Dementia Care

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a broad term that describes a set of symptoms including memory loss, challenges with thinking, processing, problem solving and language. Many different diseases and events lead to the development of these symptoms.

“Research shows there are more than 850,000 people in the UK who have dementia. One in 14 people over the age of 65 have dementia, and the condition affects 1 in 6 people over 80.

“The number of people with dementia is increasing because people are living longer. It is estimated that by 2025, the number of people with dementia in the UK will be more than 1 million.” (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/about/)

Types of dementia

Alzheimer’s disease

This is the most common type of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is a physical condition which affects the brain. Protein builds up between nerve cells and develops into plaques and tangles. These plaques and tangles interrupt, and eventually stop, the cells from communicating with each other resulting in cell death. This cell death leads to loss of brain tissue.

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia develops when there is an interruption to the blood supply in the brain. This occurs, for example, if someone has a stroke, TIA or a head injury that results in hypoxia.

Mixed dementia

Mixed dementia is diagnosed when someone has more than one disease process which is contributing to their presentation. People most frequently have a combination of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia although other combinations also exist.

Rarer types

There are over 100 different types of dementia. Some of the rarer types include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), Normal pressure hydrocephalus and Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

Please see the Alzheimer’s society website for details of these conditions: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/rarer-types-dementia

Signs and symptoms of dementia

Regardless of which type of dementia is diagnosed and what part of the brain is affected, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.

Memory problems
Cognitive ability e.g. processing information
Communication
Changes in personality and behaviour
Emotional and language dysfunction
Spatial disorientation
Functional disability

Delirium

Delirium is a common medical problem that is characterised by changes in mental function and occurs more often among older people.

When delirium occurs, people are confused and may be either very agitated or quiet and drowsy.

The onset of delirium is always sudden. It usually only last for a few days but may persists for weeks.

It can be a serious condition.

For more information on the causes of delirium and the signs and symptoms, please click the link https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily-living/delirium

The dementia care team are a small team that works across the entire hospital. The team provided support to over 1,500 inpatients during 2020-2021. They assess and support patients with a formal diagnosis of dementia, those who have a suspected dementia and patients with an acute confusion known as delirium, as well offering support and advice to their carers and relatives.

Our service is not currently able to provide support for out-patients. Follow up services are provided by community based teams.

The dementia care team provides:

Support to patients who are living with dementia, have a cognitive impairment or have delirium
Support with symptoms of agitated or distressed behaviour
Discharge planning
Family/ carer liaison
Support and advice on medication
Therapeutic interventions
Training and education to staff

How do patients and carers access this service?

Referrals can be made by doctors, nurses and all professionals on the wards, along with professionals within the community.

Families and carers can request our involvement at any time via the ward staff or by telephone.

Contact details

Tel: 01935 384960

Email: Dementia.care@ydh.nhs.uk

The team consists of a Specialist Matron/Head of Service, two Clinical Nurse Specialists, a Clinical Therapy Specialist, a Senior Healthcare/Rehab Assistant and a Project Support Officer.

Hours of service

The Dementia care team are available Monday – Friday between the hours of 08.00 and 16.30.

Preparing for hospital

Coming into a hospital is a daunting experience for many, and even more so for those with dementia. We have found that learning about our patients with dementia from their family and carers really helps us to offer the care they need. However, when someone comes into hospital unexpectedly it can be difficult to pass this information on and think beyond the immediate worries.

We have developed three documents (see buttons below) for you to fill in with your relative/friend at a time of calm so you can be prepared just in case they are admitted into hospital. These documents can be used in hospital, care home environment, or at home to help anyone coming in to understand the individual’s needs, but also to help them to engage using the memories in the pack.

The ‘This is me’ is a simple leaflet for anyone receiving professional care who is living with dementia or experiencing delirium or other communication difficulties. It is a support tool to enable to person-centred care.

The ‘This is me’ can be used to record details about a person who can’t easily share information about themselves. For example, it can be used to record

A person’s cultural and family background
Important events, people and places from their life
Their preferences and routines

Music is extremely powerful and being able to respond to music is something that people with dementia are frequently still able to do. ‘Playlist for Life’ is an organisation that encourages families and caregivers to create a playlist of personally meaningful music for people with dementia. They have produced videos to help guide you through the process of creating a playlist, and you can view these here. Alternatively we can help create playlists for your relative to listen to while in hospital, and have included a document to help with this. We ask that you tell us about your relative’s favourite music and any memories that may be associated with that music so that we can work with you to put together a personalised playlist for them.

Assistive devices at home

Everyone is entitled to an assessment for Telecare / assistive devices. If you are in the community this should be requested via Social Services. Please click here for more details.