People with Dementia Being Admitted to Hospital

FOI REFERENCE:24004

FOI TITLE: People with Dementia Being Admitted to Hospital     

FOI DATE: 2^nd April 2024  

Where someone with an existing Dementia diagnosis is admitted to WRI as an emergency admitted, at what point are the Carers provided with a “Get to know me form”?

For patients with a known diagnosis of dementia who do not already have an Alzheimer’s Society “This is Me” booklet (or similar), we encourage families or carers to complete our ‘About Me’ booklet, to support individualised person-centred care. This is usually provided when the patient is admitted to an assessment area or ward. For relatives or carers of people with dementia who are unable to visit the patient in hospital we have created a ‘What Matters to Me’ sheet which staff can complete in a telephone conversation with relatives or carers.

If the admission is planned, is this form set to the Carer in advance of the admission?

The ‘About Me’ document is not routinely sent out in advance of admission. The Trust internet has a Dementia section which states “Please ask a nurse for an “About Me” booklet which you can fill in to help us understand your preferences and develop an individualised care plan. If you already had a “This is Me” Alzheimer’s Society booklet, please bring this in with you so we can take a photocopy”. https://staging.worcsacute.mixd.co.uk/dementia/

Is this procedure used across all services within the Trust?

Yes, this is standardised across the Trust.

Is there a dedicated support service from specialist Mental Health Nurses, for staff working on Acute Wards, who experience problems with people suffering from Dementia?

Yes, there is a Specialist Dementia Team which includes both Adult and Mental Health Nurses who support patient’s, staff and carers.