Talking Mats Project Scottish Borders Council Enabling people with dementia to continue to communicate their views, needs and preferences as their condition progresses is essential for the development of person centred services and care facilities. (Stirling University 2007)

Presentation Summary Background What is Talking Mats? Purpose of Project Methodology Evaluation Presentation of Results

Background It is expected that the number of older people with dementia living in the Borders will increase by 57% by As dementia progresses it is increasingly difficult for family members and care and support staff to ensure that individuals views are included and that life decisions are made with their involvement.

What is Talking Mats? Talking Mats are a low technology, highly accessible communication tool which uses simple picture symbols to allow people to indicate their feelings about a subject by placing the relevant image below a visual scale.

What is Talking Mats (cont)? The benefits of this communication tool to assist people with dementia to communicate have been evaluated by Stirling University. People with early and moderate stage dementia are able to use Talking Mats effectively. The framework allows people with moderate and late stage dementia to communicate their views more readily than ordinary or structured conversation. Talking Mats help people with early stage dementia to stay on track and to make themselves understood. Talking Mats may prove especially useful when people with early stage dementia face difficult decisions eg giving up driving.

Purpose of the Project It has been agreed that SBC will trial the use of Talking Mats as a communication tool with people with a range of levels of dementia in the Scottish Borders. If the outcomes of the trial are successful it is hoped that use of the tool will be rolled out for wider use with people with dementia in the Borders.

Methodology Two members of SBC staff working within the Social Care and Health setting have attended a two day training course in the use of Talking Mats. These staff members will trial the use of the communication tool in two separate service areas: 1.Using the tool to assist assessing staff in a social care and health assessment team and service users with dementia. 2.Using the tool to assist with communication between residential care home staff and services users with dementia.

Methodology (cont) The trial will take place over a six week period week beginning 12 April Staff involved in the use of the trial of the communication tool will focus on measuring the effectiveness of the use of the tool with people with a range of levels of dementia who experience communication difficulties.

Evaluation During the trial the two staff members using the Talking Mats will be asked to rate their subjective view of the effectiveness of the tool in assisting with communication. A rating will also be sought from the allocated worker for the service user in the assessing team or the key worker in the care home.

Evaluation (cont) The rating will be based on: 1.The participants understanding of the topic for discussion. 2.The participants engagement with the staff member using the tool. 3.How well the participant keeps on track with the topic of discussion. 4.The staff members understanding of the participants views.

Presentation of Results At the end of the six week period, ratings will be collated and analysed with findings presented in a report to the Senior Management Team. If findings suggest that the trial has been effective in assisting with communication with people with dementia in identified service settings, request will be made for agreement for wider application of the tool with people with dementia living in the Scottish Borders. This has resource implications eg access to staff training etc, hence need for Senior Management agreement.

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