Quality of Care for Dementia Patients: A Study of Beechlands Care Home, London

Quality of care for dementia patients: A study of
Beechlands Care Home, London

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................2
1.1................................................................................................................................................3
1.2 Motivation for the study........................................................................................................3
1.3 Research aims and objectives................................................................................................4
1.3.1 Aim of the study.................................................................................................................4
1.3.2 Research objectives............................................................................................................4
1.3.3 Research questions.............................................................................................................4
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................5
2.1 Introduction...........................................................................................................................5
2.2 The type of care given to dementia patient...........................................................................5
2.3 How quality of care can be maintained for dementia patients..............................................7
2.4 The measures that can be taken to improved quality of care................................................8
CHAPTER 3: METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION................................................................10
3.1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................10
3.2 Study location......................................................................................................................10
3.3 Research design...................................................................................................................10
3.5 Study participants and sample.............................................................................................11
3.7 Questions.............................................................................................................................11
3.8 Data analysis.......................................................................................................................12
CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS.............................................................................................................14
4.1 Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents.............................................................14
CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION.........................................................................................................19
5.1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................19
5.3 Sustaining the quality of care provided to patients.............................................................19
5.4 Measures that could improve quality of care for dementia patients...................................19

5.5 Limitations of study............................................................................................................20
5.6 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................20
5.7 Recommendations...............................................................................................................20
5.8 Future research....................................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................22
APPENDICES...............................................................................................................................25

ABSTRACT
Dementia is any decrease in knowledge that is essentially adequate to interfere with
independent daily functioning of an individual. Quality of care needs to be given to patients
suffering from dementia including care given by the caseworkers, doctors and nurses. The aim of
this study was to assess the quality of care for dementia patients in the UK. Data were collected
using in-depth interviews with dementia patients and their relatives to generate information on
the quality of care received from care homes. The results includes that effective technique and
methods are required to be applied by care professionals along with adopting new and innovative
technology to deliver appropriate medical facilities for well-being of patients. However,
technical support is effective to help patient with dementia to overcome with their psychological
problem. It is essential for management of hospitals to provide training for professionals and
follow guidelines of quality maintenance in proper manner.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Dementia is a kind of mental disorder which include the degradation of behaviour,
thinking, memory and all the day to day ability and capacity to engage in everyday role and
activity (Lai and et. al., 2017). Though, it has been observed that the ability of retaining the
memory is mostly affected. The power of problem solving and fluency in language also gets
hampered (Cipriani and et. al., 2017). Alzheimer has been considered as the most frequent cause
of dementia and affects the active neuron of the brain, which actually aids in gaining and
retaining memory. It results when certain type of protein gets accumulated and in turn prevents
the active and healthy brain cells to work and interact with one another. The brain part especially
hippocampus, has been considered as the main centre for focussing and learning. The most
common and early signs and symptoms of dementia are disorientation in time and place,
misplacing things, problem in communication and language, difficulty in performing easiest task
and sudden change in mood and behaviour.
Depending on the type and part of brain cells affected; the stages and type of dementia may
vary. The damaged Dementia is any decrease in knowledge that is essentially adequate to
interfere with independent, daily functioning. This is caused by primary neurologic,
neuropsychiatric and some medical conditions. The region of the brain particularly hippocampus,
has been considered as the chief centre for concentration and learning. All the types of dementia
start with damaging one or some other brain cells thus, memory loss is the foremost indication
(Beer, 2017).
It has been shown that the number of people with dementia is increasing yearly (Mueller
and et. al., 2017). Such types of dementia can be progressive and their symptoms may vary from
normal to severe one depending upon the condition of the patients. Thereby, cognitive,
psychological, muscular, mood, emotional and behavioural state of mind and body is affected
which obstruct and hinder the completion of daily activities. Due to this, constant, effective and
planned care should be provided to the sufferer or assist them in performing the necessary and
essential day to day life activities. This study was therefore, undertaken to generate information
on the quality of care provided to dementia patients in Beechlands Care Home, London.

1.1
Beechlands Care Home is located in London which is a private residential care service
home that is operated and managed by South End Care. The main purpose and goal of
Beechlands is to assist and provide a care centre to people’s loved ones suffering from any kind
of disorder. The care centre provides safe, happy and secure environment to patients so that they
feel homely and get better while receiving treatment in the care home (Bail and Grealish, 2016).
They operate and work according to the policies and standards of CQC to provide high quality
care and services. A team of general physicians, rehabilitation psychologist, geriatric
psychiatrist, physiotherapist, nurses and trained social workers and caregivers ensures that every
case is diagnosed and addressed to generate planned and appropriately made care plan, that is
accessible (Bolt and et. al., 2016). The dedicated team constantly monitor and come around to
check and get reviews on the current condition. The caregivers undergo prior training and special
care programs before they get posted or provided with regular and basic module so that they
perform each function professionally while giving patients full care.
The progressive and chronic syndrome may be caused by combination of various injuries
and diseases that basically affects the brain either primarily or secondarily. The affects of
dementia may vary from person to person depending upon the type of dementia and the stages.
During the early stage it has been observed that forgetfulness and becoming lost in often familiar
places are common (Digby and et. al., 2017). The middle stage symptoms become more
restricted which include, becoming lost at home, high trouble in interacting, experiencing
behavior change with frequent and continuous questions. The late stage marks with complete
inactivity as well as dependency of an individual over a helper because they face difficulty in
recognizing the relatives and family members at this stage and also become unaware of the place
and time.
1.2 Motivation for the study
It has been analysed from the past few years that the patients distressing from the
dementia are not provided with the proper care or attention which is required to make their life
less miserable and help them in attaining their memory (Noel, Kaluzynski and Templeton, 2017),
it has been observed that there is a lack of care in many care homes, service centres and even in