Pharmacy Counter Staff Training Dementia Claire Taylor Health Improvement Lead Warwickshire Public Health
Jo Min/Wendy Harkness Alzheimer's Society
Aims of the session:
• To enhance understanding of dementia • To enhance understanding of benefits of being a Dementia Friendly Pharmacy • To increase confidence to signpost to local dementia services
Programme outline
• • • • • •
Welcome and introductions Overview of dementia Dementia Friendly Communities Dementia services in Warwickshire Resources Evaluation and feedback
‘My yesterdays are disappearing and my tomorrows are uncertain, so what do I live for? I live for each day, I live in the moment’ From ‘Still Alice’ by Lisa Genova
The bookshelf model of memory storage Hippocampus memory • memories like books on a bookshelf • stored over time • most recent on top.
Person with dementia • bookshelf wobbles • top shelf books affected first • progressively lower books fall
Physical effects of Alzheimer’s disease on the brain Healthy brain
Brain with advanced Alzheimer’s disease
Communication • • • • •
Listening Body language Whose reality Physical contact RESPECT
A healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk of developing dementia By keeping your body healthy – especially your heart – you can help to keep your brain healthy too.
What’s good for the heart is good for the brain. • • • • • •
Eat healthily Drink alcohol in moderation Get active Have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked Keep a healthy weight Stop smoking
Dementia Friendly Communities Warwickshire
Being dementia friendly includes:
• being aware of the impact of dementia on a person and their life • how this might affect their behaviour and their ability to undertake everyday tasks • enabling people with dementia to continue living a good life by making them feel supported, welcomed and encouraged to do the things they have always enjoyed • enhancing their confidence about accessing their community.
Why is it important to become dementia friendly? • Now, and increasingly in the coming years people accessing your business/organisation will either have dementia or will know someone who does • Local services and organisations need to be dementia friendly to ensure they meet the needs of people with dementia and their families • Improving services for customers will improve access to and use of your service – increased business, increased recommendations, contribution to community charters or quality assurance programmes (i.e. community benefits).
How you can support people with dementia Good people skills, including kindness, common sense, avoiding stress, having good communication skills, and showing a good culture of customer care is a great start. Top tips when communicating with someone with dementia: • •
If anxious – offer a seat in a quiet area / glass of water / contact someone Communicate in a clear manner – – – –
• • • • •
Don’t rush, speak clearly and calmly Simple, short sentences Use sign language and gestures to reinforce what you are saying Allow time for a message to be understood
Listen to what the person is saying. It will help them feel valued and respected Observe body language Ensure you take into account carers as experts in the situation and value their experience and advice, if offered If necessary call the persons next of kin if you are able to get this from them, your local community police officer, social services outreach, or emergency services (last resort) Make sure information you provide about your business is dementia friendly.
Example of dementia friendly communities • Issue: A gentleman with dementia used to visit a local store to purchase his daily paper. Whilst there, he would pick up a chocolate bar and eat it whilst walking around the shop, but forget to pay for it. Eventually he got banned from the shop, thus cutting off his only real access to the community.
• Potential Solution: If staff in the store had more awareness around dementia and understood the reasons for this behaviour, in this case forgetfulness related to the dementia, they could scan the item at the same time as scanning the paper without causing the gentleman distress.
Create a dementia friendly environment • Premises should be easy to orientate in - there should be clear landmarks / signage to assist people finding their way round. Consider arrangement of furniture • Well lit / natural light / avoid unnecessary noise • Plain flooring, non reflective, flat and non slip • Colour schemes / contrast colour of signs with backgrounds • Avoid clutter and trip hazards • Avoid reorganising furniture and swapping things round.
Become a Dementia Friend • Anyone can become a Dementia Friend • A Dementia Friend learns a little bit more about what it's like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action - anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend. From helping someone to find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia on social media, every action counts • For more information, please visit: www.dementiafriends.org.uk/article/aboutfriends/what-is-a-friend
Actions to become dementia friendly Complete action plan today and commit to achieving your actions To be achieved within next three months
Services to support people living with dementia
Alzheimer’s Society Services • National Dementia helpline • Talking Point • Information • Dementia Cafes • Day Support • Dementia Support
Other services Range of services across Warwickshire, including: • • • •
Carers support Peer support Post diagnosis support Day services
Services may be provided in certain areas and may not be county wide. Please see: www.livingwellwithdementia.org for details of services in your area.
www.livingwellwithdementia.org
Portal Feedback
‘Your website is fantastic. Thanks’…‘I've learned more this morning than in 2 years since father-in-law was diagnosed’. – Carer of person with dementia The Portal has also been covered by the Guardian Social Care Network and praised by Prime Minister, David Cameron, in the Commons.
For further information Visit the Living Well with Dementia Portal: www.livingwellwithdementia.org Follow us on Twitter: @DementiaCandW Get the latest news from the blog: http://livingwellwithdementiacoventryandwarwickshire.wordpress.com/ Alzheimer’s Society: www.alzheimers.org.uk Warwickshire LPC: http://psnc.org.uk/warwickshire-lpc/
Books on Prescription - Dementia • Self-help library books scheme • GPs/PNs 'prescribe' recommended self help books/audio CDs for people with dementia and those with mild to moderate mental health conditions • Available for anyone to borrow free from their local library • Full details on: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/booksonprescription (Descriptions of all the books / audio CDs, user guide)
Books on Prescription Libraries with collections North Warwickshire Atherstone, • Coleshill, • Dordon, • Polesworth Nuneaton & Bedworth Nuneaton, • Bedworth, • Bulkington, • Camp Hill
Rugby Rugby Stratford Stratford, • Alcester, • Shipston, • Southam Warwick Leamington, • Kenilworth, • Lillington, • Warwick
Warwickshire Exercise Referral Scheme People with an early to mid-stage dementia diagnosis can benefit from the Warwickshire Exercise on Referral Scheme.
• • • • •
12 week programme of physical activity, normally at a leisure centre, at reduced prices Referral by GP, Practice Nurse or any healthcare professional People with early to mid-stage dementia can come along by themselves or with a carer Activity programme is specially developed for individual participants with an exercise instructor who will offer support and encouragement to become more active The activity programme will include gym based activities and possibly swimming and exercise classes.
For more information contact the Exercise Referral Co-ordinator: • Tel: 02476 574889 • E-mail:
[email protected] • Web: www.cswsport.org.uk/exercisereferral
Resources • Dementia Friendly Communities resources • Living Well with Dementia portal: – wristbands, bookmarks and poster
• Living Well with Dementia leaflets – Concerned about your memory – How a healthy lifestyle could reduce the risk of dementia – Benefits of physical activity for people with dementia
• Booklets / leaflets from Alzheimer’s Society • Dementia fact sheets - see Alzheimer’s Society web-site • Books on Prescription – dementia flyer and bookmarks
• Claire Taylor Health Improvement Lead Warwickshire Public Health • T: 01926 413728 • E:
[email protected] Jo Min Support Services Manager Information and Education Alzheimer's Society T: 01926 88 88 99 E:
[email protected]
Thank you
