Occupation

Abstracts
Posters
Geriatrics 13 (29) available at http://www.biomedcentral.
com/1471-2318/13/29
Keywords
Dementia, Research, Education and learning, Education
Contact E-mail Addresses
janet.ulman@shsc.nhs.uk
Author Biographies
Janet Ulman has been working as an OT with people who have
dementia for over 15 years. She has just completed a Masters
degree in Clinical Research and is a member of an online Patient
and Public Involvement (PPI) panel providing feedback on clinical
research proposals.
P35
If you knew me, would you let me fall?
Burgess R, Gillam S, Liverpool NHS Community Health
Within the NHS, falls continue to have a significant impact on
both patients and staff, potentially increasing the length of
hospital stay, social care costs and resulting in a detrimental
effect on staff and patient anxiety (Perkins, C. 2008). People
with dementia are four to five times more likely to fall or have a
fear of falling than those without cognitive impairment and may
be less likely to recover fully afterwards. (Alzheimer’s Society)
Through working within a demanding Sub-Acute Intermediate
Care environment and discussions with staff, we identified
that inattention to the many determinants effecting falls risk
within dementia was a major factor in falls occurrence and
subsequently the level of staff anxieties when caring with such
patients.
As a team of Occupational Therapists we decided to address the
inattention via the implementation of an adapted ‘THIS IS ME’
documentation. This was taken from the Alzheimer’s Society and
adapted to suit an inpatient environment.
A search was made utilising Medline and Cinahl (2000–2015)
using the key words dementia, falls, hospital and anxiety to
determine the identified links. In the three months prior to the
trial, a questionnaire was developed for staff completion to
highlight knowledge and confidence when caring for those at
risk of falls with dementia, alongside a review of all falls-related
incidents that had been recorded.
The adapted ‘THIS IS ME’ documentation was commenced by
Occupational Therapists within bed based Intermediate Care.
Following a three month trial we found that the increased
knowledge of individual traits, routines, likes and dislikes of
the person with dementia reduced the falls prevalence within
the Sub-Acute setting and led to decreased anxiety reported
amongst staff.
References
Alzheimer’s Society (2008) Exercise reduces falls in people with
dementia. available from http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/
scripts/news_article.php?newsID=314 [Accessed: 02/09/2015]
Perkins, C. (2008) Dementia and Falling Vol.35 (Feb) p.44
Keywords
Dementia, Service improvement or transformation, Practice –
present and future, NHS
Contact E-mail Addresses
rachael.burgess@liverpoolch.nhs.uk
Author Biographies
Rachael Burgess is a Band 7 Senior Occupational Therapist, she
qualified from the University of Teesside and has worked within
Intermediate Care in Liverpool for 8 years.
Stephanie Gillam is a Band 6 Occupational Therapist, she
qualified from the University of Cumbria and has worked within
Intermediate Care in Liverpool for 2 years.
P36
Reminiscence newspaper utilised to facilitate
positive carer involvement in dementia care
McGee E, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation
Trust
The Daily Sparkle newspaper is a purchased tool used to aid
reminiscence (Daily Sparkle, 2015). The objective of the weekly
reminiscence group is to provide social interactions, maintain
communication skills, stimulate the recall of memories, promote
quality of life and enhance mood (Douglas, 2004). The tool
provides a variety of topical discussion points including ‘This
week in history’, music reminiscence, quizzes and ‘The way we
were’ discussions.
Since March 2015, visitors and carers have been invited to
attend the group, to facilitate the promotion of the Triangle of
Care model (Triangle of Care, 2013). The aims are to promote
positive engagement opportunities, provide informal support for
carers, and the opportunity for carers to be involved in the care
process and maintain positive relationships. This invitation to
attend was initially monthly, but due to its popularity, carers now
attend weekly.
Initial observations of service users, reported by staff, include
smiling, laughing and joviality, along with recalling of personal
memories. Individuals have been observed to dance with staff
and their visitors, engage in positive interactions, sing to the
music and make verbal expressions of enjoyment. Carers have
offered informal feedback, and they have reported that the
group provides them with topics in initiate conversation. Carers
have changed their visiting day in order to attend weekly, and
positive feedback such as I look forward to the Sparkle and it’s
magical to have these conversations with my brother has been
given. Carers have also commented that the session allows for
greater interaction with staff.
A poster/presentation would highlight the benefits of carer
involvement for service users with dementia in an acute hospital
ward, and how occupational therapy facilitated interventions
and activities can promote and support this.
References
Carers Trust (2013) Triangle of Care. Carers included: A Guide to
Best Practice in Mental Health Care in England. London: Carers
Trust
Douglas, S., James, I., and Ballard, C (2004) Nonpharmacological
interventions in dementia. Advance in
Psychiatric Treatment, 10, 171–179
The Daily Sparkle (2015) The Dailt Sparkle. [Online] Available
from: http://www.dailysparkle.co.uk/ [Accessed 15.09.15]
Keywords
Dementia, Practice development, Practice – present and
future,NHS
Contact E-mail Addresses
emma.mcgee@cwp.nhs.uk
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