Dementia is one of the biggest health challenges we face. It doesn’t just impact those with the disease but everyone around them too. Specialist dementia nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide life-changing support to those living with dementia as well as their families and carers.
In Cornwall, a team of Admiral Nurses recently picked up a Dementia Care Award for their innovative dementia care initiative.
Caroline Ellis, Strategic Lead Admiral Nurse at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT), and her team have developed the Supporting Ahead Programme, which helps families and carers to connect with dementia services and organisations as well as providing support to families at any point in the dementia pathway providing a holistic referral access point.
As part of the programme, events take place quarterly, enabling carers to come together, to not only learn from professionals and access immediate support for their caring role, but also to share and discuss their own experiences, increasing peer support and reducing social isolation.
Caroline explained: “The Supporting Ahead Programme is a unique opportunity for families and carers to meet different organisations and services on a face-to-face basis giving families the chance to understand exactly what each service can offer, and how best to refer themselves to a relevant service. The programme encourages families to really engage with services. We want to try and reduce some of that fear, uncertainty, isolation, and carer loneliness. It’s important for our team to acknowledge that for some carers, it could be the first time they have been able to meet so many organisations and services at the same time, which can be overwhelming. We take this very seriously. The Admiral Nurses, who are there, are always available to provide one-to-one quiet time for those carers who may need a moment of reflection to feel safe and supported.
“It is also a chance for carers to meet each other, allowing meaningful peer support to develop naturally during conversations. This part of the programme is a delight to see and hear. The sound of families interacting with conversation to help and support each other is such an honour to witness.”
The Supporting Ahead Programme has seen a great success so far, with 81 carers and families attending five events. The team travel across Cornwall holding programme events in different geographical areas to try and reach as many people as they can.
Caroline added: “Feedback so far has been really positive. People have said they find the events extremely helpful and informative, and they appreciate being able to meet face-to-face in a friendly relaxed environment.
“The plan is to develop the programme further; extending our outreach to be more visible to those carers who are out there looking after their loved ones not knowing what resources are available to them. My aim is to give every carer looking after someone living with a dementia diagnosis the opportunity to attend an event near them and access the support they need.”
Caroline and her team picked up the Dementia Outreach Award for the Supporting Ahead Programme at the inaugural Dementia Care Awards in June 2024. Caroline also won the Dementia Nurse Award.
@RCHTWeCare
royalcornwallhospitals.nhs.uk
