Generous donations helping dementia patients in hospital

Hospital staff have been given special boxes with lots of useful aids and interactive resources to share with dementia patients.

Being in hospital is unsettling for all patients, but particularly those with dementia. This is why United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) has teamed up with local charities to create dementia distraction boxes.

Every ward that may care for patients with dementia at Lincoln and Boston hospitals now has one of these boxes. They include everything from picture boards to help with communication, to reminiscence themed quizzes and conversation starters, playing cards, dominoes, colouring books, word searches and so much more

Dementia Practitioner Naz Fernandes finds the boxes really useful when treating patients at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston. He said: “The games are a great way to start a conversation and to distract our patients with dementia when they may be confused or agitated.

“The purses and pretend money also give many patients reassurance and a source of comfort that they are able to pay for their care, even though we know that it is free.”

Dementia Practitioner Sophie Brown added: “A massive thank you to the Friends of Lincoln County Hospital and the ULHT Charity who have funded these boxes. Handmade twiddle muffs, comfort hearts and teddies have also been donated by a the heart2heart Facebook group who we cannot thank enough.

“These boxes are already making a really big difference. They give our ward teams some really useful resources that may be reassuring or familiar to our patients with dementia while they are in our hospitals. They have been delivered to the wards and are being used all of the time.”