‘Making a Difference in Dementia’ nursing vision and strategy launched
The strategy recognises the unique and specialist contribution that nurses make in the care of people with dementia.
A new nursing vision and strategy for dementia care has been launched by the Department of Health at the Healthcare Innovation Expo.
It makes clear that every nurse can make a difference to the care of people with dementia.
This new resource will support the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge by:
-
raising the profile of the wider nursing contribution to dementia care
-
describing what is expected of all nurses to meet the level and quality of care expected in all care settings
The vision demonstrates the 6Cs for dementia care by including nursing values and behaviours. It builds on ‘Compassion in Practice’, the national vision for nurses, midwives and care staff.
The ‘Making a Difference to Dementia’ vision recognises the unique and specialist contribution of all nurses and their teams who are involved in the care of someone with dementia at different stages along their care pathway.
There is a need to ensure people with dementia have the best, compassionate care and support from all nurses and their teams. All nurses can make a contribution across the dementia pathway, irrespective of provider, whether it’s within the NHS, social, private, voluntary or prison sectors. This support starts right from keeping well, awareness raising and reducing social stigma, through to early identification, diagnosis, maintaining health and wellbeing and finally end of life care and bereavement support for carers and their families.
All nurses – public health nurses, midwives, mental health nurses, learning disability nurses, district nurses, community nurses/matrons, practice nurses, Admiral Nurses, specialist nurses including specialist dementia nurses, acute nurses, Macmillan nurses and palliative care nurses – are able to contribute to achieving, and sustaining, better outcomes for people with dementia, at all ages. This list is not exhaustive – the vision is intended for all nurses, regardless of what sector they work in.
Pauline Watts, Nursing Professional Officer, Clinical Advisor Public Health Nursing and DH Nurse Lead for Dementia Care, said:
Dementia is every nurse’s business – with a change in mindset, practice, commissioning and education, nurses can make a real difference to people living with dementia and their carers and families.
The dementia nursing vision has been developed by stakeholders from a wide range of NHS and other organisations, and carers, bringing together partners and clinicians with expertise and interest in dementia. They shared and consulted on the document with experts from the health, social care and voluntary sectors and their wider networks.
Find out more about the Department of Health’s Dementia Village at Health Innovation Expo