ITS THE PERSON THAT MATTERS

1
ITS THE PERSON THAT MATTERS

• Providing only the highest standards of care for
  people with dementia.

2
Problems surrounding care today

• The focus of nursing is often on what the person
  can not do rather than what they can.
• Weight loss is seen as a part of growing old and
  dementia by some.
• Many reports in the press about dehydration and
  malnourishment in care homes.
• Lack of meaningful stimulation.
• Incontinence is seen as a part of dementia.

3
Barriers to providing good personal care

• Institutionalisation staff have set ways in how
  care is delivered.
• Reluctance to change staff often resist new
  ideas and changes.
• Complaints we often feel that change will cause
  complaints from families and visitors.

4
Overcoming these barriers

• Leadership change and good care needs to be
  lead not managed.
• Training staff need in-depth training on how to
  support and care for residents with dementia.
• Involvement residents, families and staff
  should be involved in changes and generating new
  ideas.
• Positive feedback as well as saying when things
  are being done wrong, we need to praise when
  things are being done well.

5
Changes made to provision of personal care

• Environmental design changes these allowed
  residents to be more independent and involved in
  their care.
• Routine staff learned what the residents
  routine and habits were and care is delivered
  around this, instead of residents fitting into
  staffs routine.
• Protected meal times allowed residents to have
  meals without interruption which enhanced their
  meal experience and promoted independence.
• Change of focus instead of highlighting what
  residents can no longer do, staff now focus on
  what they can do and how this can enhance their
  lives.

6
Importance of good personal care

• Quality of life poor personal care can impact
  on a persons abilities making them more
  dependent.
• Emotional impact poor personal care can lead to
  depression, aggression or agitation.
• To maintain existing skills and support when
  needed.
• It allows for a trusting, therapeutic
  relationship to be built between resident and
  staff.
• If we promote independence instead of dependence
  it allows for more quality time to be spent with
  residents.

7
What impact do these changes have?

• Residents are more independent and involved
  within their care and the running of the unit.
• When required medication for agitation has
  reduced from on average 20 times a week, to only
  once a week.
• Meal times is now a pleasurable and social
  experience instead of just another task.
• Where 6 residents required assistance with eating
  and drinking before there is now only two, and a
  70 reduction in weight loss.

8
What impact do these changes have?

• A more relaxed and happier environment has been
  achieved.
• There is now more time to spend quality time with
  residents.
• Staff are happier at work and report a sense of
  pride and achievement which has in turn impacted
  on staff retention.

9
How can these changes shape the future?

• Promote that change can be a positive and
  rewarding experience for both residents and
  staff.
• Set the standards and expectations of dementia
  care.
• Enhance the quality of life for the person with
  dementia.
• Allow the person with dementia to find their
  voice, and for the person not the illness to be
  seen.
• Change the experience that the person with
  dementia and their families have to one that is
  filled with fun, laughter and happy memories
  instead of bad memories, guilt and heartache.

10
New Start
Dinning room
11
Next Chapter
12
ITS THE PERSON THAT MATTERS

• Providing only the highest standards of care for
  people with dementia.