A DIGNIFIED REVOLUTION

Alone we can do so little; together we achieve so much!

NEWS UPDATE: DECEMBER 2008

Welcome to the December news update.  As many of you  know we are now online and we are uploading information on a regular basis. We now have a new section on the website where you can download cases studies and articles. The website also contains a blog so if you would like to contribute we would like to hear from you.

We welcome your comments and suggestions.  If you have any information that you would like to share with others please let us know and we will be happy to circulate it in the next newsletter.

If you are reading a copy of this email forwarded to you by a colleague we may not have your contact details.  If you would like to guarantee a regular monthly copy of the mailing send your details to info@dignifiedrevolution.org.uk

Forthcoming events

Dignity is More Than Just a Word

Perceptive professionals embedding dignity and respect in a care environment

Monday 11 May 2009, Cardiff

The workshop is focused on fine tuning communication and listening skills to enrich relationships between patients/clients, relatives and carers (and colleagues) Email for further information

We would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

GOOD NEWS CORNER

Likeminded individuals

As a result of the article in the Daily Mail we have been contacted by a group called Professional Concern, who are based in Derby. Their interests are similar to  A Dignified Revolution. They are a group of retired nurses who wanted to make a difference, so they approached the Director of Nursing at the local Trust.  They were given a warm welcome and invited to join various audit teams and relevant discussion groups. They have also been given a place at several discussion groups run by the Royal College of Nursing. Their focus  is very specifically towards enhancing basic nursing care.

We have also been contacted by a nurse from Northampton who is interested developing activities in her locality. Arrangements have been made to meet with her in January.

No complaints in 5 years

Last month we mentioned in the news update an initiative in a stroke rehabilitation unit which appeared to be good practice worth sharing.

Today, have received more information to share about the initiative. The emphasis is on good communication between patients, relatives and carers who use the stroke rehabilitation unit at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny. Another intervention which has also proved to be successful is a traffic light system that helps staff to automatically understand a patients dietary requirements. The initiatives have worked so well that the ward has received no complaints in the last five years

Care and compassion brought me back to life

A patient gives an account of the excellent care that she received when she was in hospital after being struck down with encephalitis.  During her two week stay, she was able to witness all the little things which were being carried out by nurses to make sure she and all the patients were as happy as they could be in such difficult circumstances. This included making sure beds were comfortable, food was suitable for dietary needs and high hygiene standards at all times. Nurses were constantly attending to patients, 24 hours a day, and yet always found time to make sure families were kept informed and looked after

Releasing potential

In a recent Health Service Journal Ken Jarrold provided an account of his recent experience of being a patient, which he found very positive. His treatment and care, carried out by a clinical nurse specialist ,was personal, informed and unhurried. From a personal point of view he felt that it was an excellent example of how working lives and patient experience, have in some respects changed for the better

ACTIVITIES

We have been involved in a number of activities during the last month, details of which are below.

Age Concern Morgannwg workforce planning day

We participated in Age Concern Morgannwg's workforce planning day.  It was an excellent day which was both emotional and enjoyable. Dr Win Tadd started the day with a key note presentation. This  was followed with the DVD ‘What do you see?'. The theme of dignity was carried through the morning workshops, one of which set groups with the task of writing a poem which could be used in the organisations staff and volunteer induction pack. Some very impressive poems were produced in a very short space of time. It was a privilege to be invited to attend and we would like to thank Age Concern Morgannwg for their support over the past year

Age Concern Ceredigion dignity workshop

We gave a presentation at Age Concern Ceredigion’s dignity workshop.  It was an excellent event in which health and social services joined forces with Age Concern Ceredigion to address the issue of dignity for older people in hospital and care homes. A number of case studies were used to highlight some of the issues that older people and their families experience in hospitals and care homes. This generated some rich discussion. A representative from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) also gave a presentation which raised awareness of the RCN dignity campaign

Novice nurse programme

We ran a session on dignity in the novice nurse programme designed for  newly qualified mental health nurses working at Ysbyty George Thomas Hospital

PUBLICITY

Article published in Nurse Management Journal

We have had an article published in the Nursing Management Journal. A copy of the article can be downloaded from our website

Article published in Daily Mail

An article was published in the Daily Mail that provides a distressing account the care of an older person in hospital. It is an account of a Founder Members experience when her aunt was in hospital. It has generated numerous emails from readers many of which have been posted on the blog. It has also generated a considerable number of responses to the Daily Mail, which can be viewed along with the article

BBC Wales picks up on dignified care

As a result of the Daily Mail article Lorraine Morgan, a founder member was invited by BBC Wales to talk about A Dignified Revolution and her experience of her aunt’s hospital care

Women's Institute in Wales lends it support

The National Federation of Women’s Institute (WI) in Wales is including information about A Dignified Revolution in its next newsletter. Information is also being  circulated to the 13 Federation secretaries in Wales and the Federation Public Affairs Chairs. A template letter has been drawn up so that, if they wish, members can write to their Assembly Members about dignified care. We are very grateful for the support of the WI

Age Concern North Wales Central spreads the word

Many thanks to Age Concern North Wales Central who raised awareness of A Dignified Revolution in their Autumn edition of their newsletter

Network Wales Awards

A Dignified Revolution received a Highly Commended Award in the recent Network Wales Awards. Many thanks to all who nominated us

Bilingual leaflet

Thanks to the Welsh Language Board, a graphic artist who wishes to remain anonymous and a printing company we will soon have 1,000 copies of a bilingual leaflet for circulation. We are extremely grateful for their support

THE ELDERLY,  FOOD AND NUTRITION

Eating for England by Nigel Slater is an interesting novel about British food, past and present. At one point in the book the author gives an account about visiting his aunt in a nursing home which is interesting and worth sharing.

"Feeding the elderly has none of the charisma of feeding children. There is no Jamie Oliver to improve the daily diet of old people. Fewer photo opportunities, probably. What celebrity chef wants to fill his cookbook with wrinkly old people with no teeth? A child with a blob of custard on her chin looks cute; an old person with a blob of custard on hers looks demented"

"My aunt wears a plastic bib to eat now, though she can still feed herself. It's just that most of it ends up down her, rather than inside her. I'm not sure anyone notices. With what ends up around their mouths, down their cardigans or on the floor, I suspect no one realises that what old people actually die of is malnutrition rather than old age".

NEWS

Campaign for legislation against elder abuse

Action on Elder Abuse are running a campaign for the introduction of legislation to protect vulnerable adults. Click here to sign the online petition

Can you help stop abuse?

The Department of Health is currently consulting on ‘No Secrets’ the guidance on keeping adults safe (in England). This document aims to stop all forms of abuse of older people. If you can help the Alzheimer’s Society by speaking to the media about any experiences you may have of abuse please call the press team on 020 7423 3595 or email press@alzheimer’s.org.uk

Survey shows shortage of advocacy services for older people

Age Concern Cymru's Elder Abuse Project has carried out its second survey on advocacy provision for older people in Wales and it has found no significant rise in the provision of these vital services, despite the fact that shortages were highlighted in last year's survey. The survey also found ongoing concern about the security of existing services due to uncertainty around future funding. Access to effective advocacy services is crucial for many older people as it helps maintain basic human rights when their dignity, respect, private and family life, can be ignored, disregarded or unrecognised. The Welsh Assembly Government is looking towards developing an advocacy strategy that should assist the voluntary sector to plan and co-ordinate services more effectively. Links are being made with Advocacy Wales to ensure that the views of the sector in Wales are being taken into account

Good practice in dementia care

Roger Rowett & Associates are currently conducting a piece of work on behalf of the Care Council for Wales in relation to good practice in dementia care.  This is being carried out in conjunction with the Older People Network in Wales. If you have an interest or involvement in supporting people with dementia, or dementia type illnesses, they would like to hear from you. They are particularly interested in the involvement of people with dementia and/or their carers. If you wish to be involved or provide information please contact Roger Rowett on rogerrowett@btinternet.com

Making it safer: making it better

Jill Galvani, the Director of Nursing from the North Wales NHS Trust has issued all nurses and healthcare support workers with a document  that outlines the standards that are expected of them

Seeing the person in the patient

A new Kings Fund report has found that the quality of care in hospitals around the country is patchy, and staff often fail to provide the compassionate care that patients seek. It found that although patient satisfaction surveys show high levels of satisfaction with hospital care, more detailed studies that include patients' own stories show that the quality of care varies and that staff members often fail to see the person in the patient 

State of healthcare report released

A recent Healthcare Commission report has applauded improvements in the NHS and called for further efforts to enhance the quality of care and make services more patient-centred. It is acknowledged that whilst patients overall indicate high levels of satisfaction with care, the NHS is still playing catch up when it comes to consistently providing the patient-centred care that people demand. This is particularly true for those least able to make themselves heard when it comes to getting the best care, such as older people, children and those with mental health needs or learning disabilities.  Click here for a report by Help the Aged

New hope of dignity for people with stroke

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has received a £1.2 million grant awarded by the Department of Health to research new ways of assessing and managing urinary incontinence after stroke. The project, "ICONS: Identifying Continence Options after Stroke", will develop and test a package of care designed to increase the number of stroke survivors with urinary incontinence who become continent again. Ultimately, this could improve such stroke patients’ lives significantly, most importantly because it could restore their dignity"

Pain in older people: reflections and experiences from an older person's perspective

This publication is designed to provide an insight into the lives of older people living with persistent pain. Without an understanding of the basic principles of pain in older people correct assessment and management cannot be ensured.

Pain has a highly detrimental impact on quality of life and is severely disabling. These effects become more pronounced with age, resulting in greater responsibility and costs for the caregiver, care-provider and healthcare system. Ageist and discriminatory attitudes toward older people in pain must be challenged and ended

Not just about saying ‘love’ or ‘dearie’

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is set to approve new guidance on 3 December 2008.  It covers a wide range of topics such as communication, personal hygiene and maintaining privacy and dignity. Nurses will be banned from calling older people 'dearie' or 'love' to avoid offending them. The guidance can be used as a tool to challenge poor standards of care and provides employers with a set of principles to judge performance against

Care ’failing the terminally ill’

Terminally ill people and their families are being let down by failings in end of life care according to a new report from the National Audit Office.

Whilst most people want to die at home they are dying in hospital. The report said families, hospices and care homes in England needed more help to provide better end of life services. And the watchdog cast doubt on the government's plans to improve care.The National Audit Office report can be found here

Reform of health and social care complaints: proposed changes to the legislative framework

From 1st April 2009, a single complaints system will be introduced for all health and local authority adult social care services in England.

This document provides details about the legislative framework that will be introduced to support these reforms, as well as how people can feedback their views on these proposals

Put people power into action to improve NHS

Patients are being encouraged to rate the service that they receive in hospital using a new tool on the NHS website. Patients can review services they have received and share their experiences with other patients thus empowering them to directly influence the quality of care that they receive The five key areas that patients are asked to comment on are:  dignity and respect, cleanliness, whether doctors and nurses worked well together, if patients felt they were involved in decisions about their care and if they would recommend the hospital to friends and family

People's award for dignity in care 2009

The People's Award for Dignity in Care is a new award designed to recognise individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support people using health or social care services and, in so doing, have improved patient dignity and service experience. The award scheme is now open for nominations. Nominations close on 6 March 2009. These awards only apply to England

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day - 15 June 2009

World Elder Abuse Day is now approaching its  4th year and Action on Elder Abuse want to make it an important date in everyone’s diary. For more information email worldelderabuseday@elderabuse.org.uk or call 0208 765 7000. Action on Elder Abuse has launched a series of exciting challenge events, including skydiving, trekking and running. If you've ever wanted to trek the Inca Trail, freefall from 10,000 feet or sledge across Lapland with huskies (to name but a few), visit http://www.elderabuse.org.uk/ for more information

RESOURCES

On our own terms: the challenge of assessing dignity in care

This publication reports on research carried out by the Picker Institute and sets out a framework for measuring dignity

Finding the right care home: a step by step companion

The need to go into a care home can be a very difficult and extremely stressful experience - for the person themselves as well as relatives, spouses, partners and friends. This work takes the reader through the entire process and explains all that needs to be known in order to make the best possible decisions. ISBN 978-0-86242- 428-2, 208 pages, paperback, £9.99. Published by Age Concern Books (www. ageconcern.org.uk), tel 0870 44 22 120 to place an order

Nursing home abuse

This website offers help to anyone who is concerned that their relative is suffering abuse in a nursing home

Guide to safeguard patient confidentiality launched in Wales

A new website and online guide to help NHS Wales staff protect patient confidentiality has been launched. The new Welsh Caldicott Manual, which is larger than its English counterpart, includes more than 40 'assessment standards' that NHS organisations in Wales must adhere to

PUBLICATIONS

Take my hand: The Extraordinary Story of a Girl Named Janis

A powerful account of a young woman's death from undiagnosed encephalopathy

EVENTS

Gala Celebrity Evening

Monday, 12 January, 2009

Join Amanda Waring, the Awareness programme and the British Institute of Human Rights for a Gala Celebrity Evening at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London,

The aim of the event is to inspire, entertain and inform

Richard Briers, June Whitfield , Virginia Mckenna , Coring Redgrave are confirmed readers along with Amanda Waring and Baroness Neuberger D.B.E

Tickets £45.00

To book tickets email amanda@8fca.co.uk. For more information about Amanda's films visit www.amandawaring.com

Safeguarding protection conference

Monday, 12 January 2009

National Council for Voluntary Organisations, London

A one day conference on adult protection legislation

For further information daisygoodstien@elderabuse.org.uk

Ageing Population 09

Thursday, 29 January 2009

QEii Conference Centre, London

For more information email vicky.bowness@govnet.co.uk

Dementia, dignity and the challenge of an ageing society

Thursday, 26 February 2009, central London

For more information tel: 0208 765 7000

Action on Elder Abuse National Conference 2009

Monday & Tuesday  23/24 March 2009

East Midlands Conference Centre

University Park, Nottingham

For more information daisygoodstien@elderabuse.org.uk

RCN Nursing Older People conference

Wednesday, 1 April 2009

For further information email: pat.anslow@rcn.org.uk

THE FUNDING OF A DIGNIFIED REVOLUTION

The common experience of how close relatives, whilst in hospital, had not been treated with respect and, as a result, lost their dignity led a group of individuals to establish A Dignified Revolution in January 2008.

A Dignified Revolution aims to ensure that older people are cared for with dignity and respect in hospital.  We do this by raising awareness of dignity and respect issues to health professionals and to the general public

All our events and publications are provided free of charge.  If we do not receive sufficient donations, then we pay for the difference out of our own pockets.

If you would like to help, we would like your time most of all.  However, some cash would also be useful.  £15 covers the cost of a person attending an awareness day; £30 covers the cost of printing and posting 100 leaflets; £100 covers the cost of one trip between North and South Wales to raise awareness of A Dignified Revolution.

Donations will help us to continue our work – so please give generously if you think our cause is worthwhile.  Not a penny will be spent on administration or overheads – we don’t have any!

Cheques should be made payable to A Dignified Revolution. 

We want to remain focussed on our goal of helping older people retain their dignity whilst in hospital.  In order to avoid being diverted onto other issues and priorities, we do not seek statutory sector funding (although unsolicited grants will be accepted).  So your support is important and will help to make a difference.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank the following people for giving their time and expertise to help develop resources to support A Dignified Revolution:

Lance Webster – for the design of our logo

John Dixon – for the development of the website

An individual (who would like to remain anonymous) for her production of our leaflet

The Welsh Language Board – for the translation of our leaflet

An individual (who wishes to remain anonymous) for her production of the bilingual leaflet

CONTACT DETAILS

A Dignified Revolution

Britannia House, 11 High St, Cowbridge   CF71 7AD

Tel: 07811 159800

Fax: 01446 774864

Email: info@dignifiedrevolution.org.uk

Website: www.dignifiedrevolution.org.uk