Staff, patients and the Oxford Hospitals Charity team gathered at the John Radcliffe Hospital this week to celebrate the opening of two newly refurbished dementia-friendly spaces within the Complex Medicine Unit (CMU).

The CMU mostly cares for older and often frail patients, some who also have dementia.

Hospital can be a scary space for these patients, who can find it hard to cope with the unfamiliar, so Oxford Hospitals Charity has worked with the NHS staff to fund £24,000 of improvements, enabling more patient activities to take place and creating a calmer environment.

The celebration took place during Dementia Action Week and included a coffee morning where patients, families and staff learned more about the new facilities and activities now available on the ward.

Staff showcased the newly repurposed and refurbished Quiet Room, where the Acute Rehab Support Workers help patients in a calm space away from the ward.

Ellie Saxon, Cognitive, Frailty Lead Nurse at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The new Quiet Room makes a huge difference for patients experiencing delirium and other cognitive symptoms of dementia, providing a calm and peaceful space.t also gives us an appropriate space for emotional or difficult conversations with patients and their families.”

She also praised the new Patient Activity Room which gives staff a dedicated space to deliver cognitive stimulation and physical activity sessions.

Ellie explained: “The ward’s elderly patient group often have long hospital stays, and this makes keeping them active, both mentally and physically, really important to maintain wellbeing.

“Many of our patients within complex medicine are living with dementia and coming into hospital can be particularly challenging for them.  This room gives space for socialising, like having a patient cafe – and activities with other patients help keep them more engaged, and mentally and physically active.

Both rooms are equipped with large innovative touchscreen devices preloaded with music, films, games, audiobooks, and historical content, designed to support reminiscence and rehabilitation therapy.

“It’s a huge improvement so we are extremely grateful for the support from Oxford Hospitals Charity and their generous donors for fully funding this project.” Ellie added

Krystal Harry, Programme Assistant at Oxford Hospitals Charity, said, “This event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the transformation of these two important spaces and recognise the work that has gone into bringing the project to life. We know that for some hospitals aren’t simply a place to get better, but can be home for a long time – and we are delighted to support projects like this that make them feel more homely and comfortable.”

Chief Operating Officer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Felicity Taylor-Drewe added: "It's great to see the collaboration between our friends at Oxford Hospital Charity and the fantastic team on the Complex Medicine Unit working together to make time in hospital therapeutic for our older patients and those living with dementia. It's such important work and the enthusiasm for these improvements was really clear in both the staff team and with patients I met on the day."

Oxford Hospitals Charity shared their thanks with special donors who supported this project and helped to make the funding possible.