One in four hospital beds in Sheffield are occupied by people living with dementia at any one time.
Living better with dementia
It’s estimated that 16,500* people in South Yorkshire are living with dementia. 12,460* of those are living with a diagnosis. Yet people living with dementia don’t always get the person-centred care that they need to live well.
Too many people are admitted to hospital for things that could be treated in the community. Carers can feel unsupported and overwhelmed. Although the NHS delivers incredible care, people living with dementia often feel overwhelmed and frightened when admitted to hospital.
By donating to our dementia appeal, you’ll be helping the NHS in Sheffield to provide the best possible care, at the right time, for people living with dementia, their carers and loved ones – both in and out of hospital.
*data sources available on request, email charity@shct.nhs.uk
With your support we can help…
People living with dementia to stay independent
25%* of people with dementia living in their own homes are admitted to hospital with a potentially treatable condition. For the majority of people living with dementia, their physical condition and cognitive function decreases during a stay in hospital.
By taking a holistic approach to supporting people with dementia in the community, and their loved ones and carers, more people with dementia will be able to live independently for longer.
We’ve piloted this and we know it works. We saw decreases in hospital admissions and GP appointments. Help us to scale this approach.
Fund specialist dementia training
Sadly, 90%*of people with dementia find admission to hospital frightening and confusing.
Junior doctors to consultants, porters to occupational therapists and hospital volunteers to family carers will receive specialist dementia training, enabling them to provide the most suitable person-centred care.
This training is for NHS staff, volunteers and carers. Because when you are living with dementia, the whole environment and everyone in it matters.
Improve hospital spaces and activities
By funding improvements to physical spaces and the provision of activities for the wards, we can help people living with dementia to feel safe in hospital and optimise retention of their physical and cognitive function.
We will fund Activity Coordinators to support people with dementia in hospital, and specially designed activity boxes to provide distraction and stimulation. Activity boxes will provided to dementia wards across our South Yorkshire hospitals.
Our aim is to fund two garden spaces, which will be connected by a ‘reminiscence corridor’ providing stimulation and conversation. One garden will be an interactive space where people with dementia can take part in coordinated activities, while the other will be a calming environment.
*data sources available on request, email charity@shct.nhs.uk
Tony's Story
"Music is in my soul, and it still gives me joy and happiness on the darkest of days"
Our very own music legend and ambassador, Tony Christie, revealed his dementia diagnosis in January 2023.
“I’ve been a fan of cryptic crosswords all my life and then suddenly a few years ago I started really struggling with them. I had gone from sailing through at least 2 or 3 a day to being so confused that I couldn’t finish one. My wife, Sue, also started noticing some changes in me like forgetting the names of people I had known for donkey’s years. At first, we just blamed it on my age, but Sue noticed I was starting to get more and more frustrated doing everyday tasks.
So, we decided it was time to see a doctor and that was when I received my diagnosis of early onset dementia.
It was a shock. Even though we knew there was a problem, it’s just not something you think will ever happen to you.
Music is such a powerful trigger for improving symptoms associated with dementia. I’ve been very fortunate because I’ve been in the music business for over six decades now."Music is in my soul, and it still gives me joy and happiness on the darkest of days"When I received my diagnosis, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to carry on performing and that’s all I’ve ever
known. But with a few adjustments, like an onstage monitor with the lyrics to my songs, I’m still singing as good
as I ever did. I’m very fortunate that I can still do what I love, but I know that this isn’t the case for everyone.
Avenues and Alleyways is one of my favourite songs to perform and it always reminds me of growing up in and
around Sheffield. I’m delighted that the song has been chosen to feature in the charity’s Christmas campaign
this year to help raise awareness and much-needed funds for dementia care.
I’m so grateful for the care my family and I have received from our NHS over the years. I’m proud to be
an ambassador for Sheffield Hospitals Charity and I am asking you to make a donation today.
You can help people like me live better with dementia.”
How your donations could help
could help pay for a specially designed activity box to provide stimulation for patients and reduce anxiety in hospital.
could help pay for family carers to complete specialist training, so they don't have to navigate the difficulties of caring for a loved one with dementia alone.
could help pay for specialist teams to work together in the community, helping people living with dementia to maintain their independence at home.
could help pay for dementia-friendly garden spaces and connecting 'reminiscence corridor' at the Northern General Hospital.