Media Release
Date: 18 May 2016
Royal United Hospital supports Dementia Awareness Week
The Royal United Hospital (RUH), Bath is supporting Dementia Awareness Week (15-21 May) to raise awareness, highlight the support available to people who may be worried about dementia and promote its five year vision to be the most dementia friendly hospital in England.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of symptoms that occur when the brain stops working correctly. It is not a disease. Symptoms of Dementia can include memory loss, difficulties with thinking, understanding and communicating. The symptoms are often subtle to start with; however for some people they can become severe enough to affect the person's ability to perform daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting 62 per cent of those diagnosed.
Jane Davies, Senior Nurse, RUH says:
"Coming into hospital can be particularly frightening for patients who have dementia, as the unfamiliar surroundings, sounds and people can be unsettling. We understand how important it is that our staff are able to recognise this and provide good quality care and support for patients with dementia and their families or carers."
Talking about the RUH's vision to be the most dementia friendly hospital in England, Chris Dyer, Consultant Geriatrician, RUH said:
"We have launched a new dementia eLearning module for staff and plans for this year also include a new Charter Mark for wards to set the very highest standards of care, and an innovative project with the Alzheimer's society to recruit a team of volunteers to engage with our patients using arts, crafts and music. And on Wednesday 18 May, the Dementia Strategy Group will be inviting patients, families and carers to a tea party on all wards. The aim is to raise awareness amongst patients who may not be familiar with the condition and promote the importance of sociable eating for patients with Dementia, especially whilst in hospital."
Anyone interested in finding out more about Dementia can contact the Alzheimer's Society's National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122, visit: www.alzheimers.org.uk or Alzheimer Support: www.alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk.
ENDS
Note to editors:
Statistics from the Alzheimer's Society highlight that in 2015 there were 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia, this number is forecast to increase to over 1 million by 2015. Early onset dementia affects 40,000 people under the age of 65yrs in the UK.
Alzheimer's Society
www.alzheimers.org.uk
The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading dementia support and research charity for anyone affected by any form of dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Alzheimer's Society provides information and practical and emotional support to help people live well with dementia, and invests in world-class research with the ultimate goal of defeating it. The Alzheimer's Society also campaigns to improve public understanding of dementia and the devastating impact it can have, and make sure it's taken seriously.
Dementia Friends
www.dementiafriends.org.uk
The Dementia Friends initiative, launched by the Alzheimer's Society in 2013, has already trained over a million Dementia Friends across the UK. A Dementia Friend learns what it's like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action; from helping someone to find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia on social media, every action counts.