'Lewis' backs dementia campaign for carers

This is me comes following the publication, last November, of Counting the Cost: Caring for people with dementia on hospital wards, which found large variations in the quality of care for people with dementia.

This is me is a simple and practical tool that carers can give to staff when a person with dementia goes into hospital. It contains information about the person behind the dementia – for example, what they like to eat and drink, what name they like to be called, what might make the person agitated, and what helps them relax.

Telling staff in advance about their needs can also make all the difference to their care including in preventing malnutrition and dehydration.

Kevin Whately, best known for his TV role as Lewis, says: "My mother became very ill in hospital. Someone would bring her a tray of food then collect it, untouched, because she'd forgotten to eat it.

"I think if staff had had access to a leaflet like this, they would have known that she needed encouragement to eat the food and maybe she wouldn't have become so weak."

Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, 0845 300 0336, or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk