Southern Trust opens doors for dementia carers

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has joined a national campaign which supports the rights of carers to stay with patients with dementia in hospital.

John’s Campaign was founded after the death of Dr John Gerrard in November 2014 who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his mid-70s but with the support of his family had a qood quality of life living at home.

After a hospital admission for a leg ulcer at the age of 86, Dr Gerrard experienced a severe decline in his wellbeing – attributed in part to the restrictions applied to visits from his family.

350 hospitals across the UK have since joined the campaign, and the Gillis Memory Centre becomes the fourth facility in Northern Ireland to get involved.

Bryce McMurray, Director of Mental Health and Disability Services within the Southern Trust, said, “Admission to hospital for people with dementia can be really distressing and cause increased confusion, when they are in unfamiliar surroundings with people they don’t know..

“Family members and carers become experts in looking after their relatives and are greatly aware of their likes and dislikes and patients are greatly comforted by the love and familiarity of the people they know.

“We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of people with dementia and their carers. We value the expertise that carers share with us.

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“The team in Gillis Memory Centre work closely with families and carers to make the stay in hospital as good an experience as possible and warmly welcome families to stay with their relative when they need them most.

Bryce added, “We know that the environment that people find themselves in can affect their progress and people with dementia need the familiarity and reassurance that their loved ones can provide and their carers along with hospital staff are an essential part of the care team.”

If you would like to find out more about John’s Campaign please contact the staff at the Gillis Memory Centre on Tel: 028 3741 2183 or email: gillismemory.centre@southerntrust.hscni.net.

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Posted by Newry Times News on Aug 4 2016. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry