Trust’s approach to dementia care reaches Parliament
The St Monica Trust has taken its ideas for improving the quality of care for people living with dementia right to the top, invited to present to Members from both Chambers at the Houses of Parliament at a Parliamentary Lunchtime session organised by Skills for Care.
Julie Drew, occupational therapist at The Russets and Jacqui Ramus, practice development manager, joined TV presenter Angela Rippon and Barbara Poynton as part of a team selected both for their expertise and their contrasting experiences of caring for people with dementia. Angela Rippon looked after her mother after she was diagnosed with dementia. Barbara Poynton’s experiences in caring for her husband Malcolm were powerfully presented in the TV documentary ‘Malcolm and Barbara’.
Julie and Jacqui shared the Trust’s recent experiences of establishing a new support team to care for residents living with dementia at The Russets. They highlighted the successful and alternative way in which support staff were recruited, focusing on attitude not just experience, as well as showing how high quality training can enhance the overall quality of care and support new staff.
Following their success, Julie and Jacqui have been asked to prepare a report to provide guidance for MPs and policy makers.
Says Julie, “It was a really positive experience because the Trust’s ideas were so well received.”