Improving activity and engagement for patients with dementia
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Improving activity and engagement for patients with dementia

Jennifer Bray Research assistant, University of Worcester
Simon Evans Principal research fellow and head of research, University of Worcester
Mary Bruce Senior lecturer, University of Worcester
Christine Carter Senior lecturer, University of Worcester
Dawn Brooker Director of the Association for Dementia Studies, University of Worcester
Sarah Milosevic Former research assistant, University of Worcester
Rachel Thompson Professional and practice development lead for Admiral Nursing, Dementia UK
Louise Hutt Senior sister, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

In the second article of this series, Jennifer Bray and colleagues present two case studies that show how hospital trusts are helping staff and patients to forge connections

This is the second in a short series that presents case study examples of the positive work achieved by trusts that participated in the Royal College of Nursing’s development programme to improve dementia care in acute hospitals. Staff often think that there is insufficient time to get to know patients and carers, especially with large and challenging workloads. Combined with a lack of activities and stimulation for patients with dementia in hospital, this can result in poor engagement and a disconnect between staff and patients. To improve these relationships and give staff more time with patients, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has introduced bay nursing for patients with dementia, where one nurse is responsible for monitoring a bay alongside a healthcare assistant for an entire shift. Part of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Glan Clwyd Hospital in north Wales has focused on improving stimulation by creating an activity room with a specially trained activity worker, providing a relaxed and friendly setting where patients with dementia can take part in a range of activities and have lunch together.

Nursing Older People. 27, 8, 22-26. doi: 10.7748/nop.27.8.22.e700

Correspondence

j.bray@worc.ac.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double-blind review and has been checked using antiplagiarism software

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 09 March 2015

Accepted: 29 April 2015

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