Study shows benefits of tool to help with transitions from mental health hospitals to communities for people with dementia
A study about SAFER-Dem, a tool to help people with dementia to have safer and smoother transitions from mental health hospitals to their communities, has been published by BMJ Open.
SAFER-Dem, an NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) supported, co-produced project led by researchers at The University of Manchester, has been shown to improve the discharge process, align care with best practice guidance and address the specific needs of people with dementia.
Professor Maria Panagioti, co-author of the SAFER-Dem study, says:
“Our study shows that by improving the quality and consistency of discharge planning, SAFER-Dem has the potential to enhance patient safety, strengthen system resilience and support more timely discharges where appropriate. It may also help reduce avoidable readmissions by ensuring that patients leave hospital with the right support in place.
The SAFER-Dem intervention is not just about speeding up discharge, but about improving how discharge is delivered – making it safer, more personalised, and more effective for both patients and the wider health system.”
You can read the study here: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/3/e109677
Additional evaluation and testing of SAFER-Dem will be conducted before it can be used across mental health services.