Risk enablement and mobility on an acute medical unit V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
"Sit down, Mrs Jones": risk enablement and mobility for people with dementia on an acute medical unit.
IRAS ID
228280
Contact name
Pippa Collins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 28 days
Research summary
Recent research has shown that following a hospital admission people with dementia are generally less independent than they were prior to admission. Research also shows that hospitals tend to focus on risks such as preventing people from falling over and that when a person with dementia wants to move around this is perceived as "risky" and is prevented. Historically, research upon which current care practices are based has excluded people with dementia.
This research aims to gain an understanding of what it is like to be on an acute medical unit (AMU) from the perspective of a person with dementia who is not able to move around as they normally do, or be as independent as usual. An AMU is a busy and noisy environment which can be difficult for someone with demenita due to the unfamiliar environment and routine, and sensory overload. The area is shared by adults of all ages and many health care professionals from different medical teams. It is effectively the entry portal into the hospital for those people who are not discharged from A&E or admitted directly to a specialist ward and people are only on on the unit for 72 hours or less. Current research shows that for older people in general the first few days of a hospital admission can have a profound and negative effect which can impact on the rest of their admission.
To explore the AMU experience for a person with dementia video or audio recordings of conversations with people who have dementia will be made; and local and national documents that have an impact on how a person with dementia is cared for will be analysed.
Results from the research will be used to inform the way that people are cared for in acute medical units.REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0625
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion