Nearly 90 people attended a drop-in lunchtime session to find out more about workers and organisations both inside and outside hospital helping patients with the condition.
Hospital dementia lead nurse Sister Susie Milton hosted the event and had a display stand on the hospital’s work. She was joined by representatives from the Alzheimer's Society, Crossroads Care, the Fire and Rescue service and Telecare.
Susie said: “Hospital nursing staff are alerted to all patients on admission who display signs of dementia or increased confusion and support mechanisms are put in place to aid their recovery.
“This work improves the patient’s experience and streamlines their pathway through their hospital stay.
“However, our aim is to return them to their familiar home environment as soon as they are well enough, because a large hospital environment is obviously not the best suited to an elderly and confused patient.”
The South West is taking the lead nationally in driving forward improvements in dementia diagnosis and care, as the region aims to deliver the requirements of the National Dementia Strategy ahead of the national, five-year timetable.
Weston Area Health NHS Trust Chief Executive Lorene Read said: “There are lots of agencies involved in dementia care and this can be confusing for people.
“We need to work together so that people can get the information and services they need at the right time, in the right place, and by hosting this event we hope to have made a significant contribution to this work in North Somerset.”
The South West already has the largest proportion of older people in the country, and the longest life expectancy. Latest figures show that 76,000 people in the region are living with dementia and this is likely to increase by 50 per cent over the next 15 years.
For further information, please contact Caroline Welch on 01934 647091