Make a difference - make a donation
Call our donation helpline on: 0800 292 2762
Avenues dementia pilot scheme is praised in Sutton
19 December 2011
A pilot scheme run by the Avenues Trust Group to provide support to people with dementia in their own homes has been praised by the people it supports. The news comes on the back of a shocking report from The Royal College of Psychiatrists which says hospitals in England and Wales are falling short in the care given to dementia patients.
This summer Sutton Adult Social Services commissioned Avenues to pilot a Dementia Support Service to provide support to people in their own homes. The innovative service supports people with dementia to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, helping to prevent them being admitted to hospital and also provides support to their family carers.
The service works with people to help them to maintain their independence and to prevent them from becoming excluded or isolated in their communities. Trained staff work one-to-one with people to support them and while the pilot is still in its early stage there has already been some very positive feedback from carers:
“May I take this opportunity to thank you and all the staff at Avenues for the support that you are providing for my mother as both she and I are getting the benefits.”
“Avenues have much such a big difference to my life.”
“The Avenues Support Worker is a tower of strength.”
Lesley Knight, Manager of the new Avenues Dementia Service, said: “Although it’s only been running a few months we are very pleased at how the new dementia service is going in Sutton. We believe our service is different as it focuses on helping people retain as much independence as possible and has a very positive approach to supporting the person with dementia and their families and carers too. I think the recent report into dementia patients in hospital and the excellent feedback we have had for our service emphasises that people with dementia are very often better off at home.”
It is well known that people with dementia do not fair very well in hospitals and statistically if people with dementia are admitted to hospital they remain there far longer than other people. Evidence also suggests that people with dementia take up one in four hospital beds. The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ report found carried out an audit of over 200 hospitals and found a lack of training for hospital staff and poor communication with families.
For more information about the Dementia Service in Sutton please call Avenues on 0800 292 2762.
