Counting the cost: caring for people with dementia on hospital wards

Our Counting the cost: caring for people with dementia on hospital wards report provides evidence from over 2,400 people with dementia, carers and nurses on the quality of dementia care provided on general wards in hospitals across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This report is part of our ongoing campaign for better care for people with dementia. Read more about our findings or download a copy of the full report.

What is Alzheimer's Society calling for?

1. The NHS as a whole and individual hospitals recognise that dementia is a significant, growing and costly problem for them, which lies at the heart of the agenda to drive efficiency and quality improvement.
2. A reduction in the number of people with dementia being cared for in hospitals
3. Hospitals to identify a senior clinician to take the lead for quality improvement in dementia and for defining the care pathway.
4. Specialist liaison older people's mental health teams to be commissioned  to facilitate the management and care of people with dementia in hospitals.
5. An informed and effective acute care workforce in hospitals for people with dementia
6. A reduction in the use of antipsychotic drugs [link] to treat people with dementia on a general ward
7. Involvement of people with dementia, carers, family and friends in the care of people with dementia to improve person-centred care
8. Steps are taken to ensure that people with dementia have enough to eat and drink
9. A change in the approach to care for people with dementia to one of dignity and respect.
   

As always with our campaigns, we rely on people like you to help us to make the case for change. Our campaigners' make a real difference to the way that dementia services are provided and help us to keep moving dementia and dementia care up the political agenda. Find out more about our campaigners' network. In many areas our local campaign groups are working with local hospitals to implement changes.

As part of the campaign we have launched This is me a document for people with dementia who are going into hospital. This is me is a simple and practical tool that can be given to staff to help them understand the needs, preferences, likes and dislikes of someone going into hospital.

• Download This is me