Being in hospital can be overwhelming for anyone — but for someone living with dementia, it can be particularly confusing and distressing. That’s why our Hospital Dementia Coordinators are on hand to provide specialist support from Darent Valley Hospital to home and beyond
Whether it’s in A&E, Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), or on a ward, our Hospital Dementia Coordinators make the hospital experience safer, calmer and more informed – for the person with dementia and their loved ones. They provide expert, personalised support from the moment the person with dementia arrives at hospital, throughout their stay and as they return home.
Our Hospital Dementia Coordinators and Enablement Workers work closely with the person with dementia, their loved ones and hospital teams to ensure hospital care is compassionate, dementia-aware and tailored to individual needs. They will:
• Offer one-to-one support to help explain what to expect, reduce anxiety and ensure the voice of the person with dementia is heard.
• Visit regularly to reduce confusion and isolation, provide bedside activities and offer sensory stimulation.
• Complete tools like This Is Me to help staff understand the preferences, life history and personality of the person with dementia.
• Work with clinical teams to embed dementia-friendly approaches and ensure care is appropriate and personally tailored.
Returning home from hospital is a critical time. Whether the person with dementia is going home the same day or after a longer stay, our Hospital Dementia Coordinators make sure the right plans are in place for a safe and supported discharge. They will:
• Coordinate with ward staff, therapists and families to ensure equipment, medication and care services are ready
• Help clarify treatment plans and identify any concerns before discharge.
• Arrange follow-ups and onward referrals to make sure the person with dementia is not left to manage alone.
For those eligible, we provide up to six weeks of home-based enablement support after hospital discharge. Our goal is to help the person with dementia to settle back in, avoid readmission and reconnect with their community. Post-discharge, our Hospital Dementia Coordinators will:
• Offer practical help and emotional reassurance during the transition home.
• Liaise with the GP, Dementia Coordinator and support networks of the person with dementia to ensure continuity of care.
• Help provide access to local services, activities and dementia-friendly groups.
• If necessary allocate overnight care worker support to help re-establish nightly routines, monitor safety and be a comforting presence.
If you or a loved one is living with dementia and is about to go into hospital, call our Dementia Coordinator Line on 0800 035 2221. If you or a loved one is already in hospital, ask a staff member to contact the ADSS Hospital Dementia Coordinator team.
Our Coordinators help reduce distress and increase confidence during hospital stays; prevent unnecessary readmissions with proactive, tailored support; and provide connections with the right help at the right time, so nobody is left to cope alone.
