Our campaign to improve the treatment of people with dementia in hospital is at last beginning to take effect.
I have this week received a copy of the proposed schedule for the training of 'Dementia Champions'. These will be nurses from each area of the hospital, who will receive extra training, and will take their knowledge and experience back to their ward and train others.
The course starts next month, and between then and December there will be 11 days of training. I'm delighted to see that one day will be devoted to interaction with carers, and carers will be invited to take part. (Haven't been invited yet, but will be mad if I'm not!)
They will also spend some time in day centres, probably the one John goes to.
One day looks very interesting, it's called Action Planning, and the nurses will be asked to put forward a problem thay have encountered, and the group, with the help of the facilitators, will discuss strategies for dealing with it. I'd love to be in on that one!
The stated aims of the course are:
It really sounds brilliant. I do hope it works.
I have this week received a copy of the proposed schedule for the training of 'Dementia Champions'. These will be nurses from each area of the hospital, who will receive extra training, and will take their knowledge and experience back to their ward and train others.
The course starts next month, and between then and December there will be 11 days of training. I'm delighted to see that one day will be devoted to interaction with carers, and carers will be invited to take part. (Haven't been invited yet, but will be mad if I'm not!)
They will also spend some time in day centres, probably the one John goes to.
One day looks very interesting, it's called Action Planning, and the nurses will be asked to put forward a problem thay have encountered, and the group, with the help of the facilitators, will discuss strategies for dealing with it. I'd love to be in on that one!
The stated aims of the course are:
After participation in the course and action learning sets the Champion will be able to:
• Apply the principles of Person Centred Care with particular demonstration of understanding, caring and kindness.
• Discuss and apply an understanding of the different dementia type illnesses and how this may impact upon a person, their carers and wider community.
• Facilitate clear communication with carers/families and person during the person’s journey.
• Discuss and apply a current approach to the delivery of the fundamentals of care.
• Discuss and apply an understanding of the ethical implications of caring for people with a dementia type illness
• Demonstrate through initiating changes in the clinical area, a raised awareness of environmental stressors and barriers for the person with a dementia type illness.
• Plan and implement dissemination of the information from the course with the aim of promoting demonstrable best practice for people with a dementia type illness.
It really sounds brilliant. I do hope it works.