The NHS has released a film to improve public awareness of the everyday challenges of living with dementia and what constitutes good practice in dementia care.
A Health Education England venture, the film – Finding Patience – The Later Years – follows Patience and her family as she moves into a full-time care home having been diagnosed with dementia.
The film explores how dementia can affect people differently, and addresses issues faced by families and healthcare professionals when caring for somebody with dementia.
By shining a light on good person-centred care, the NHS hopes the film will encourage healthcare professionals to reflect on the care they provide and focus on the individual, not the disease.
Professor Lisa Bayliss-Pratt, director of nursing and deputy director of education and quality at Health Education England, said: “As the number of people in care homes with dementia increases, it’s more important that health and care staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge to support individuals to live well with dementia.
“Dementia affects people in different ways and it’s only by taking the time to understand a person’s background – their preferences, needs and values – that health and care staff will be able to provide person-centred care.”
Finding Patience – The Later Years continues the story of Finding Patience, the first film in the series released earlier this year, which sought to raise awareness of dementia within the African Caribbean community.
Finding Patience aimed at enabling people to recognise and understand dementia, and subsequently empower those with dementia along with their family and friends to seek appropriate support.
According to Health Education England, over two million people in the UK will have dementia, with almost a third living in care homes by 2051.