Pathways 4 Life
Presentation by:
Davina Lytton, Kelly Davis &
Michelle Ebanks
Pathways 4 Life
Accord
Care & Support
Dementia Café
Coordinator
Dementia
Hard to Reach
Support
Workers
Age UK- Walsall
Dementia Advisors
Dementia support
workers
Dementia
Diagnosis
Support
Worker
Aims of the Dementia
Support Worker
• Support Acute hospital staff in improving care by
encouraging best practice
• Improving patient, carer and acute staff knowledge of
dementia by providing information.
• Support people and carers of people with dementia by
role modelling
• Improve outcomes of people with dementia in acute
hospitals
• Improve discharge planning
• Increase the number of people with dementia returning
to their address on admission
Referring Agencies
Referring agencies: –
 Clinical Ward Staff
 Mental Health Nurses
 Social Workers
 Discharge Co-ordinators
 Occupational Therapy
 Discharge Liaison Nurse
 Age UK Walsall
 PALS
 A & E, Physiotherapy, Sevacare
 Family Member / Carer
 FEP
Statistics
Projects Statistics:
 By 2020, there will be approximately 3,885 people with
dementia in Walsall aged over 65 yrs.
People supported since April 23rd 2012:
April – June
2012
31
July – September
2012
72
October – December 2012
79
January – March
2013
93
April – June
2013
105
July – September
2013
141
October – December 2013
156
TOTAL
677
Improving Care
• Encourage best practice by liaising day to day with ward
staff to ensure care is of good quality and patient /
family concerns / wishes are met.
• Improve Person Centred Care & actively use and
promote the use of the ‘This is me’ document.
• Encourage appropriate nutrition & hydration and
assistance to feed where needed.
• Improve staff knowledge of dementia by providing
information and advice.
• Decrease isolation by referring to volunteers to engage,
befriend and provide bedside activities including
reminiscence books, arts and crafts etc.
Facilitate Discharge Planning
• Liaise with IDT regarding discharge planning and offer
suggestions for support for when the patient is discharged.
• Attend case conferences and MDT meetings.
• Research services, signpost and refer to a wide variety of
services and organisations, to include –
Pathways 4 Life Dementia Advisors, Dementia Cafes
Age UK Walsall Services, e.g. Advocacy
Alzheimer’s Society
Sevacare (Home from Hospital Support)
Care home selection
Advice, Information and
Support
• Emotional and practical support to patients & carers.
• Information on dementia for hospital staff and carers
and tips on how to cope with caring for someone with
symptoms of dementia.
• Information regarding the variety of possible products,
services and support available post discharge to include
assistive
technology
etc.
(hoping
to
acquire
demonstration products).
• Information about the roles of professionals and complex
terminology within the hospitals – e.g. Social workers,
OT’s, CHC assessments etc.
Service User Feedback
Below are just a small selection of quotes from service
users and staff:
“Since mom was diagnosed with dementia she has been
admitted to the Manor several times over the last few
years and, in the past, this experience has been very
upsetting for both my mom and us - due to the lack of
understanding of dementia by both doctors and nursing
staff. This time, your (The DSW’s) input and support has
made a huge difference and I cannot thank you
enough.”
Service User Feedback
 “You’re a star, so sympathetic to the situation from the
family’s perspective.”
 “Don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
Staff
 “Very approachable staff, willing to help and advise and
interact with patients very well.”
 “The service has improved attitudes towards dementia.”
 “Assists with my role to liaise better with patients and
families.”
 “Readily available to provide support and information for
staff, patients and carers.”
Contact Details
The Support Workers are part of the Older Adults Mental
Health Liaison Team based in Therapies, route 238.
Kelly Davis:
Tel: 07594 513609
Email: kellyd@ageukwalsall.org.uk
Ext: 7408
Michelle Ebanks:
Tel: 07594 513607
Email: michelle@ageukwalsall.org.uk
Ext: 7408
Questions