1.  The National Dementia Declaration lists seven outcomes that the DAA are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers? 

Senior Nurse Dementia Care & Champions have facilitated the use of the ‘This is Me’ document; along with information for patients & carers. The Forget-me-not is our symbol for dementia used at the bedside, on all dementia related documentation and on the name badges of champions. 

We have developed good working relationships with key organisations so that our dementia patient pathways are based on what people with dementia and their carers want. 

With Suffolk Family Carers we jointly manage a Carers Kitchen based onsite for patients & carers to drop-in and have Tea/Coffee with trained listening volunteers/Alzheimers Society staff. Who then signpost to other services 

Haughley ward is our model for dementia friendly wards using colour, art, signage, complimented by exchanging the traditional nurse’s station to a reception desk with seating for patients away from their bed. This supports changing culture and we are working to put these principles in place in other areas.

2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation? 

To embed new practices into organisational culture takes an investment of time and education that is ongoing. As an organisation we are working on ensuring dementia care initiatives become sustainable, a ‘business as usual’ approach to patient care. 

It will be important to ensure that a continued education programme  is delivered  and to continue to resourced this 

Other initiatives to create a friendly familiar environment require dedicated staff/staff time to lead i.e. reminiscence therapy and suitable environments need to be considered during estate changes / refurbishments 

Our hospital is a Nucleus 1 design and the footprint is extremely challenging when trying any redesign, Substantial environment changes to wards require the ability to decant into another suitable area, this creates difficulties as improvement must not have a negative impact on people requiring inpatient beds.

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