Local community gets behind initiative to help people with dementia
Activities co-ordinator Kelly Lampert and Kimmeridge Ward Sister Hannah Gardner show off some of the items sent in by kind-hearted local residents
Staff in Poole Hospital’s Elderly Medicine department have been overwhelmed by support from the local community following a request for items from the past to help people with dementia and elderly patients.
Hospital staff put out the request in December to help with the creation of special ‘reminiscence boxes’, designed to stimulate discussion and prompt recollection. Items including newspapers, books, toys, kitchen items and jigsaws were donated by generous Dorset residents, along with photographs of the local area dating back as far as the early 1900s.
The initiative is just one part of a range of work taking place at Poole Hospital to help patients with dementia. The Hospital has set up a working group of doctors, nurses, dieticians and specialist clinical staff to ensure that support is available, and recent initiatives have included:
- Specialist training for nursing staff to help them assess and manage dementia
- Adapted menus to support patients’ nutritional requirements
- Training for volunteers to assist with feeding
- Close partnerships with other organisations, including mental health teams and social services, to improve overall care for patients with dementia
Kelly Lampert organised the recent appeal, and is the Activities Co-ordinator for Kimmeridge Ward – a role that involves providing support to elderly patients to aid their wellbeing. Kelly arranges activities such as quizzes, bingo and crafts, and helps patients on an individual basis in a variety of ways – for example, by washing hair, helping with showers and crucially, providing a listening ear to people who want to talk.
Kelly said: “We are extremely grateful to all the local people who gave so generously in our recent appeal. I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone for their support – the items that were given to us have already been put to great use, and have helped to stimulate group discussions and bring back a lot of happy memories.”
Val Horn, Matron for Elderly Medicine said: “We are committed to treating all our patients with dignity and respect at Poole Hospital, and we want to make sure that people with dementia receive the care and support they need whilst in hospital – and once they return home. Initiatives such as the reminiscence boxes can make a real difference in helping to lift patients’ spirits, as well as aiding recollection.”
Date: 4 March 2010