Evidence and Practice
Person-centred communication with people with dementia
Experiences of mealtime assistance delivered by volunteers
Preventing falls in older people on mental health inpatient wards
Clinical
Person-centred communication with people with dementia
Practical approaches to supporting person-centred communication with people with dementia
Experiences of mealtime assistance delivered by volunteers
An exploration of the lived experiences of older patients, staff, relatives and volunteers
Preventing falls in older people on mental health inpatient wards
A quality improvement project conducted on four older adult mental health inpatient wards
Understanding the effects of adverse childhood experiences on older people
Increase awareness of the link between adverse childhood experiences and health risk factors
Advising older people on physical activity: challenges and strategies
Enhance your understanding of your role in advising older people on physical activity
Recognising eating disorders in older people
Enhance your awareness of the manifestations of eating disorders in older people
CPD articles
Improving nutrition and hydration in older people with dementia in care homes
Person-centred interventions to improve food and drink intake of older people with dementia
Frailty: an overview of concepts, risk factors, assessment tools and interventions
Increase your knowledge of how to assess, prevent and reduce frailty
‘Guiding Lights for effective workplace cultures’
Enhancing the care environment for staff and patients in older people’s care settings
COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures in long-term care settings
Enhance your knowledge of infection prevention measures to reduce risk of COVID transmission
Demonstrating empathy when communicating with older people
Empathy is integral to communication with older people and central to person-centred care
Supporting older people experiencing anxiety through non-pharmacological interventions
Anxiety is a debilitating condition that adversely affects people’s quality of life
How to
How to address the communication needs of older patients with hearing loss
Hearing loss is a common problem in older people and may have a negative effect on their care while in hospital, as well as resulting in significant cost to the NHS. This article outlines the findings of a two-year project in an NHS trust to improve the care of older people with hearing loss. An important outcome of the project was the development of a hearing loss toolkit containing good practice recommendations and tools to help staff in all NHS trusts, and other care settings, implement practical and cost-effective improvements.
How to use advance care planning in a care home
Admission to a care home is a major event for many individuals and, for some, a time when they may lose their independence. It is at this juncture that they should be given the opportunity to participate in planning their future care. An advance care plan (ACP) is a means for people with capacity to document their preferences for their care and to enable providers to advocate on their behalf. Some people will have lost mental capacity before admission to a care facility, so it is essential for staff to be familiar with the complexities of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to support residents approaching the end of life. This article outlines the processes of ACP and identifies resources available to support the introduction of ACP into care homes.
Practice question
Why is measurement of lying and standing blood pressure vital in falls risk assessment?
A blood pressure drop on standing is more prevalent in those with comorbidities and frailty
How can person-centred strategies improve dementia care?
An empathetic approach to care can help people with dementia retain a sense of self
How do I use the 4AT tool for delirium?
Delirium is time-critical, but can be identified with a simple bedside test
Build your nursing expertise with the help of communities of practice
Participation enhances your career and develops new, diverse practices
How do I get involved in nursing research?
Nursing and care staff can enhance patient outcomes by expanding their research knowledge
How can advanced nursing practice improve integrated health and social care services?
Advanced nurse practitioners caring for older people need to raise the role’s profile