Dementia Awareness in Hospital

I never imagined writing a blog post from my sickbed, but here I am.

About a week ago, I was in a car crash. It wasn’t my fault, but I ended up with broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Thankfully, I'm on the mend, but this whole experience made me realise how important it is for hospitals to recognise and properly support patients with dementia—not just treat their injuries.

You see, I've got young-onset dementia. I told the hospital staff about it as soon as I was admitted. Indeed, I was still wearing a big badge with “PLEASE BE PATIENT, I HAVE DEMENTIA” emblazoned on it when I was admitted. I explained that it affects my memory and my ability to process information.

But for some reason, they just didn't seem to take it seriously. It was like they'd heard me, but it hadn't really registered.

There was no indication on my chart or around my bed that I had dementia. When the doctors and nurses came to talk to me, they'd use complex medical jargon and expect me to remember everything they said.

When confusion got the better of me, their frustration made me shrink inside. Their impatient stares said, “Why can’t you just keep up?”

It was utterly isolating and terrifying. I felt small, scared, and abandoned, my needs overlooked in a whirlwind of indifference.

Already shaken and vulnerable from the crash, I found myself spiralling into anxiety. The indifference around me hurt even more than the pain in my chest.

I was often disoriented and delusional because of the pain and the morphine, and there was a lot of noise and chaos around me on the ward at all hours of the day and night.

Eventually, my wife and daughter had to step in.

They could see how much I was struggling, and they knew that something had to change.

They asked the staff for a "This is Me" form. This is a simple document that provides information about a person's preferences, interests, and needs. It's designed to help staff provide person-centred care. The staff didn’t have any, so they printed a crude one off, which I filled in with my wife's help.

They also asked for a blue butterfly to be displayed. In many hospitals, a blue butterfly symbol is used to identify patients who have dementia or other cognitive impairments. It's a discreet way to let staff know the patient might need a bit of extra support and understanding.

The Ward had posters displayed to inform people about the scheme, but they hadn’t applied it to me. One of the nurses said that I couldn’t possibly have dementia because I wasn’t “wandering about with my backside hanging out of my gown and shouting”. Unbelievable!

I believe the hospital in question badly needs more dementia awareness.

The staff need to be better equipped to provide the best person-centred care. This is a DUTY of management!

If you or a loved one has dementia and is going into hospital, please don't wait for staff to notice your needs. Be proactive.

Request a "This is Me" form and make sure the blue butterfly symbol is displayed at your bedside.

Insist on these simple steps; they can make a real difference to your hospital experience and ensure that you receive the care and understanding you deserve.

I hope this blog post highlights the urgent need for dementia awareness and person-centred care in hospitals.

If you have questions or experiences to share, please leave a comment below.