Charting carer satisfaction: the hospital experience

Reports on an evaluation of the efforts of the Royal United Hospital (RUH) Bath to improve the support offered to people with dementia and their family carers. The intervention included the recruitment of three part-time dementia coordinators, a seven-day older adult mental health liaison service with nurses and a psychiatrist, additional staff training and an increased emphasis on arts and music in the wards. An evaluation survey, carried out by RICE (The Research Institute for the Care of Older People), then explored the carers' experiences of the quality of care of the person with dementia received from admission to discharge while an inpatient at the hospital. Overall 181 carers completed the survey from a sample across five wards (22 of these were in the pre-implementation group). The main areas carers were impressed with were: the caring attitude of staff, the general care received and flexible visiting times. The main areas carers were displeased with were staffing levels, staff having limited time, lack of communication, wanting to speak to a doctor more and the need for better planning and discharge. It is noted that only a small number of the surveys could be collected before the intervention began, but the surveys did indicate an improvement in care. (Original abstract)