Homely living room part of dementia care at Mercy Hospital Cork

A Cork hospital has brought about changes to one of its wards to make its environment less stressful for people with dementia, including introducing a homely living room to put patients at ease.

The three-year Cork integrated dementia care across settings (Cork-IDEAS) project began last year with the aim of improving and integrating dementia care in Mercy University Hospital.

Backed by social investment group Genio and the HSE, initial funding was used to provide a new dementia nurse specialist in the hospital, a dementia care co-ordinator in the community, dedicated resources for staff education in the hospital and community, and a pilot of in-home respite for people with dementia.

Leading the project, consultant geriatrician Dr Suzanne Timmons said the overall aim of the latest phase within MUH was to make dementia-friendly improvements to aid those transitioning from their home or nursing home to the hospital ward and back.

Removing people with dementia from their routine can be stressful for patients, Dr Timmons said, and so the Cork-IDEAS goal is to make the change as seamless as possible.

The adapted dayroom, with wallpaper, couches, and a fake fireplace, was created to afford patients with dementia a less clinical environment to pass the time.

Other adaptations to the ward include uniform flooring to reduce falls, appropriate signage for toilets and bathrooms help patients to find their way, and themed rooms with different flowers on the ward to help with orientation.

Colours and contrasts are used to make support items such as grab rails, toilet seats, light switches, and door handles stand out, while using this method in a contrasting way discreetly keeps staff-only areas out of patients’ view.

Dr Timmons said that the changes are needed given the growing number of patients presenting who have dementia.“We have seen that just under 30% of our older patients have dementia and as people get older and live longer they are increasing their chances of getting it,” she said.

Staff training plays its part too, with dedicated ‘dementia champions’ offering support for patients.

“Staff working with patients with dementia need special skills, especially in the way they communicate,” Dr. Timmons said.

“It is about reassuring patients, keeping their language simple,” she said.

Dr Timmons said that while the Cork-IDEAS project has been limited to the elderly care ward for now, it is her hope that the initiative will spread to other parts of the hospital and beyond.

She believes that the changes implemented at MUH can be replicated across other hospitals.

The project has also received support by way of donations from local businesses and suppliers to the hospital and help from third-level students who volunteered their time.

Public support through the Mercy Foundation’s raffle also contributed towards the initiative.