Dementia Care - Derriford Hospital
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe symptoms which include gradual memory loss, difficulties in communication and a reduction in logical thinking; people with dementia may have changes in behaviour, reversed sleeping patterns, and altered appetite.
Contacts details
Derriford Road
PL6 8DH
Alzheimer's disease is the most common and publicised cause; however, vascular, Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia are also diseases that may lead to these symptoms. As with most diseases, we can all reduce our risk by taking exercise, improving our diet, quitting smoking/drinking, and working our brains with puzzles or crosswords.
- We are working to ensure that patients with dementia are treated with respect and dignity and given the appropriate care.
- We have champions of elder care across all wards, which ensures continued service improvement for the elderly and those with dementia.
- We also have a dedicated Safeguarding team to investigate incidents and protect those who are deemed vulnerable due to their dementia.
We have a Fracture Clinic, Chestnut Unit, Clinical Decision Unit, and the four Health Care of Elderly Wards, which have all been awarded 'Dementia Friendly status.'. We continue to strive to ensure these standards are commonplace. Hundreds of staff from all departments have already undertaken Dementia Friends training.
Dementia is not age-specific, but our risk increases as we age; in those under 65, it is often called early-onset dementia. The greatest barrier to research, support, treatments and possible cures for dementia is the perceived stigma; however, early diagnosis means better support and treatments. If you feel yourself or a loved one may be showing any signs of dementia, discuss it and seek medical advice. We all forget things, so it won't always mean you have dementia, but talking to someone may give you that peace of mind.
More information
Find out more
- Dementia: Patient Information
- Supporting Carers and John's Campaign
- Dementia: Information for Staff
- Dementia Awareness: A Poem
- Champions for Elder Care
- Dementia: Useful Links
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- 26 to 64 years old
- Everyone, over 65
- Dementia
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