Each year the number of people living with dementia is growing and over half of the people over 65 who are admitted to hospital are living with dementia. Patients with dementia have longer lengths of stay in hospital and poorer outcomes. Falls, aggression and anxiety are common problems in dementia patients as hospital environments are stressful and unfamiliar. But relatively inexpensive changes to ward environments and specialist dementia equipment can have a dramatic impact on the quality of care for patients with dementia.

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust has 4 specialist wards caring specifically for people with dementia. Patients may be admitted because of a worsening of their symptoms, or a breakdown in their care - but however they come to us, this will be a distressing time. The NHS provides highly trained specialist staff and hospital facilities but with your help we can do more.

As the Trusts registered Charity, we are aiming to raise £100,000 to fund specialist equipment and adaptations to make our wards best in class for dementia care. The enhancements that this funding will provide range from simple improvements such as anti-spill crockery that helps support eating and drinking, to larger scale projects such as improving signage, flooring and lighting that helps patients to orient themselves around the ward.

With your help, we can transform our hospital wards into the best possible environments for patients with dementia, in turn helping these patients to stay healthier and happier.