We recently published a report on the experiences of people with dementia using health and social care services in England and how these services are responding. This report is a key milestone in our ongoing work on dementia. I have written before about our ambition to draw together the important work being done across all of health and social care in this space. I am delighted that the report is rooted in the rich engagement we have had with people living with dementia and their loved ones and in work with key external partners and our own colleagues, alongside analysis of information we hold.
The report found that health and social care staff do not always understand the specific personal care needs of people with dementia. Also, that care environments, like hospital wards and care homes, do not always support people’s wellbeing. However, the report also found how good care for people living with dementia is provided in considered environments by well-trained, compassionate professionals who understand the person and how best to relate to them. Our report highlights the good practice of some services to improve people’s lives and those who care for them.
The response to the report’s publication has been positive and it is clear there is a real appetite to help to showcase good practice and improve services for people with dementia. With recent figures suggesting that one in two of us will experience dementia in our lifetimes – whether that is living with it ourselves or caring for loved ones – there is no doubt that a greater spotlight needs shining on the current situation to help develop effective responses to an increasing challenge.
Good dementia care in action
We recently visited Moorgate Hollow and Moorgate Croft in Rotherham, rating them as ‘Outstanding’. In both services, staff were skilled in recognising and responding to people’s emotional needs, which is so important when they have dementia and struggle to verbalise confusion or distress. We saw staff were compassionate and knowledgeable about dementia care and went out of their way to respect people’s preferences. For example, one person was a former member of their church choir and had often sung with a younger relative. When this person felt distressed due to their dementia, staff played a recording of their relative singing, which helped reduce their distress without having to resort to medication.
When dementia care is good – when the needs of the person, their family and carers are central to their care – it makes a real difference to people’s lives. We want to see good dementia care as a consistent reality across sectors. We will use the findings that informed this report as a starting point to develop, alongside people with lived experience, providers and other stakeholders, a widely accepted definition of what good, joined-up dementia care looks like. This will set clear expectations of good for those drawing on, providing or commissioning services, and for us to apply to all areas of our regulatory activity.
There is already a lot of work going on in this space, with health and care services, charities, research institutions and Government all looking at the impact of dementia and how to manage it. As the regulator, we have a unique view of health and social care and I genuinely think that our unique convening role can, and should, help us to join up these efforts to make a real difference for people.
Click here to read the CQC’s new report on the challenges that people with dementia face. Then, leave a comment on this column or join the conversation to share your thoughts.
Mary Cridge is Director of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Email: [email protected] X: @CQCProf