Occupational Therapy News OTnews July 2019 | Page 46

FEATURE OLDER PEOPLE
Themes from patient feedback after treatments
included feeling calm, pampered and comforted, with
improved self-worth and self-esteem.
In one case, a female patient reported that she
enjoyed getting her hair done as it made her feel lighter,
‘lifted up like Mary Poppins’. This experience was
so important to her wellbeing that she cancelled her
friend’s visit so as not to be interrupted while having a
treatment.
As part of the EBCD interviews, staff reported that,
after the groups and treatments, it positively impacted
on patients’ behaviour, with people eating and sleeping
better, smiling more, being calmer, and willing to
socialise more.
Staff also recognised that this was beneficial to them,
so although they did not have the time to participate
directly they could still share in this experience.
and hope to us all with professionalism, tenderness and
grace’.
Main challenges to the project, which was funded
for two years by the charity Friends of Brighton and
Hove Hospitals, were lead time to get the right team
on board, continued funding and the lack of uptake of
volunteers.
References
Edvardsson D, Fetherstonhaugh D, Nay R (2010) Promoting a
continuation of self and normality; person-centred care as
described by people with dementia, their family members
and aged care staff. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19(17-
18):2611-8
Mok E (2004) The effects of slow-stroke back massage on
anxiety and shoulder pain in elderly stroke patients.
Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery, 10(4):
209-216
Environment
Nyman, SR and Szymczynska P (2016) Meaningful activities
‘‘
46 OTnews July 2019
yIm
The ward environment was a challenge to overcome.
for improving wellbeing of people with dementia: beyond
Some of the elderly wards provided no areas for
mere pleasure to meeting fundamental psychological
socialisation because of their design and layout. Often
needs. Royal Society for Public Health.
clinical equipment and other furniture would be dumped
Suzuki M, Tatsumi A, Otsuka T, Kikuchi K, Mizuta A, Makino
in potential socialisation areas.
K, Kimoto A, Fujiwara K, Abe T, Nakagomi T, Hayashi T,
On two of the wards a designated area was made
Saruhara T (2010) Physical and psychological effects of
into a space where patients could go to socialise, take
six-week tactile massage on elderly patients with severe
part in groups, or have a space where they could be
dementia. American Journal of Alzheimer’s disease and
with their families.
Other Dementias, 25(8):680-6
One of these areas was refurbished with comfortable
furniture, plants, books and a Smart TV. It was
Paola O’Sullivan and Gemma Buckley, occupational
completely transformed from a medical
therapists, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals
room to a calm,
NHS Trust, email: paola.o’sullivan@nhs.
peaceful and homely
net. To view a short film made by the
environment.
charity about the project visit: www.
Massage can also
Patients have
brightonhospitalfriends.org.uk
help improve circulation and
welcomed this room
reduce physical aches and
as another place to
go to, other than
pains. Patient’s with arthritic
lying in their beds or
hands or joint deformities often
sitting in their chairs
reported improved function
on the ward. For
example, we have
and less pain after a hand
had a musician come
massage.
and play guitar, had film
showings, afternoon tea, and
family and loved ones have used
it as a space to wait while loved ones
received clinical care.
We received one thank you letter
from a family who were very grateful
for this room, saying ‘it gave great
peace’ and that ‘the Small Acts of
Friendship initiative gave comfort