Evidence and Practice
Exploring nursing students’ knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease
Improving nutrition and hydration in older people with dementia in care homes
Using procalcitonin testing to guide treatment decisions in care homes
Clinical
Exploring nursing students’ knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease
Identifying strengths and gaps in nursing students’ knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease
Using procalcitonin testing to guide treatment decisions in care homes
PCT may be beneficial in identifying and treating bacterial infections in older people
Reframing nurses’ time to enhance interpersonal interactions in dementia care
Learn about techniques that you can use to be more ‘present’ with people with dementia
Prevention of pressure ulcers in older people with frailty
Identify interventions you could use in your practice to prevent and manage pressure ulcers
Integrating oral care into nursing practice in care homes
Learn about some measures that could support nurses to implement high-quality oral care
Estimating cost of a music intervention for aged care residents with dementia
Individualised music listening has been shown to reduce agitation and improve mood
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
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
How can I support rehabilitation of care home residents after COVID-19?
Nurses have a key role in the rehabilitation of people in long-term care