Developing a Reablement Service for people with memory problems or dementia – Living in Wales

1. Developing a Reablement Service for people with memory problems or dementia – Living in Wales Sue Williams

2. ‘Why Me?’ • Long career in Social Care • At home, in Home Care company and developed a Reablement memory service but • Certainly not the expert in the room

3. Setting the scene: • Well established Reablement Service • Good outcomes for physical frailty • Working with people with memory problems was not a path we had travelled

4. But if we believe that: • A myth is not a female moth • Swallowing chewing gum sticks your insides together for 7 years – That’s a myth and then People with dementia are beyond help and cannot be supported to build on their strengths and resilience

5. So.... • Working on the premise that Reablement is based on recovery • Promoting the concept of ‘living with’ and not ‘suffering from’ • We developed a service for people living with memory problems

6. Our Business Case • Built on the fact that hospital discharges were delayed • Funding stream available • Pilot small area – specialist team • PI development

7. Does it work?

8. Independence levels after 6 months

9. Quote “In Hospital, my Mother received a diagnosis of vascular dementia. I felt reassured as I knew then what I was dealing with. From the start of the Reablement support in my Mother’s house, the Occupational Therapist consulted me every step of the way. We discussed what worked best for my Mother & I was able to voice any concerns. The support workers who came every day also included me in what they were doing. Right from the start I could see it working for my Mother .....”

10. Is it easy? What service users, their carers and professionals see

11. In reality.... • More time assessing • More time planning • More time training • More time in the service

12. Sharing the experience • Rhondda Cynon Taf were fortunate to be commissioned by SSIA to produce a resource document • Lead Author • Project Board

13. SSIAResourceDocument • It’s not revolutionary – but it does pull things together • 12 colour coded sections • Standards and good practice points • Designed for memory but can be used across other care services

14. Approaches that serve us ALL well • Person centred • Communication • Motivation • Importance of accurate feedback • Handover period

15. In Summary • Developing a Memory Reablement Service is not without it’s difficulties but does reap benefits . • The SSIA resource document helps to focus the developing mind. It is also a useful tool to use for any care giving service • and:- • RCT are always on the end of the telephone and we do love to talk

16. Any Questions