"Grateful for the dementia knowledge and exceptional care"

Dear Hantf54

My name is Nicola Hayes and I am the Dementia Service Improvement Lead for Hospitals and I manage the Dementia Companion Service.

Thank you for your feedback story with regards to ‘Grateful for the dementia knowledge and exceptional care’ and thank you for taking the time to post this story, at a time when your mother was recently unwell and in hospital. I hope your mother has recovered well from the acute infection.

Coming into hospital can be such a stressful experience, not only for our patients but also for their families/carers. Approach and communication are vital in the caring profession, not only to ensure that all your mother’s needs are met, but also that your needs as a family are met. The contact that the Dementia Companions have with family members to obtain life story information is crucial, as you know your mother the best and you have entrusted your loved one into the care of the hospital.

Person centred care is paramount within dementia care and this has been evidenced throughout your experience of Leona. I am glad that the support Leona offered your mother through effective communication and therapeutic activities was supportive not only to your mother, but also what you observed supported you as a family at this difficult time.

The ethos of the Dementia Companion Service is to strive to provide individualised care to people living with dementia while in our acute hospital care settings and it gives me great personal and professional satisfaction to read how Leona has carried out her duties to a high standard, which resulted in a positive experience of being in hospital.

May I thank you again for taking the time to share your experiences with us on Care Opinion.

Your feedback is very welcome to ensure safe, effective, compassionate and well led care is delivered and I will share this story with Leona and her colleagues.

Best Wishes

Nicola