Dementia Care

Kingston and Richmond have one of the highest life expectancies in England and, as a result, nearly half of our patients over 75 have dementia - double the national average.

We are now completely rethinking the way that we care for patients with dementia and have been working closely with patients, families, carers, staff, health and social care providers and the voluntary sector to develop the first ever Dementia Strategy for Kingston Hospital.

Patients with dementia often have complex and multiple needs and being in Hospital can be very unsettling and, for some, a frightening experience. 

How we support patients with dementia

Kingston Hospital has a 'Forget-Me-Not' scheme and all inpatients have a forget me not flower symbol above their beds and on the ward patient information board.

There are now more than 70 dementia champions across the organisation and include clinical and non-clinical staff.  The champions all wear a lapel badge.

A Dementia and Delirium Team, which includes carers' representatives, are meeting regularly and lead on the work to improve dementia care.

Providing additional assistance at mealtimes through our volunteer dining companion scheme.

Training staff across the organisation on caring for patients with dementia.

Adapted our Friends and Family Test to identify patients with dementia and their carers.  We will be using the feedback to make changes to the care and services we provide. 

Dementia Strategy

Dementia conference Sept 2013

In January 2014 the Board agreed the first ever Dementia Strategy for Kingston Hospital. The Strategy has five priorities with a programme of work underpinning them:

• Early diagnosis, excellent clinical treatment and care - ensuring we diagnose dementia and delirium at the right time, in the right place and provide the right support afterwards.
• Positive relationships of care - ensuring we have a culture of excellent compassionate care provided by staff who are confident in their roles to deliver this.
• Involved and supported carers - ensuring a culture that always involves and engages carers as partners in care, where carers are actively welcomed and invited into this role and their changing needs are actively addressed.
• Active days and calm nights - enabling patients to maintain their rituals and routines despite being in hospital and supporting patients to engage in meaningful activities to encourage social engagement, maintenance of function and recovery.
• Environments of care - creating a truly dementia friendly hospital site with secure, safe, homely and comfortable social and therapeutic environments that facilitate all types of functioning. 

You can read the full strategy here.

To read our carers policy please click here