Dementia Care is a specialist service that aims to raise the profile of dementia and recognise it as a palliative disease.
The service provides support to patients who have a Dementia diagnosis, as well as their loved ones and carers.
How we support you:
- Provide a listening ear
- Dedicate time for each individual
- Validate feelings and emotions
- Work alongside our Counselling Team when extra support is needed
- Organise pastoral/religious support
How we educate:
- We give talks to corporate businesses about our Dementia Services
- Deliver Springhill Education's Advanced Dementia Palliative & End of Life Care module in the community
- Educating loved ones and patients about their diagnosis and steps to take going forward
How we plan our care:
- Getting to know the person behind the diagnosis. Our 'Life Story' booklet is completed by our patients, asking them questions about their life in order for us to get to know them and help personalise their care. The downloadable version of this booklet can be found at the bottom of this page
- Advance care planning. This is a plan specifically tailored to the individual and what their needs are
- Advocate for patient's wishes and needs
We signpost to:
- Citizens advice
- Memory clinic
- Sahara
- Alzheimers society
- Legal advice from our solicitor in post. Joanne Ford, from local firm AST Hampsons, runs legal advice workshops for our patients and loved ones. Please refer to the leaflet below for dates and times.
We collaborate with:
- GP's, taking referrals from and giving referrals to, attending their monthly meetings, promoting inclusion for people with a dementia diagnosis and gold standard framework meetings
- Adult Care services
- Our Physiotherapist, Sarah Rabbidge
- Other areas of the Hospice such as; our Wellbeing and Supportive Care Team or our Counselling and Bereavement Team
- Other NHS providers
Margaret Diggle - Specialist Palliative Care Dementia Nurse
On the last Friday of every month, we hold a drop-in session in our Springhill Suite; allowing carers who are supporting an individual with dementia to access information, knowledge and training opportunities.
We ensure they are supported in a safe and welcoming environment. These sessions can also be used as a tool to signpost to the relevant services, if appropriate.
Every other month our solicitor in post, Joanne Ford, will be giving legal advice workshops to those who attend our drop in sessions.
An exciting addition to our services is the Dementia Care Garden. Based on research from Sterling University, outdoor spaces have a proven positive impact on all individuals. Therefore, we believe that a dementia-friendly outdoor space is highly beneficial to supporting our Dementia Care patients as a whole.
The Dementia friendly Garden was designed to incorporating features that help those with Dementia utilise all their senses.
The garden is available Hospice wide, and we have seen a positive impact on everyone’s emotional and mental wellbeing.