Neuropsychiatry - complex dementia

We care for people with dementia and other progressive neurological conditions who present with a range of complex needs including:

cognitive impairment
behaviour that challenges services
physical healthcare needs (including end of life)
those with a forensic history.

Our new Lowther Dementia Hub!

Specialist Dementia Hub for people with complex needs

Who we care for

Lowther dementia hub is a registered hospital service providing gender-specific inpatient care for men and women, typically over 65, who require specialist care. We deliver positive experiences to optimise outcomes and enhance quality of life while managing cognitive decline and behaviour that challenge other services, including those with;

Dementias, including early on-set dementia, Pick's disease, Frontotemporal dementia
Progressive Neurological Conditions, including Huntington's disease (HD), Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis and Guillain Barre Syndrome
Comorbid physical healthcare needs (with the exception of those requiring ventilation)
People in crisis, requiring rapid assessment and stabilisation
Suitable for patients detained under the Mental health Act 1983 (2007) or on a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard Order (DoLS), or informal.

Our new dementia hub, Lowther, has been designed to meet each of these needs while providing a tailored, dementia-friendly environment that encourages activities and welcomes family and carers.

Types of referral

Core assessment and admission: for people requiring specialist assessment (typically 2 -3 months)
Core admission: for people with enduring cognitive and behavioural deficits, requiring longer term care
Slow-stream care: for people who present with ongoing risk behaviours and/or a forensic background
Crisis admission: same day assessment for people requiring stabilisation and short-term admission before returning to their community placement (typically 1-2 months)

Our specialist team prepare a detailed assessment that can help case managers identify local services accompanied by a tailored behavioural and cognitive care plan.

Treatment Aims

Our fundamental approach is to reinforce positive behaviours and enable people to live well with a life-ling or deteriorating condition, we seek to achieve this through:

Tailored care and improved quality of life
Appropriate social interaction
Reduction in behaviours that challenge
Optimisation of cognitive abilities
Support to regain social and interpersonal skills where possible
Management and care of related physical health conditions
Assistance in the return to community living

Crisis Admission Service

Find out more about our Crisis Admission Service

Crisis Admission Service

Our Dementia service at a glance

We deliver a variety of specialist therapies designed to manage cognitive decline, reduce challenging behaviour and to encourage positive life experiences for people living with dementia, alongside their other physical and mental illness needs.

Our new wards on Lowther recognise the different care requirements during the phases of dementia:

Aspen - Male admission ward

Redwood - Male complex and challenging behaviour

Elm - Male mid stage and end of life care

Cherry - Female ward and end of life care

Rapid Response service for older adults in crisis

We also offer rapid assessment and admission for patients whose behavioural presentation or cognitive function has deteriorated and who require urgent stabilisation and intensive therapy in a safe environment.

Our programmes deliver treatment to support a return to community once the crisis period has subsided, and also offers a service for patients requiring a more extensive care package. Read our brochure.

What does our care look like

We were the first to incorporate the principles of the RAID model - positive, meaningful engagement and reinforcement
A holistic approach to improving life through Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) by mapping the quality of care from the perspective of the person with dementia
Led by a Neuropsychiatrist and delivered by an extensive MDT
Specialist on-site input from Dieticians, GP, dentistry and podiatry
On-site Dysphagia kitchen solely preparing graded foods
Access to MRI and CT neuroimaging
Supported by Chaplaincy services, patient advocacy and be-friending services
Based on a 140 acre campus with access to our supported shops, cafés and vocational activities

Dementia Friendly Programme

We are proud to support the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friendly programme, which aims to transform the way people think, act and talk about the condition. We are committed to helping our staff understand how you can live well with dementia, and how the condition may affect patients, visitors or employees.