Jo James – författare

Highly Commended in Medicine in the 2018 BMA Medical Book AwardsPeople with dementia increasingly find themselves staying in hospitals for extended periods, often due to separate health issues. This best-practice guide presents healthcare staff with the information and tools needed to provide excellent person-centred care to people with dementia in hospital settings.This useful handbook includes information and innovative strategies on how to manage common issues, including communication, physical health needs, pain, eating and nutrition, working with carers and relatives, understanding behaviour and approaching the end of life. It also highlights ethical considerations such as human rights and dementia, making decisions and the Mental Capacity Act. Each chapter includes a case study, emphasising the person at the centre of care and providing examples of how hospital staff can work with people with dementia to ensure best practice.

GP surgeries, outpatient clinics, and hospitals can be difficult for people with dementia, as physical and emotional discomfort can build up and become overwhelming. This book invites healthcare workers to examine the root causes of distress for people with dementia in clinical settings, and offers ways to resolve incidents without the need for restraint or sedation. It also suggests strategies for reflection after incidents and forward planning, to support patients and staff and reduce the frequency of difficult interactions. Each chapter includes illustrative case studies to bring key concepts and dilemmas to life, and is supported by analysis and practical advice rooted in the authors' extensive experience in dementia care. This guide helps healthcare professionals to understand why people with dementia may become distressed in a clinical setting, and gives them the tools to not only resolve incidents, but create a person-centred, supportive environment to reduce future distress.