carers pass, complementary parking for carers who stay for long periods of time to support and access to staff Restaurant. 

Information on dementia including care in hospital and the hospital discharge processes can be found on the Alzheimer’s Society website.