Care Opinion

The genuine care and compassion was truly second to none

Posted By Sam351

"The genuine care and compassion was truly second to none"

About: South West Acute Hospital / Ward 7 Western Health & Social Care Trust / Dementia companion service

(as a relative),

Just want to say my father-in-law has just been discharged from Ward 7 in the South West Acute Hospital after nine months, and as a family we could not be happier with the care that he received in that time! 

Naturally there will have been too many staff over that period  to mention, but I want to highlight the invaluable service provided by the dementia support workers in particular. 

These staff were invariably caring and kind to Granda and also his elderly wife, and Brendan deserves special mention for how he took time to tap into Granda's personality and interests in an unbelievable way! 

Even going so far as learning Granda's old favourite hymns so he could sing along with him!! 

The genuine care and compassion shown by every member of ward staff was truly second to none and we will be eternally grateful!!

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Responses

Response from Nicola Hayes, Dementia Service Improvement Lead - Acute & Non Acute, PCOP, WHSCT 3 months ago
Nicola Hayes
Dementia Service Improvement Lead - Acute & Non Acute, PCOP,
WHSCT

Submitted on 21/06/2024 at 09:14
Published on Care Opinion at 09:14

picture of Nicola Hayes

Hello Sam351

My name is Nicola Hayes and I am Acting Head of Service for Older People's Mental Health Services. My substantive post is Dementia Service Improvement Lead of Acute Hospitals.

Thank you for your feedback story “the genuine care and compassion was truly second to none” and for sharing your positive experience that your father-in-law and your family had of the journey through Ward 7 SWAH and in particular with the Dementia Companion Service.

Approach and communication are vital in the caring profession, not only to ensure that all your father-in-law’s needs were met, but also that your needs as a family were met. For your father-in-law, person centred care was paramount and tapping into his life story was critical for the Dementia Companions to actively engage with him on a personal level and this is why the Dementia Companions go above and beyond to ensure that can deliver person centred care to each patient that they come in contact with. In your father-in-law’s case, hymns were of significant value to him and a way that the Dementia Companions could communicate with him within his dementia journey.

Part of the Dementia Companions role is also to engage with family and bring them along on the journey within the hospital setting. In this case, engaging with your mother-in-law was also paramount as she is such a big part of his life and his care needs at this time.

The Dementia Companions have learned so much from engaging and working with your father-in-law throughout his hospital stay and will be delighted to receive your feedback story and the acknowledgement of the care they provided and I will share this feedback story with them.

I am equally delighted to hear that the care and treatment provided was of high standard throughout and person centred for both your father-in-law and your family.

May I thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us on care opinion.

Your feedback is very welcome to ensure safe, effective, compassionate and well led care is delivered.

Best Wishes

Nicola

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