Occupation

Abstracts
P29
Cognitive group therapy within an acute hospital
setting
Reed C, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Currently 40% of adults over the age of 75 admitted to hospital
have dementia with more not being diagnosed (Lakey, 2009).
Dementia patients in an acute hospital setting often feel
confused, agitated and distressed (Thompson and Heath, 2013).
This can impact on length of stay and discharge pathways, and
have negative impacts on physical and psychological well-being
(Lakey, 2009). NICE quality standards for dementia (2013)
recommend that services should help maintain physical and
mental health and well being of patients. This can be carried out
through group therapy which can increase social interaction,
reduce anxiety and depression (Alzheimer’s society, 2013).
A cognitive group was created on the general and old age
medicine ward in Cheltenham general hospital. This was
run twice a week for thirty minutes. Patients with cognitive
difficulties impacting on their functional ability came together
and carried out activities of movement, reminiscence and
cognitive stimulation, facilitated by therapists. Topic boxes and
props were created allowing those with advanced dementia to
engage as appropriate, Mobility to the group was also included
where able, allowing physical rehabilitation to occur. Patients
who were anxious, low in mood or in pain were also invited to
attend allowing volition to increase.
The group had a positive reaction from patients and the multidisciplinary
team. Patients enjoyed the group and interacted
with all activities and with other members. A few members
were able to attend for several sessions and an increase in their
engagement and cognition within and outside the group was
seen.
The group gave further opportunity for occupational therapy
assessments and an in-depth knowledge of the patient and their
background. This ensured discharge pathways were appropriate
and a rapport built, thus enabling rehabilitation to become more
successful. Future plans for the group include involving patients
from other wards within the hospital.
References
Alzheimer’s society. (2013) Staying involved and active. [Online]
Available from: file:///C:/Users/Cazzy%20Muffin/Downloads/
Staying_involved_and_active_factsheet.pdf. [Accessed:
10/09/2015].
Lakey, L. (2009) Counting the cost caring for people with
dementia on hospital wards. [Online] Available from: file:///C:/
Users/Cazzy%20Muffin/Downloads/Counting_the_cost_
report%20(1).pdf. [Accessed: 16/09/2015].
NICE. (2013) Supporting people to live well with dementia.
[Online] Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/
qs30/resources/guidance-supporting-people-to-live-well-withdementia-pdf
[Accessed: 10/09/2015].
Thompson, R and Heath, Hazel. (2013) Dementia commitment
to the care of people with dementia in hospital settings. [Online]
Available from: https://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_
file/0011/480269/004235.pdf. [Accessed: 17/09/2015].
Keywords
Dementia, Service improvement or transformation, Practice –
present and future, NHS
Contact E-mail Addresses
carysr@hotmail.com
Posters
Author Biographies
I’m a qualified Occupational Therapist working over 4 wards
within an acute hospital setting. These include general old age
medicine, cardiac and gastric wards. I have been working here
for nearly 2 years and wished to develop my practice particularly
with the dementia patients I see on a regular basis.
P30a
An occupational therapy interns photo snapshot of what’s
important to people with dementia
Cousins C, Hunter E, Alzheimer Scotland
The Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG) is a national
campaigning group, run by people with dementia. SDWG
are the independent voice of people with dementia within
Alzheimer Scotland and The Working Group campaigns to
improve services for people with dementia and to improve
attitudes towards people with dementia. (SDWG, 2015)
The number of events that SDWG are currently being invited to
attend and also to speak at is ever growing, meaning that they
are unable to attend all events they are invited to.
To allow for the members to have their voice heard without
actually being at each event, it was suggested that something
was prepared to be able to be used in place of the members
being there. From the outset, this was to be a truly coproduced
piece of work between all parties involved. Coproduction
is an essential part of the project and we know
Co-production challenges the assumption that service users
are passive recipients of care and recognises their contribution
in the successful delivery of a service (Cahn, 2004). HCPC also
recommend that there should be service users’ and carers’
involvement in Health professional education (HCPC, 2015)
which links directly to this project as it can be used as an
educational tool also.
This is where the idea of the photo-booth project came from.
Each member was invited to answer the question: What’s
important to me?
This question could be used in many situations and is simple and
the answer is often quick and it can allow you to really make a
difference to someone. By showing these images, we hope that
this demonstrates that it is possible to live well with dementia.
The pictures have been collated and put together in a video with
an introduction explaining the project.
SDWG are working to change the stigma and image attached to
dementia and this adds to that work.
References
Cahn, E. S. 2004. No More Throw Away People – The Co-
Production Imperative. Essentail Books. Oxfordshire [E-book].
Accessed 31/7/15. Available from https://books.google.co.uk/
books?hl=en&lr=&id=ZSSlXgVXcjEC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=ca
hn+2000+co-production&ots=rHNeXeTPMW&sig=IjiSXp5N4q
jSKPWYhQK_hln-gl8#v=onepage&q=cahn%202000%20coproduction&f=false
Healthcare Professions Council. 2015. Service user and carer
involvement in education and training programmes. [Online]
Accessed 31/7/15. Available from: http://www.hpc-uk.org/
education/providers/sucinvolvement/
Scottish Dementia Working Group. 2015 [Website] Available
from: http://www.sdwg.org.uk/
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