‘Dementia Care at Kingston’- The forget me not team

The forget me not team provides support and advice to patients with dementia and delirium, their carers and relatives. The team provides a range of services to inpatients with dementia, including therapeutic activities and they operate across the inpatient wards and outpatient services. The forget me not flower is used as the symbol for dementia across the hospital.

Forget me not team

Katie Hollis, lead dementia nurse

Lydia Russell, dementia and delirium clinical nurse specialist

Maria Evora , Therapeutic activities coordinator

Kyle Tovey, Therapeutic activities assistant

Mob:- 07823402961

email:- khft.forgetmenot@nhs.net

Top tips for caring for a person with dementia in hospital

Hospitals can be disorientating and frightening for someone with dementia, but there is a lot that can be done to make their stay easier to manage.

Let staff know that the person you care for has dementia.
Ask for the name of the main nurse and consultant who will be in charge of the person’s care.
Ask that you be included in all decisions.
Give staff information about a person’s individual preferences, likes and dislikes. Ask for these to be recorded. Fill in the leaflet Important things about me to give to staff when a person with dementia goes into hospital
Make contact with the forget me not team, to ensure they are aware of the person with dementia’s admission.
If the person has trouble eating and drinking ask that they have someone to help them at mealtime or ask if you can help out (if you are able to)
If appropriate, tell the staff what the person says or the signs they make when they want to go to the toilet, and ask that they be taken straightaway.
If a person is prone to becoming restless or wandering let staff know and work together to identify ways of helping the person in their best interests.
Ask staff to discuss with you what will happen when it is time for the person with dementia to leave hospital so that you are prepared and know what support is available.

Carers

Kingston hospital are proud supporters of John’s campaign, and encourage close carers of patients living with dementia to visit to support their care. If you wish to visit a loved one with dementia or delirium outside of visiting times, please contact the nurse in charge and request a carers passport.

If you are a carer and have concerns about a patient with dementia, please feel free to contact the forget me not team on the contact details listed above.

Covid Advice

www.alzheimers.org.uk

http://www.meriyaadain.co.uk/2020/04/09/living-with-dementia-and-covid-19/

Further Online Dementia Resources

Alzheimer’s society https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Kingston Carers Network https://www.kingstoncarers.org.uk/

John’s campaign https://johnscampaign.org.uk/#/

Carers uk https://www.carersuk.org/

DEEP https://www.dementiavoices.org.uk/

Dementia UK https://www.dementiauk.org/

Alzheimer’s research UK https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/about-us/how-we-do-it/big-initiatives/uk-dementia-research-institute/