#RCNchat Tuesday 27th September, 7-8 Dementia – skilling nursing stafffor the future

#RCNchat

Tuesday 27^th September, 7-8

Dementia – skilling nursing staff for the future

Many of us will know someone living with dementia, or may well be living with dementia ourselves. It’s a condition that predominately occurs later life, and is more common as we all live longer.

With more than 1 million people expected to be living with dementia in the UK by 2020, how do we ensure nurses have the skills to provide them with support and care they will need?

Nursing staff currently play a crucial role in providing support to those living with dementia and their carers, both in community and in hospital settings. But many nurses believe their role in dementia will only grow.

In a recent RCN survey, 45% of nurses thought that dementia would prove the biggest health issue of the future. 84% said that they are already seeing their workload affected by the ageing population.

Although nursing staff strive to provide the best care, too often people living with dementia can end up in hospital wards which are not appropriately adapted to meet their needs.

The RCN is piloting a scheme with independent care homes to help make them more ‘dementia friendly’ and has previously introduced five principles in acute care for improving the quality of care for people with dementia and enabling the best possible support for their carers.

At RCN Congress in June, members highlighted several issues of concern about dementia care, including a lack of awareness and resources, and a feeling that care was not of a consistently high standard.

Our  Project Engagement Lead Tommy Whitelaw, spoke at the RCN congress in June about his experiences of caring for his mum Joan. He spoke movingly about the need to champion person-centered care, and to look beyond a person’s diagnosis to engage with them as an individual.

You can also find out more about Project Engagement Lead Tommy Whitelaw’s keynote address given to congress in June, and read the pledges made by delegates on the day here.

This chat will discuss how we can skill nursing staff with the right tools, using the experiences of people living with dementia and their carers to improve dementia care in the future

Joining the chat

• @Profleadolder – Dawne Garrett, Professional Lead for Care of Older People and Dementia
• @RCNOPF – RCN’s older people forum
• @TommyNTour
• @DementiaCarerVo

To take part, log on to twitter and use #RCNchat

Tuesday 27^th September, 7-8pm 

Find out more information on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/145944742519185/
Background reading

RCN pages on Dementia https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/dementia 

RCN Professional resources https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/dementia/professional-resources 

RCN’s dementia care commitment https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/publications/pub-004235 

Alzheimer’s Society https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/ 

Alzheimer’s Society: Types of dementia http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/about-dementia/types-of-dementia/

Triangle of care, guidance developed by RCN and Carers Trust to help meet the needs of carers of people with dementia when the person they care for is admitted to hospital https://professionals.carers.org/triangle-care-dementia 

Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prime-ministers-challenge-on-dementia-2020/prime-ministers-challenge-on-dementia-2020 

HEE dementia awareness online course http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/dementia/open-access-sessions/

The Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project http://dementiavoices.org.uk/ 

Dementia UK resources for health professionals https://www.dementiauk.org/for-healthcare-professionals/free-resources/ 

RCN Congress debate on Dementia http://www2.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/congress/2016/agenda/debates/19-dementia

Keynote speech from Tommy Whitelaw at RCN Congresshttp://www2.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/congress/2016/news/keynote-speech-from-tommy-whitelaw 

Dementia Carer Voices https://dementiacarervoices.wordpress.com/ 

Join the RCN’s Older People’s forum https://www.rcn.org.uk/get-involved/forums/older-peoples-forum