Our services

Support for patients living with dementia and/or probable diagnosis is led by our Admiral Nurse and dementia clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and supported by a network of dementia and delirium champions in wards and departmental areas.

The wide range of support offered includes:

• Psychological and emotional support for patients, their families and carers
• Approaches to support patients with behavioural and psychological symptoms and distressed reactions without medication
• Supporting transitions of care as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Supporting conversations about nutritional needs and associated challenges
• Supporting patients with dementia and delirium
• Referrals to appropriate agencies
• Therapeutic interventions which may include Namaste care

If you are a patient living with dementia, or a relative or carer of a patient in our care, and want to speak to someone from dementia services, please speak to the ward manager and they will be able to put you in touch.

Meet our Admiral Nurse

Caroline Ashton-Gough, Admiral Nurse/dementia clinical nurse specialist (CNS), joined PAHT as a registered nurse in 1996.
Prior to nursing, Caroline was a health care support worker and started her training to become a registered nurse in 1993.
Throughout her career, Caroline has been passionate about caring for patients living with dementia and those with palliative and end of life care needs.
Caroline held the role of ward manager for various different wards at PAHT for 18 years, before taking on the role of dementia CNS in 2018.
Caroline brings a wealth of nursing knowledge and experience to PAHT and strives to deliver a relationship centred approach to dementia care, new and innovative ways of teaching/learning and to engage with the wider community.

What is delirium

Delirium is a worsening or change in a person's mental state that happens suddenly, over one to two days.

The person may become confused, or be more confused than usual, or they may become sleepy and drowsy. You can read more about delirium, how to tell if someone is confused, and the causes of sudden confusion, via this link >

You can also learn more about delirium by watching the video below.

Namaste care

Namaste care is a compassionate approach to care for people living with advanced dementia. It enables health care professionals to change the focus and structure of care given to people living with dementia, to focus on their individual needs through the use of the five senses which may include therapeutic, loving touch.

Namaste care is described as ‘holistic’ because it is incorporated into all aspects of daily life and involves a range of physical, sensory and emotional approaches.

You can learn more about Namaste Care and approaches used to communicate with people with advanced dementia by watching the video below.

Other useful information:

Join dementia research
Join dementia research is a national platform funded by the Department of Health and Social Care which encourages people with and without dementia to support and take part in dementia research. You can read more via this link >

Dementia UK
Dementia UK is a national charity that provides support to patients living with dementia, their family and carers. You can read more via this link >

Alzheimer's Society - dementia support services

Use this link for further information about the support services from the Alzheimer's Society