The DEMHOS research looked at the type of ward that people with dementia are admitted to. As expected, with a range of acute physical conditions being the cause of admission, people with dementia are prevalent in a variety of general medical and surgical wards. Indeed, 97% of nursing staff and nurse managers who responded to the DEMHOS research reported that they always or sometimes cared for someone with dementia.
The research also found that the prevalence of people with dementia varies by type of ward, as estimated by nursing staff. For example, 10% of nursing staff respondents said that they currently worked on an elderly care/acute medical ward. Of these respondents, 25% estimated that around one in three people on the ward is a person with dementia at any given time and 50% estimated that at least one in five people on the ward is a person with dementia.
- Elderly care/acute medical - 10%
- General medical ward - 9%
- Surgical - 9%
- Orthopaedic - 8%
- Rehabilitation unit - 6%
- Other ward/no ward mentioned - 58%