title: Understanding the needs of people with dementia and family carers.
abstract: This is the first in a short series that presents case study examples of the positive work achieved by trusts who participated in the Royal College of Nursing's development programme to improve dementia care in acute hospitals. When a person with dementia is in hospital, poor understanding of individual needs and preferences can contribute to a lack of person-centred care. Similarly, the needs of family carers can often be overlooked and staff do not always appreciate these needs at such a stressful time. This article illustrates how three NHS trusts have addressed these issues. To help staff get to know patients with dementia, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust has implemented a patient passport. Similarly, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust has implemented a carer passport that overcomes the restrictions imposed by hospital visiting hours. Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust also focused on carers, holding a workshop to elicit feedback on what was important to them. This was a useful means of engaging with carers and helped staff to realise that even simple changes can have a significant effect.
authors: University of Worcester.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Bray
authors: University of Worcester.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Evans
authors: University of Worcester.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Thompson
authors: University of Worcester.
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Bruce
authors: University of Worcester.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Carter
authors: University of Worcester.
authors: Dawn
authors: D
authors: Brooker
authors: University of Worcester.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Milosevic
authors: The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Coleman
authors: Staffordshire University and Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
authors: Wilf
authors: W
authors: McSherry
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D012944:Social Support; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Acute hospitals; carer involvement; carer passport; dementia; development programme; patient passport