Caring for Adults with Dementia

Closed 7 Apr 2023

Opened 13 Feb 2023

Contact

dementia.team@essex.gov.uk

Feedback updated 1 May 2024

We asked

We carried out a survey to better understand experiences of care home providers within a residential and nursing care settings looking after adults of all ages with Dementia, with a particular focus on residents with challenging/distressed behaviours.

This also explored how current services could be improved, and how care providers in the care sector could be better supported in their role.

You said

The survey findings were clear in identifying four key themes which centred around:

  • Increased support from partners
  • Improved information gathering on residents/would be residents 
  • Enhanced staff training
  • Positive aspects that consider the wider environment and have valuable impacts on residents' experiences

The survey findings summary report is available to read here.

The full report is available on the Essex Provider Hub.

We did

All of the insight has been shared across relevant spaces in health and social care, including our provider forums.

The insight from the survey and focus groups that have taken place has been used to inform the development of forward activity, with a focus on market shaping, workforce development and future commissioning arrangements of interventions to support people living with dementia, and their carers/families.

Other activity linked to supporting these findings has included a refresh of the exceptional payment tool, to support take-up of funds through a simplified process.

A new pilot training offer is being explored that would focus on Dementia and complex presentations including distressed behaviours, and ongoing training through the Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT) & Montessori for Dementia and Ageing and Namaste Care.

New funding through the Market Support Improvement Fund has come into place to support easier access and take-up of training, alongside a new Dementia workforce page that has been launched on the Essex Provider Hub to offer a range of information to support caring for someone with Dementia, and ongoing focus on Essex Dementia Friendly activity in communities to promote research and resources around enabling environments within a care-based setting.

Overview

This survey has been endorsed by the Essex Care Association (ECA).

Essex County Council (ECC), want to talk with you as care home employee’s and find out how services can be improved and help you to be better supported in your role.

This survey will help ECC to better understand your experiences in caring for adults with diagnosed and undiagnosed dementia, especially with residents who have distressed/challenging behaviours. Furthermore, we want to find out where there are barriers and opportunities for how things to be made better for residents and care home staff.

This survey will be anonymous, we will not be able to identify you or where you work.

Thank you for taking part in this survey. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing dementia.team@essex.gov.uk

 

GDPR and Data Protection Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018, we have a legal duty to protect any information we collect from you.  The information will only be used for the purposes described above and will not be kept longer than is necessary to do so, up to a maximum of two years. We will not share your personal details with any other agency unless we have concerns that you or another individual may be at risk of harm or if it is required by law. We do not collect personal information for commercial purposes.

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • Anyone from any background

Interests

  • Support for carers