Hospital wards should be adapted for dementia care

The RCN has called for all acute hospitals to be adapted so they can provide appropriate care for people with dementia.

A resolution passed at RCN congress last month said the college should lobby for better policy to ensure a fair deal for dementia patients and carers when admitted to acute care.

Increasing numbers of people with dementia are being treated for other conditions, but only wards for older people have been adapted to meet their needs. Up to 60% of patients in acute hospitals are aged over 65 and 40% of them may have dementia.

Ageing population

An RCN survey found that 45% of nurses think dementia will be the biggest health issue in the future, and 84% can already see that their work is affected by the ageing population.

Dementia-friendly wards have:

• Staff who are skilled and have time to care.
• Partnership working with carers.
• Assessment and early identification of dementia.
• Care that is individualised.
• Adapted environments that are dementia friendly.

Falling short

RCN professional lead for the care of older people and dementia Dawne Garrett said that despite ‘big improvements’ in awareness and understanding of dementia, hospital care is still falling short.

‘The reality too often involves long waits on trolleys, separation from loved ones and, in some cases, being moved around at night,’ Ms Garrett said. ‘Many of us will be affected by dementia in the future. Better treatments are part of the solution but we need better strategies to minimise distress and offer the best care.’