The Dementia and Delirium Team create effective PPE communication aids
The dementia and delirium teams provide expert clinical advice and support for patients and carers living with dementia and/or delirium across the trust. The teams have been working especially hard to provide comfort and reassurance to our vulnerable patients during these unsettling times.
Emma Bulled, Dementia and Delirium Clinical Nurse Specialist shared her teams creative idea on twitter: “We've made these pocket size cards to aid #communication with our patients and to orientate and reassure them while wearing PPE. Other ideas for enhancing communication welcome!”
Trying to communicate with patients when wearing full PPE can be challenging within any health care setting, but for patients with pre-existing communicating difficulties, the whole experience can be very confusing and intimidating.
We spoke to Emma Bulled, who was able to provide some more information about the new communication aids. She said: “It can be very difficult to communicate with patients while wearing PPE. Our faces are covered, which means they cannot read our lips or read our expressions and non-verbal communication. We must also look scary to our patients, particularly for our patients who may be cognitively impaired or experiencing a delirium”.
Good communication is one of the most important parts of the dementia and deliriums team’s role within the acute setting. The team are trained in variety of effective communication methods and can use their experience when providing advice to ward staff and support for carers in the community. The pocket sized card idea is something that can be replicated by anyone who is looking after the patient and can help ensure the patient is at ease and has an understanding of what is going on around them in an unusual environment.
Emma explained: “We took inspiration from Twitter where we saw other healthcare staff making similar cards and badges. Our Dementia Lead Nurse Lynda McNab, was keen for us to share our aids on twitter. She feels it is important to share good practice with our followers”.
The team has received excellent feedback on social media from colleagues and Dementia charities, giving praise to their work and sharing other effective communication ideas.