Author Archives: wendy
Care Quality Commission said both hospitals and care homes were failing in key areas
Health and care system ‘struggling with dementia’
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News
The health and care system in England is “struggling” to look after people with dementia, according to the regulator.
The Care Quality Commission said both hospitals and care homes were failing in key areas as the number with the condition rose as people lived longer.
It found dementia patients in hospital were more likely to face longer stays, be readmitted and die there.
Meanwhile, care homes were not doing enough to keep patients well, it added.
The CQC announced the conclusions after reviewing more than 20,000 inspections it had carried out as well as looking at existing data.
It found that in 78 out of 151 local NHS areas people with dementia who lived in care homes were more likely to be admitted to hospital for an avoidable reason than people without the condition.
Helping older people to get on the internet
Laptop scheme to get older people online
2:49pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Journal Reporter
OLDER people are being helped to get online through a scheme to provide low cost, refurbished laptops.
Wiltshire Council and Age UK Salisbury District are working in partnership to refurbish the council’s old laptops and sell them for £50 to those who need them most, with the cost covering the work done on them.
‘Meal Mates’ feeding scheme helps patients get their meals
KING’S LYNN: Getting matey at mealtimes
Meal Mates feeding scheme at Tilney Ward in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Helen Wise the meal time co-ordinator with patient Jean Hill.
Volunteers at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital have been swapping their desks for dinner trays to help create a mealtime community on the wards and encourage patients to enjoy their food.
The Meal Mates scheme was introduced in August 2011, prompted by staff concerns at the national reports suggesting that patients in some UK hospitals were going without food and drink because nursing staff were too busy to look after them.
Although no allegations had been made against ward staff at the QEH, staff were concerned that on some wards, those with older patients including some with dementia, that nurses were unable to give patients the time and support needed during mealtimes.
