A new dementia care service is now open and is offering support to people in the Lancaster and Morecambe area. The new dementia rehabilitation service is a joint venture led by Lancashire County Council and North Lancashire Primary Care Trust.
In addition to helping people live more independently, the service, based at Dolphinlee House Home on Patterdale Road, will avoid unnecessary placements in hospitals or care homes and avoid or delay the need for long-term care at home. It is designed to help people with dementia to prepare to return home following a stay in hospital or a short-term course of treatment.
Support offered includes:
* 10 beds in the rehabilitation centre
* Trained staff who specialise in preparing people for a return to day-to-day life
* Regular reviews and support plans so that people receive tailor-made care programmes that suit them while in the centre and at home
* The service provides people with support for up to six weeks starting from when they leave hospital.
County Councillor Mike Calvert, cabinet member for adult and community services, said:
“It’s difficult for people suffering from dementia to come to terms with falls, illnesses and other incidents.
“Incidents like these can make the symptoms of dementia worse and previously, the only solution available to many people was long-term residential care.
“With this dementia care service, we can now help people get back on their feet and become able to cope with the demands of day-to-day living again. People will also need continued support in their homes and we can arrange care packages to cater for this.
“This approach has proved successful in other areas of the county and if the Dolphinlee pilot is successful, we’ll look to make this a permanent scheme.”
Bill Gormley, Locality Lead Non-Executive Director for North Lancashire Primary Care Trust, said:
The opening of the North Lancashire Intermediate Residential Dementia Care Unit is an excellent example of NHS and local government collaborative partnership working.
People are referred to the new service by social workers or health care staff.
People who want to find out more should contact the county council on 0845 0530009.
Read the latest Care Quality Commission Inspector’s Report on Dolphinlee, published 24 October 2012.
photo: Back row, left to right: Bill Gormley, chair North Lancs PCT; Bernard Noblett; CC Mike Calvert; Richard Jones, executive director of adult and community services.
Front row, left to right: Cllr Sam Riches; Nancy Bond; Sarah Coulson; Liz Wild