The family support rooms at Pinderfields hospital, run by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, enable families to stay together when a family member has dementia or is at a palliative-care stage of their life.

Staff at the hospital gathered feedback from families which showed that the vast majority of families want to be physically close with their loved ones at the end of their life to provide personal comfort, touch and support. However historically there has been no provision made for families or carers of vulnerable patients in order to do this. Family sleep-over rooms are based on each floor level in the hospital, but these are separate and unattached to the patient.

Anita Ruckledge, Dementia Lead Nurse, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, led a project to create six family support suites across three elderly care wards at the hospital. In the video below Anita explains more about the work to develop the family support rooms at Pinderfields Hospital

The rooms provide a safe and caring environment, replicating a home, decorated with a mural to bring nature into the room. Staff at the hospital have helped to create a restful and therapeutic environment, incorporating soothing colours and art work.

Each of the rooms include a fitted wardrobe complete with fold-away bed. This enables relatives to stay overnight and be directly near their loved ones. There’s a wall-mounted TV and DVD for entertainment and music, and a comfortable recliner chair.

A bespoke comfort pack, containing items such as soap, toothbrush, toothpaste etc, is provided for families who may be on the premises for an extended period of time. And all families and carers are equipped with a carer’s passport.

The feedback from patients and carers has been really positive. Staff are very proud of the new facilities and believe the rooms reflect the principles of humane, respectful and compassionate care.