Heralding the human touch in older people's care

There have been high numbers of complaints recently about how standards of care in the NHS for older people are way below even a basic level. It is time for the NHS to learn new lessons about best practice so that it can make the necessary improvements to enhance the medical care and hospital stays for the most senior patients.

Some hospitals have put into effect positive measures to make older patients more comfortable, according to The Alzheimer's Society. These include "reminiscence rooms" to bring back old memories, clear directions to toilets and bathrooms and colour coded trays for patients who need a little assistance in eating.

The Alzheimer's Society has brought out a leaflet called "This is Me" designed to support older people with dementia going into hospital. It encourages relatives to provide information about family, eating preferences and medication to help nurses settle their patients in unfamiliar surroundings.

There is also to be more training for medical staff in how to care for people with dementia or cognitive challenges. Since last September it has become mandatory for all nurses to be educated in caring for all those with a cognitive impairment. All patients must be treated with respect and as an individual according to Professor Ian Peate of the School of Nursing at Thames Valley University.

The professor said: "It's about promoting dignity, about looking at the individual as a whole person and making sure that the whole person's nature is taken into account as opposed to some individual aspect of their care."

A new website called Kissing it Better has been set up by dedicated nurses Nicola Matthews and Jill Fraser. It was started after Ms Matthews had to go into hospital herself and was shocked by the low standard of care.

Kissing it Better advocates simple tender loving care for example making sure older patients have some family photos in frames by the bed to remind staff that their patients are much loved family members.

Ms Matthews said: "You want staff to know that they are a person, a much-loved grandfather rather than a little old person in bed. No one is just a little old person in a bed."

Communication, she says is "the key to the whole thing and she encourages relatives to speak up any time they have any concerns regarding the care of their loved ones.

The human touch is the magic ingredient that will make all the difference to the care of older people in hospital.

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