Resources available to support families during dementia mental health admissions
A range of free resources developed through the Family Interventions In Dementia Mental Health Environments (FIND ME) Study at the University of West London are available to download.
The materials have been developed in response to needs identified by carers with lived experience of supporting a relative with dementia during a mental health inpatient admission and have been co-produced with carers. The resources are aimed at family carers but may also be useful for staff supporting people with dementia and their families.
Resources currently available include:
- A Guide to Visiting, designed to help families navigate ward visits and make the most of their time together
- A Guide to the Mental Health Act, with versions tailored to each of the UK nations
- A Guide for Children and Young People whose relative has been admitted to a mental health inpatient setting
- Additional resources to support carers before, during and after admission
Some hospital wards are already using the resources, with early feedback suggesting they are proving useful for both families and staff. The researchers would like to encourage further dissemination and adoption of these resources across dementia and mental health services, including:
- Within inpatient wards at the point of admission
- By community mental health teams when an admission is being considered
- As part of local information packs and support offers for families and carers
The resources, plus more information on the FIND ME study, are available here: https://www.uwl.ac.uk/research/research-centres-and-groups/geller-institute-ageing-and-memory/research/findme
For any questions, please contact: findme.giam@uwl.ac.uk