Abstract
Introduction
The Cardiff and Vale Memory Team is comprised of a range of healthcare professionals who provide direct and indirect contact to coordinate the care of dementia patients. Memory link workers (MLWs) are a single point of contact for patients; they contact patient’s post-diagnosis and at 6-month intervals. Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) assist patients with medical aspects of their care, including diagnostic home assessments with the support of the medical team. This evaluation aimed to establish the impact of these roles on people living with dementia and their carers.
Methods
This study is a retrospective service evaluation of 200 patients, who contacted the MLWs and CNSs between early April and mid-May (289 contacts). PARIS, Welsh Clinical Portal and written notes were used to collate information on patient demographics and each contact.
Results
The majority of patients were female (70%), the median age was 83 and Alzheimer’s was the predominant diagnosis. The greatest need identified in both MLW and CNS contacts was social care provision (39%). MLWs predominantly addressed wellbeing (n=55), CNSs had discussions surrounding medication (n=39) and physical health (n=44). The most common subjective outcome in the MLW group, was improvement in quality of life (75%); in the CNS cohort it was addressing acute medical problems (37%). Overall, the contacts were divided as follows, quality of life (50%), admission prevention (24%) and acute medical (24%).
Conclusion
The service is proactive and addresses a variety of needs; it has the potential to improve patients' quality of life and prevent admission. Both professionals were able to identify deteriorating patients and increased carer burden; additionally, patients were able to receive a diagnosis in a home setting. The service could be improved with more frequent contact, streamlined links with social services and increased liaison with mental health services to improve speed of access.
Comments
A valuable resource
Great poster. Well laid out with good use of illustrations. Data presented well.
There is a risk that if anything more had been included that there would be too much on the poster but as it currently stands you are within the amount of content that is not too much overload.
Well done.