New specialist nurse to support dementia sufferers

A NEW specialist nurse has been commissioned by the Western Trust to support staff caring for people with dementia in care homes in Londonderry.

The new Challenging Behaviour Service was launched last week. Evidence suggests challenging behaviour symptoms will occur in the majority of patients with dementia at some point during their illness.

Agitation and wandering, along with communication problems, can be a challenge within the care home setting.

Consequently, the Western Trust, in partnership with the Health and Social Care Board, has commissioned a Challenging Behaviour Nurse to support staff at private nursing and residential homes in the Strabane, Londonderry and Limavady areas.

The nurse will also provide training and support to staff alongside a needs based intervention, which will consequently increase staff skills at dealing with future challenges.

Dr Gillian Mullan, Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Older People and Memory Clinic Lead for the Western Trust commented: “This new service enables the Trust to work with staff in care home settings to enable them to understand how the particular needs clients with dementia may have, can be expressed as behaviours that others find challenging, and to realise that not all behaviours are due to the dementia process.

“Dementia affects different people in different ways. If you can understand why someone is behaving in a particular way, it can help how the condition can be managed. Sometimes a medical problem such as a kidney infection can exacerbate a person’s behaviour and explain why they are experiencing more extreme symptoms.”

Alan Corry Finn, Executive Director of Nursing and Director of Primary Care and Older Peoples Services, said: “Dealing with challenging behaviour day in, day out is not easy.

“This is true for carers but it is also true for staff in care homes. Fully understanding why problems occur can make the management of challenging behaviour easier.

“This service develops capacity within the older people’s services to help support clients with challenging behaviour who are in a care home.

“It will provide support and training for staff in how to support people with dementia who may have challenging behaviour, thus avoiding the need for admission to an acute hospital for care.”

Mr Paul Cavanagh, Western Commissioning Lead for the Health and Social Care Board said: “What we want to ensure is the best care possible for older people living in nursing and residential homes.

“The new service will provide care staff with the support they need to deliver person-centred care to people living with dementia and to cope from time to time with challenging behaviour.

“I am confident the Western Trust will support the delivery of improved care for some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”

The service is developed in line with the Newcastle Challenging Behaviour Service (NCBS), which has been established for 10 years and is cited as an example of best practice.

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