Frimley Health Charity

Ablen is passionate about the care dementia patients receive and it at the forefront of our new Dementia Appeal, to help transform dementia care in the Trust.

Ablen said:

“For many patients with dementia, hospitalization can be an unfamiliar and frightening experience. They are not often admitted simply because of their dementia but because of the associated problems they had such as infection, falls, and poor nutrition. Importantly, 25% of acute hospital beds are occupied by a person living with dementia – all at different stages with individual needs.

Dementia care is everybody’s business and improving dementia care culture must be everyone’s responsibility”.

Ablen Dacalos, Lead Dementia Nurse

When a healthy brain gets affected by dementia, reasoning and practical changes can be noticed. Interpretation, awareness and insight are just some of the of the abilities that can be affected by dementia. Delivering dementia activities in the hospital can help maintain their skills, allows them to express their feelings and improve their hospital experience.

Watch Ablen’s interview and donate to our Dementia Appeal https://youtu.be/ZDSRW2e3R34

Donate https://www.frimleyhealthcharity.org/donate/dementia-appeal/

You can transform the experience of dementia patients at your local hospital.

A new appeal launched by Frimley Health Charity will transform the level of care dementia patients receive during their stay in hospital. The charity appeal aims to raise £1.1 million by 2023 to fund a range of projects across the Frimley Health Foundation Trust hospitals, so that dementia patients in the region will receive the best possible clinical and holistic care.

Dementia is not a natural part of ageing and it doesn’t just affect older people. Over 40,000 people under 65 in the UK have dementia. We believe they all deserve the best possible care. We need your help to ensure patients do not face dementia alone.

Dementia is not strange. Those that suffer, find a new way to communicate. Dementia can’t take away their memories; they lose the ability to access them. Patients coming in to hospital may be scared, confused, intimidated – waiting for a purpose, an instruction. Staff trained to understand this will communicate in way that will ease and calm the person giving trust.

Simple training can achieve this. Just some of the abilities lost by dementia sufferers is to read, see colours and to be able to filter and block out sound. A healthy brain controls every aspect of your life. A brain has a purpose when you wake up but this is stripped of its purpose with dementia. Activities will give them so much and our staff will have a better way to treat and diagnose each individual case.

Support their journey now.

One day you may need this care too.

Little extras can make a big difference. Research by several dementia organisations, such as Alzheimer’s UK, have demonstrated that relatively inexpensive interventions, such as changes to lighting, floor coverings and improved way-finding, can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of patients. Environmental improvements also have a positive effect on reducing falls and violent and aggressive behaviours.

The Frimley Health Charity Appeal will help to provide these vital design changes, funding everything from digital screens and dementia clocks, to sensory equipment and brand new outdoor spaces. The appeal will also support more staff resource to ensure dementia patients receive the specialist support they need. New activity coordinators will be brought in on the wards and a range of specialist training given to staff across the Trust.

Ablen Dacalos, Lead Dementia Nurse, Frimley Health Foundation Trust said that “People living with dementia are highly vulnerable within the hospital setting. It can be a disorientating and frightening experience which is why some people’s health worsens during admission. At any one time, up to half of all UK hospital beds are occupied by a person living with dementia – all at different stages with individual needs.“

Help us support people affected by dementia. Our wonderful dementia team work tirelessly to ensure dementia patients feel at ease during their hospital stay. We want to do everything possible to support their plight and help them lead the way in transforming dementia care. Our vision is to set the national standard for excellence in patient safety, quality and continuous improvement for people living with dementia.

That is why we need you. Help us change the lives of dementia patients at your local hospital.

To donate: https://www.frimleyhealthcharity.org/appeal/dementia-appeal/

For the latest news and success stories about the charity please visit https://www.frimleyhealthcharity.org/what-we-do/news/