A WARD at Poole Hospital has undergone a £200,000 transformation following research into how surroundings can aid the care of elderly people.

Lulworth Ward’s redesign combines light, colour, art and signage to promote a calming and welcoming environment where people with confusion or dementia can find their way around.

Door frames are painted in bright colours, with the theme continued into the bed areas and basin surrounds beyond. Neutral tones are used for non-patient areas, such as store rooms. Toilet doors are painted bright yellow and use pictorial signs instead of words.

New modern flooring has been used to cut light ‘pooling’, which patients might mistake for water or a slippery surface, and there are dimmer switches, so staff can turn down the lighting to relax patients at night.

There are also big scenic photographs of Dorset scenes throughout the ward to aid orientation. Single rooms each have a memory box where items personal to the patient can be displayed. The lounge has a collage of 1940s newspaper cuttings.

People coming in are greeted by a clerk at a welcome desk and there is also a small seating area for patients.

“We often find patients with cognitive impairment like to feel they are around people. They’ll sit and chat with the clerk and feel reassured,” explained specialist nurse and project lead Louise Jenkins.

The cost of the revamp was shared by the trust, the King’s Fund and local fundraising.

“We’re all aware of how an environment can impact on us when we are feeling unwell. I think this will improve people’s wellbeing and help the process of recovery,” said Louise.

“It has a calmer feel to it, which is very important to patients with dementia, and we believe the lighting will reduce the use of anti-psychotic medication.

“We’ve had some positive feedback from staff on what a difference it makes and we’ve had such amazing comments from pat-ients. Our hope is that as redevelopment and refurbishment takes place in other areas of the hospital, the same principles will be employed. The only places that don’t care for people with dementia are paediatrics and maternity.”

Patient Jean Slade, 80, of Lytchett Matravers, said; “I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. It’s like going into a posh hotel. It cheers people up no end.”

Staff nurse Ros Bell said: “It’s wonderful, fantastic. It lifts my mood coming into work and the patients are very positive.”