SPECIALIST dementia nurses could soon be visiting carers across the county as part of plans by the Orders of St John Care Trust.

The trust, which runs 22 care homes and independent living communities in Oxfordshire, wants to expand its Admiral nurse scheme.

The programme currently sees the nurses, who are trained in dementia care, visit patients in trust homes.

Now the trust wants to roll the service out to people who care for relatives with dementia in their own homes.

It will consult carers about what they want the service to offer at a series of focus groups, which start today across Oxfordshire.


Our top stories

 

There are more than 8,000 people in the county who have been diagnosed with dementia.

Feedback from the groups will be used to help set up the service, which does not yet have an official launch date.

Admiral nurse Angie Williams said: “The focus groups are an important opportunity for families of people with dementia to say what they need to care for people when they are at home.

“It is all about supporting families and offering them help with questions they may have.

“One of the most commonly asked questions by family carers, and it is a very hard one to answer, is how long the patient will live after diagnosis.

“If you have good care and support then people with dementia can lead fulfilling lives.”

Former dementia carer Pauline Maclean said she would have benefited from an Admiral nurse when she was looking after her mother.

Ethel Henderson, 90, passed away in November after being cared for by Mrs Maclean for 20 years.

Mrs Maclean, 70, said: “I think the idea is totally and utterly amazing.

“I wish I had that two or three years ago.

“There are old people who are looking after relatives who have dementia and would not let anyone into their house, but they would let a nurse in.

“It is important to support the carer because if you do not support them they can get ill themselves from the work they are doing.

“If I was giving advice now on what these services should offer, my priorities would be helping people recognise that the person with dementia who was viable a year ago is now a different person.”

The first focus group was being held at the trust’s building in Craufurd Road, Cowley, today at 10.30am.

A Banbury session will be held in its Orchard Meadows assisted living flats in Prescott Close at 10.30am on Tuesday and another session will be held in Britwell Road, Didcot, on Wednesday, also at 10.30am.

The final session will be held in the trust’s headquarters in Des Roches Square in Witney at 10.30am on Thursday.

All those who participate in the focus groups will be given a £20 Marks & Spencer voucher to compensate them for giving up their time.

To find out more contact the trust on 01993 323232.