RITAs helping to aid dementia patients
Four devices to aid patients suffering from dementia have been introduced to wards at the West Suffolk Hospital.
The RITAs (Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Activies) have come from the My WiSH Charity, which supports the work of the hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
The funds for the devices have come from money raised and donated to the Help your NHS hospital Covid appeal and the Forget Me Not Dementia Appeal.
The digital therapy systems are mainly used by patients with cognitive impairments, such as dementia and they are on G3 and F3 wards, the acute assessment unit and the critical care unit.
They cost around £4,000 each and allow patients to watch old movies, see old news clips, listen to music and to reminisce.
They can also play games including puzzles, bingo, quizzes and even virtual pig racing. They can listen to music, watch archived BBC news footage, view old photos, listen to famous speeches, spark memories and start conversations on the ward.
The Covid appeal was launched during the pandemic and has allowed My WiSH Charity to support both patients and the staff.
Meanwhile, the Forget Me Not Appeal, launched back in March 2014 with support from the Mercury Series and the East Anglian Daily Times, continues to support patients with dementia. The appeal originally aimed to provide a 100-metre long memory walk, featuring iconic local and national images. The walk has been a huge success allowing patients to enjoy conversations with both visitors and staff as they reminisce. The appeal has also allowed wards to be transformed using colours and flowers which are easier for the patients to remember along with reminiscence machines, calm carts full of sensory items and interactive sessions to improve patients’ wellbeing.
It was set up to raise £25,000 but that has been exceeded with over £120,000 raised so far but there is more the local NHS charity wants to do to help patients at West Suffolk Hospital, Newmarket Community Hospital and also in the community services the Trust provides.
To help support the Forget Me Not Dementia appeal contact the My WiSH Charity fundraising team on 01284 713466 or visit www.mywishcharity.co.uk.
Written by Russell Cook for My WiSH Charity