Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise gets dementia-friendly designated areas
Dementia Friendly designated areas launched by Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise
Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise has officially launched two new designated areas in the hospital that will enhance and enable quality of care for people living with Dementia in the acute hospital setting.
A new five bedded Dementia Friendly Bay in the Emo Court Ward was opened to enhance supports for inpatients living with dementia, as well as a new Dementia Friendly area in the Emergency Department.
The new areas include:
· Technological support, such as TV streaming system with amplifiers
· Radio/music player and headphones help to optimize sensory stimulation, reduce sensory overload and minimise non-cognitive symptoms
· Meaningful activities boxes, that can be tailored to each individual promote independence, engagement and participation
· Using different colour schemes/contrasting colours to promote wayfinding, minimize confusion and make the environment more person-centred for people with dementia and their families
· Orientation clocks introduced to support awareness of time, month, date and day
· Blue-coloured handrails fixed in the Dementia Bay toilet to promote better navigation, safety and independence.
John Joyce, General Manager of Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise said, “In the design of our new Dementia Friendly areas in the hospital, our focus was on creating an environment that can reduce environmental stress, provide support, and provide more healthful and therapeutic spaces. We considered how we care for the persons living with dementia and aimed to enhance our facility at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise in a more dementia inclusive and age friendly way.”
Olivia Lafferty, Director of Nursing for Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise said: “Providing person-centred care in a supportive physical and social environment can enhance the experience and well-being of patients with dementia during their acute hospital journey. Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise is committed to providing ongoing evidence-based high-quality person-centred care for patients living with dementia during their acute hospital stay.”
The funding of resources for this area was provided by the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit and Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.