Santander supports dementia patients and their carers
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity has received £3,000 to fund two ‘My Dementia Improvement Networks’ systems for three specialist elderly care wards at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
The donation was provided by the Santander Foundation which offers grants to UK registered charities for projects that help disadvantaged people in local communities.
The grant will help staff to learn more about dementia patients’ likes and dislikes, in order to be able to have engaging conversations with patients struggling with their condition. All of this information will be stored on the ‘My Dementia Improvement Networks’ systems; up until now, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, had been sharing one of these systems through three wards – totalling 88 beds – in an area of the hospital that is usually at full capacity. Sue Atkins, Clinical Nurse Specialist, along with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity want to help these wards so that they have enough resources to meet with the varying needs of dementia patients.
As well as helping the staff with being able to talk with dementia patients in a positive way, the systems also hold information of each patient’s life, called ‘My own Life Story’, created jointly by hospital staff and family members, in order to help patients remember as much of their lives as they can. They are invaluable step forward in the way technology can assist dementia patients.
Sian Averill, Fundraising officer at QEHB Charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the grant that Santander has given us. It will make a huge different to the lives of patients, family members, and staff who are touched by the lasting effects of dementia every single day.’
Alan Eagle, Santander Foundation manager, said: “The Santander Foundation makes hundreds of donations every year to good causes throughout the UK. We are committed to playing a key part in the community and we are delighted to be supporting QEHB, and hope the donation makes a real difference to local people.”
For more information regarding this cause please contact Sian Averill, Fundraising Officer, on 0121 371 4852.
