Posters

Background The National Dementia Strategy states that patients with dementia should receive individualised care tailored to their preferences and needs. With an ageing population, where approximately two-thirds of hospital beds are occupied by patients over 65, the number of inpatients with dementia is increasing. Slow patient flow throughout the hospital often results in these patients remaining on busy medical wards for extended periods, posing challenges in the provision of patient centred care. “What Matters to Me” (WMTM) documents are provided to patients and their families to record

Introduction: Vitamin D is essential for blood calcium and phosphate homeostasis. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and neuroprotective effects. The geriatric population is vulnerable to Vitamin D deficiency (VD) due to poor dietary intake, reduced exposure to sunlight, reduced skin thickness, drug interactions, and impaired absorption and metabolism. VD is associated with osteomalacia, high bone turnover, an increased risk of hip fractures, infection, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and cancer risk. Clinical diagnosis of VD is difficult due to vague symptoms. It is

Key words: acute frailty, triple assessment, comprehensive geriatric assessment, integrated discharge team (IDT) Introduction: The expansion of acute frailty services is essential to meet the needs of our ageing population. According to the UK Office for National Statistics 2021 census, over one-sixth of the population (18.6%, or 11.1 million people) were aged 65 and over, with this proportion expected to rise to 25% within the next 20 years. British Geriatrics Society emphasizes the importance of using these metrics early in the patient journey, particularly for those with high 4AT, CFS, or

Introduction: Older adults accessing hospital care represent a distinct population, in whom patterns of multiple long-term conditions (MLTC) may differ to the wider population, especially given a higher likelihood of complex health and care requirements. A recent scoping review identified variability in the definition and operationalisation of MLTC in older adults accessing hospital care, with minimal description of MLTC in UK hospitals and limited consideration of complexity. To address this research gap, we aimed to describe the epidemiology and complexity of MLTC in older adults accessing

Background Eastbourne, on the East Sussex coast, has a population older than the national average. Older people make up a significant proportion of the hospital inpatient cohort, so services should be adapted to their needs. Language plays an important role in inclusion, but evidence is limited about preferred language in caring for older people. Anecdotally, "Elderly Care" did not resonate with patients. To find out more, surveys were conducted. Methods Surveys were used to find out patients' views on the name "Elderly Care" and identify other names they might prefer. Inpatients over 65 were

Introduction East Surrey Hospital (SASH) recognised in April 2024 that there was no acute frailty pathway or same day care service specifically for older people. It performed 3rd or 4th quartile for all performance indicators regarding the care of frail or older people. Older people occupied 60% of bed days at SASH and had the longest emergency department wait times. Materials and Methods SASH made a strategic commitment to improve outcomes for frail and older people. A best practice review and initial trajectory modelling led to trial of an acute frailty team. This resulted in a full business

Background "Dignity in death" (DiD) refers to avoiding suffering at the end-of-life by meeting individuals' physical, emotional, and spiritual needs compassionately and respectfully. This includes upholding autonomy, preserving individuality, and fostering open discussions about death while aligning care with the person’s values. Holistic care prioritises comfort and dignity, treating death with understanding rather than fear (Ignacio et al., 2016). However, little is known about how care home staff perceive "dignity in death," despite extensive research on hospital and hospice staff (Hemati

Introduction Delirium is a common acute neuropsychiatric disorder, affecting approximately 23% of older adults admitted to hospitals in the UK. It is often triggered by acute illness and is associated with a high in-hospital mortality rate of around 30%. While delirium typically resolves, many patients experience prolonged cognitive and functional decline. Despite its prevalence, structured post-hospital follow-up services remain limited, leading to increased emergency department (ED) reattendance, hospital readmissions, and delayed recognition of cognitive impairment. Method To address this

Introduction: 1 in 37 adults in the UK are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The varied nature and specific symptom management of the condition requires a person-centred multi-disciplinary approach to care. Methods: On a care-of-the-elderly ward at Bristol Royal Infirmary, 3 cycles of a quality improvement project were conducted to upskill knowledge and confidence of the staff caring for PD patients. In cycle 1, baseline knowledge and confidence of staff were gathered using a data collection survey. 5 teaching sessions were organised addressing topics in PD such as medication

Introduction According to the GMC’s Good Medical Practice, medical professionals have a responsibility to be considerate and compassionate to those close to a patient through giving support and information. For those lacking capacity, clinicians can assume that patients would want those close to them to be kept up to date with their condition. NHS digital data last year showed that 17.1% of written complaints are linked with communication. The primary aim of this project was to increase the percentage of surgical patients aged 65 or over receiving a next of kin (NOK) update. The secondary aim

Introduction: National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) guidelines published in 2022 significantly changed practice in orthogeriatric setting with recommendation for early treatment to address “imminent fracture risk” and recommendation for greater use of injectable therapies for those at “very high fracture risk”. Intravenous zolendronate is now considered first line treatment, particularly post hip fracture but additional services for provision of injectable therapies have not been created to address this. The aim of this work was to analyse treatment choices for patients entered on

Introduction Fragility Fractures can lead to immediate complications, decline in health status, increase in hospital stay, increased care needs and reduction in the quality of life (Court-Brown C Clement N, Duckworth A, The Bone and Joint Journal, 2014 96-B(3) 366-372). However, the National Osteoporosis Society (2017) reported 80% of non-hip fractures were not offered strength or balance exercises It is estimated that fragility fractures cost the UK £4.4 billion which includes £1.1 billion for social care (Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, 2022). At Sussex Community NHS Foundation

Family carers of people with Lewy body dementia (LBD) often experience poor mental and physical health, reduced quality of life and high levels of strain/ stress. Psychoeducational or psychotherapeutic group interventions can enhance understanding and reduce social isolation but rarely address specific symptoms of LBD. The Lewy body dementia Admiral Nurse service (dementia specialist nurse model) offers support via telephone or online video calls. In 2022 the service developed on online psychosocial group programme for family carers aimed at supporting understanding of LBD, coping strategies

Introduction Some people living with dementia have difficulties at mealtimes, with significant implications for physical and mental health (Abdelhamid et al., 2016). Care home staff provide direct care at mealtimes (Skills for Care, 2015), but there is a shortage of high-quality dementia care training focusing on mealtimes (Fetherstonhaugh et al., 2019). This study tested the feasibility and acceptability of an evidence-based training programme promoting better mealtime care for people living with dementia (Faraday et al, 2022). Method The study comprised a before-and-after design using

Introduction: There are limited evidence-based studies examining barriers and facilitators to pain assessment and management in residents with advanced dementia in long-term care settings, with no studies conducted to date in the long-term care setting in Northern Ireland. Aims: We aimed to explore care home nurses’ perspectives of facilitators of and barriers to providing optimum pain assessment and management to people with advanced dementia living in the nursing home setting in Northern Ireland. Methods: One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with nursing home nurses. Nurses

Introduction Globally, about one-third of community-dwelling older adults suffer from complex multimorbidity. Complex multimorbidity (three or more chronic diseases and affecting three or more different body systems) have worse outcomes than multimorbidity, such as more frequent hospitalizations, and premature mortality. The effect of sociodemographic factors in the progression of multimorbidity has been found, but the lifestyle and polypharmacy remain unclear. This study aims to explore impact of lifestyle and polypharmacy on the progression of multimorbidity among community-dwelling older

Introduction The use of cognitive rehabilitation sessions (CRS) in the care of people with neurodegenerative diseases increased following the 2008-2012 Alzheimer's plan in France. Practitioners work with primary carers to optimise care and ensure a better quality of life at home . Materials and methods Multicentre, quantitative, descriptive, observational study. We distributed questionnaires from May to November 2023 to the main carers of patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment who had been prescribed CRSs. Variables were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results We collected

Introduction: As medical student numbers rise, clinicians are under pressure to provide high quality teaching. To increase Geriatric medicine representation within the undergraduate curriculum, fourth-year students from the University of Glasgow attending Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI) are given the opportunity to participate in an ‘Older People’s Services Float (OPS) week’. Clinical Teaching Fellows (CTFs) and Clinical Development Fellows (CDFs) support students to undertake a condensed version of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). Students assess patients from the perspective of

Importance: Delirium affects up to 15% of hospitalised inpatients but prevalence rates vary by speciality. Outcomes for patients with delirium remain poor, but to improve care for patients having a full understanding of the burden of delirium within inpatients is an essential first step. Objective: To identify the prevalence of delirium on admission at a single hospital site across all specialities over a two-year period. Design: A retrospective analysis of all non-elective admissions 4A's Test (4AT) scores using Electronic Patient Records (EPR) data. Setting: A 600-bed urban teaching hospital

Descriptor NHS Forth Valley, acute services identified an 122% increase in demand for patients to receive enhanced observations during 2023-2024. The attached chart demonstrates the staff bank requests over the 12 months evidencing the 2 sharp rises during April 23 and November 23. Methodology Weekly reviews of patients placed on enhanced observation with bedside teaching Education programme for nurse leaders (CNM&SCN), nursing workforce and carers Ensuring activities are available and accessible Scope initiatives being used in other health boards which have proven to reduce demand of enhanced