Tag Archives: care homes

Public meeting to explore dementia-friendly care environments

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A public meeting organised by the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI) will explore how care home environments and designs can be dementia-friendly.

The free event, which is supported by charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, takes place on Wednesday May 14 at the Executive Business Centre on Holdenhurst Road.

It will run from 12pm until 4.30pm and features talks on dementia-friendly care environments, and ways people with dementia can be supported by the physical environments.

The event includes lunch and will be followed by a networking session with information stands and the opportunity to speak to dementia researchers.

Professor Anthea Innes, Director of BUDI, said: “Following the success of our last two annual public open meetings – the first on diagnosis and the second on care homes – BUDI is hosting our third annual public open meeting to provide anyone who is interested in dementia-friendly environments the chance to come along, hear some interesting presenters and to share their ideas and experiences.”

Researchers from the Alzheimer’s Research UK South Coast Network will also attend the meeting to tell the public about their research into the causes of Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “This public meeting is a fantastic opportunity for people to learn more about dementia care, as well as hear about the ground-breaking research taking place into dementia in their region.

“We would encourage anyone wanting to know more to come along, listen to what is being done to tackle the condition and have their questions answered in an informal and friendly environment.”

Although the event is free, places must be booked in advance by visiting http://bit.ly/1hDOJuF or calling BUDI on 01202 962771.

Find out more about the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute

BU Dementia Institute meeting looks at care homes and dementia

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Issues around care homes and dementia were explored at an open meeting held by the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI).

BUDI aims to support those providing care, through research, service evaluation and education, and the meeting was attended by key stakeholders from across the area – including health professionals and care home providers.

Titled Care Homes: Raising the Standards, the meeting discussed the difficulties faced by many care homes, and considered ways to improve care practices and the quality of life for people with dementia.

Around 70 per cent of those living in care homes will have dementia, and around one third of people with dementia will need to live in a care home at some point.

Professor Anthea Innes, Director of BUDI, said that the idea for the topic came from requests following the Institute’s launch event last year.

She said: “Dementia causes some distinct challenges to care home providers because of the complexity of the care needs, so the idea is to bring people together who are interested in improving their care provision.

“It’s really encouraging to see people wanting to improve the services that they offer to people with dementia.”

She added: “We’ve got a long way to go – there’s lots of training and development work that needs to be done and general awareness-raising about good dementia care, but hopefully we’ve kick-started a discussion.”

Speakers at the meeting included Associate Director of BUDI Michelle Board, who talked about the importance of staff development in care homes, and Dr Jane Murphy, Framework Leader for Health Sciences at BU, who discussed the nutritional needs of dementia patients.

She said: “Food is a very powerful way of understanding that person and using that to provide the best quality of care and ensure that their nutritional needs are met.

“It has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia.”

Janet Pitt, a compliance inspector from the Care Quality Commission spoke about standards and the inspection of care homes, before a panel discussion which featured representatives from care homes and dementia charities.

Professor Gail Thomas, Dean of the School of Health and Social Care, opened the meeting.

She said: “In the School of Health and Social Care, our mission is to make people’s lives better and the work of BUDI is instrumental in helping us to achieve that.”

Find out more about Bournemouth University Dementia Institute