A Curtin University researcher said she hoped a form designed to improve hospital visits for people living with dementia and their carers could be introduced into mainstream healthcare services.
Dr Ellisa Burton conducted research for the 15-page Focus on the Person document, a made-for-carer questionnaire on dementia sufferers’ personal information including sleeping pattern, eating habits, mobility and recent falls, medication and mood changes.
She said generally carers must repeat personal information to hospital staff during room changes or at staff shift changeovers, and hoped if introduced into mainstream healthcare services it could greatly cut pressure on them.
“When a person with dementia and their carer go into hospital they have to continually tell the same story,” she said.
“With this form we’re hoping the carers don’t have to tell their story to every single staff member who turns up.
“That will mean less agitation for the person with dementia because they’re hopefully getting the care they need.”
The form also includes a chart to mark locations of any pain, and a section to warn staff of any ‘dos’ and ‘do nots’ to keep the patient calm.
It has not yet been trialled in hospitals but if introduced would be available online meaning it can easily be duplicated and can be filled out on computer or by hand.
Dr Burton said it may surprise some to hear such a simple system did not already exist, but acknowledged at 15 pages the form could be prohibitively long for hospital staff to read.
However she said there were limits to how short such a document could be made.
“People’s lives don’t fit into one page,” she said.
“Hospital staff really want to know what the person with dementia has as their daily routine, what and how they like to drink and eat.
“That sort of thing can stop a lot of agitation, which will help the staff but also the person with dementia.
“For staff and carers, and those suffering with dementia, it’s worth trying.”
Nearly 50 million people worldwide live with dementia and researchers working with Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital recently finished trialling the form with 30 West Australian carers of people with dementia.
Dr Burton said feedback from carers and hospital staff had been positive.
