Dementia care looks a little different at Logan Hospital thanks to a dedicated team of specialists and their unique approach to supporting people living with cognitive impairment.
Several new spaces and innovative programs have been introduced in recent years, all based on the premise that ‘dementia does not define a person’.
Geriatrician Dr Kannan Natarajan said the team’s focus was on looking beyond a medical diagnosis to understand what mattered to each patient and how they could best be supported to live well.
“We want to improve our patients’ quality of life and, wherever possible, help them return home safely to a familiar environment,” he said. “That means looking at the whole person, working closely with their families and finding the right care for each individual.”
Dr Natarajan said partnering with families was a crucial part of the approach, particularly given the value of family across Logan’s diverse community.
“Our patients’ families are incredibly important, and their willingness to partner with us in caring for their loved ones makes a real difference in hospital but also at home,” he said.
For some patients, the support of a loved one meant they could receive follow-up care at home through the Geriatric Evaluation and Management In The Home (GEMITH) service.
“Being at home can reduce stress, improve quality of life and support recovery,” Dr Natarajan said. “We can assess whether patients who have been in hospital can safely continue their care and management at home, helping them get back to their normal, everyday lives sooner.”
For patients needing to remain in hospital, Logan Hospital’s dedicated dementia unit provides a safe, purpose-built environment designed around the unique needs of people living with cognitive impairment.
The ward, that recently celebrated its first birthday, includes safe spaces for patients to move around, a ‘bus stop’ and regular social activities and programs designed to keep patients engaged and active during their hospital stay.
While the ward provides a dedicated environment for patients with more complex cognitive needs, a tailored approach to dementia care is consistent across the hospital with specialist teams working to expedite transfers from the emergency department to other wards also experienced in caring for people living with dementia.
Dr Natarajan said he was proud of the team that continued to work to develop further innovative new programs that were helping to shape the future of dementia care at Logan Hospital and highlighted the collaborative leadership of co-directors Dr Leslie Gan and Dr Sreenath Bukkapatnam.
“Our goal is to be service leaders of care for people living with dementia.”