Hospital ward to become dementia friendly

YEOVIL  District Hospital has been awarded £350,000 from the Department of Health to transform a ward into a dementia-friendly environment for patients coming into hospital.

In November last year, the Department of Health announced its intention to release £50 million to improve care environments for dementia patients.

Yeovil Hospital was one of just 42 NHS projects to be selected out of a total of 157 NHS projects considered. The money will be spent on transforming the trauma and orthopaedics ward and making it as therapeutic, safe and stimulating as possible for patients with dementia and their relatives.

The ward will be renovated to make each of the four bays en-suite which will reduce confusion and disorientation among patients; access will be improved throughout the ward with handrails being installed and a room will be created for listening to music as well as music being available in each of the bays/rooms.

Two double rooms will be available for patients who are partners and patients whose partner needs to stay with them and a dining room will be created so that dementia patients are prompted to eat at meal times in a more social environment with staff/relatives which will help with their nutritional status.

Pictures of Yeovil will also be displayed from the last 80 years which should aid recollection and provide an opportunity for patients to engage in conversation.

Derek Dodd, Dorset and Somerset Locality Manager from the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “It is fantastic news that Yeovil District Hospital have secured funding to make a ward dementia friendly and the Alzheimer's Society are happy to support this initiative."

The nursing station on the ward will be removed to create closer relationships with nurses. Each hospital bay on the ward will be colour coded to help dementia patients to recognise their bay/room and picture signs will be used to help patients find their way such as pictures of old-fashioned toilets on each toilet door.

A new lounge area for visitors and patients will be created and there will be drink making facilities to make visitors feel more welcome.

Helen Ryan, Director of Nursing, said: “Yeovil District Hospital is absolutely committed to improving care for patients with dementia. This money will enable us to provide a healing environment for our patients that is conducive to their recovery, comfortable and safe.”

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