Whittington Health dementia champions
Everles Banda
Staff nurse, Cloudesley Ward
As a staff nurse managing a busy clinical environment, Everles ensures the delivery of quality care for people with physical conditions who are also living with dementia. She is able to share knowledge and skills both with her nursing team and inter-professional colleagues, in particular providing additional support to those who are providing day to day care for a person with dementia.
Since completing the Dementia Champions training at the Whittington, Everles has gone on to further study at Middlesex University. As part of the Dementia Care Practice course she is currently implementing a practice based project in the management of delirium on her ward. Being a Dementia Champion has helped her engage the support of the multi-disciplinary team on her ward.
Kenneth Conroy
Patient Pathway Coordinator on Mary Seacole South the Acute Assessment Unit
As a Patient Pathway Co-ordinator Kenneth has been supporting the Multi-Disciplinary Team for past two years in facilitating smooth discharges for patients. Often the more complex discharges are those involving patients who have dementia.
Kenneth was drawn to the Dementia Champion training to learn some strategies for communicating with patients with dementia, to ensure they understand the next step in their care pathway, and to resolve any concerns they have regarding their discharge/follow-up.
The training he attended has helped him to make patients more comfortable on Mary Seacole South, picking up on the less obvious signs of distress or worry, and providing assistance. He now feels empowered to be an advocate for them and provide colleagues with guidance if needed. The training has also also given Kenneth a network of colleagues across The Whittington and other Trusts who he can go to for support in his role as Dementia Champion.
Kenneth was drawn to the Dementia Champion training to learn some strategies for communicating with patients with dementia, to ensure they understand the next step in their care pathway, and to resolve any concerns they have regarding their discharge/follow-up.
The training he attended has helped him to make patients more comfortable on Mary Seacole South, picking up on the less obvious signs of distress or worry, and providing assistance. He now feels empowered to be an advocate for them and provide colleagues with guidance if needed. The training has also also given Kenneth a network of colleagues across The Whittington and other Trusts who he can go to for support in his role as Dementia Champion.
Joanne Eardley
Practice development nurse, The Whittington Hospital
As a practice development nurse for care of the older persons wards at The Whittington Hospital, Joanne has occasional contact with patients living with dementia.
As a practice development nurse for care of the older persons wards at The Whittington Hospital, Joanne has occasional contact with patients living with dementia.
To be a positive role model for her colleagues, Joanne felt it was essential to increase her knowledge and awareness of the issues surrounding the care of patients living with dementia. This would not only help her work with staff who come into contact with patients living with dementia on a daily basis, but also give her a better understanding and appreciation of the experience of dementia for the individual and their nearest and dearest.
Since becoming a dementia champion in 2013 Joanne has set up a series of study days for staff. These sessions cover an introduction to dementia awareness, the experience of dementia, communication and pain management.
Laura Marmion
Occupational therapist, Haringey integrated community therapy team (ICTT)
Laura has been an occupational therapist for 14 years. In her role she visits clients with dementia and other needs in their own homes or supported facilities.
She became a dementia champion as she is passionate about supporting people and their carers to increase their participation in activities to improve their wellbeing. She worked in mental health prior to joining Whittington Health and finds that being a dementia champion provides an opportunity to use her mental health and physical health intervention skills.
In her role as a dementia champion she supports colleagues to improve the wellbeing of their clients and carers living with dementia.
Laura has been an occupational therapist for 14 years. In her role she visits clients with dementia and other needs in their own homes or supported facilities.
She became a dementia champion as she is passionate about supporting people and their carers to increase their participation in activities to improve their wellbeing. She worked in mental health prior to joining Whittington Health and finds that being a dementia champion provides an opportunity to use her mental health and physical health intervention skills.
In her role as a dementia champion she supports colleagues to improve the wellbeing of their clients and carers living with dementia.
The key message she has taken away from dementia training is that although a person with dementia may find it difficult to communicate, they will never lose the ability to know how someone has made them feel.
Patricia McCormick
Reablement pharmacist, The Whittington Hospital and Islington Social ServicesPatricia visits people in their homes to review their medicines and answer any questions they have with the aim of helping them manage their medications. Many people she comes into contact with have a confirmed diagnosis of dementia.
She wanted to become a dementia champion to be able to tailor her services to the needs of individuals living with dementia.
Since attending the training, Patricia has used the good communication processes she learnt to enable her to understand and meet the needs of people living with dementia. She has also been able to provide support to other members of the pharmacy team around dementia.
Catherine McNally
Matron for surgery, outpatients and pre-assessment, The Whittington Hospital
Catherine has over 20 years experience of working with people living with dementia. Despite gaining a lot knowledge through experience, Catherine trained to be a dementia champion in 2013 as she wanted to better understand how she could support this vulnerable group of people and their families.
The dementia champions course showed Catherine how to engage better with this group of patients and helped her gain insight into how to manage their fears and to improve their stay in hospital.
Catherine has over 20 years experience of working with people living with dementia. Despite gaining a lot knowledge through experience, Catherine trained to be a dementia champion in 2013 as she wanted to better understand how she could support this vulnerable group of people and their families.
The dementia champions course showed Catherine how to engage better with this group of patients and helped her gain insight into how to manage their fears and to improve their stay in hospital.
She says: “People living with dementia need higher levels of care depending on how advanced their illness has progressed. Often they are very scared and unsure of their surroundings.”
Since attending the course, Catherine has returned to her clinical areas and shares her knowledge through on the job teaching with staff when they are caring for a patient living with dementia.
Since attending the course, Catherine has returned to her clinical areas and shares her knowledge through on the job teaching with staff when they are caring for a patient living with dementia.
Catherine wants what is best for these patients, as one day it could be her or one of her family who will require this level of understanding and care.
Adrian dela cruz Valle
Nursing assistant, Coyle ward, The Whittington HospitalAdrian has been working as a nursing assistant at The Whittington Hospital for three years. During that time he has gained a lot of experience working with patients with dementia, who often are admitted for hip operations as the result of a fall.
He wanted to become a dementia champion so he could fully understand his patients needs and provide them with better quality care and support.
Adrian said the dementia training was excellent. He now has more insight into how his patients might be feeling and how to respond more appropriately. Since completing the training he has tried to pass his knowledge onto his colleagues, often on the spot when they are working with patients with dementia.
Last updated12 Dec 2016