Dementia is a complex condition, unique to every individual and their family. Admiral Nurses offer specialist advice and guidance to support those living with dementia and family and friends in their caring role.

Rachel Oakley, one of the Admiral Nurses working in the community covering Woodbury, Exmouth and Budleigh, tells us more about the team and how they support families affected by dementia.

What does the team do?

Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who are supported by specialist dementia nursing charity Dementia UK. They support families affected by dementia with the most complex needs in people’s own homes, in hospital, and in care homes.  They also deliver clinics in community locations, such as Exmouth Hospital.  Admiral Nurses offer specialist advice and guidance to family and friends, help to reduce admissions into hospital and support patients when they are discharged. They guide those living with dementia and their carers through new and complex challenges. 

How does the team support patients and staff?

Admiral Nurses work intensively with families with the most complex needs.  Using their specialist nursing skills, they assess the physical and mental health of both the person living with dementia and the carer in order to devise a plan of care, which includes anticipating the care families might require in the future. 

Working with other health and social care professionals, they coordinate care so that families get the support they need at the right time and where appropriate refer on to other services.  Their support extends from diagnosis to post-bereavement support.

Alongside their role in supporting families, Admiral Nurses support the best practice of professionals through their dementia specialist knowledge.  Health and social care professionals can refer in to the Admiral Nursing team for their specialist input or for advice on dementia care, delirium and frailty.  They will also take part in training and awareness raising.

What does an average day look like for the team?

Admiral Nurse, Rachel Oakley, describes a typical day:

"Everyday is different as an Admiral Nurse but usually I will begin the day checking emails and looking on the system for any new referrals. If I have any new referrals these will need uploading onto the system and initial contact will be made. I will then review the system for any updates on any of the families I am already working with.

Following this I have a mixture of telephone appointments and home visits with families, some new and some ongoing. After these I will write up my notes and action anything that may have come out of these appointments. Some days I might spend time liaising with other healthcare professionals and supporting best practice within teams.

Everyday I learn something new!"

Why is the team so important?

One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime - either by caring for someone with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both.  It can be exhausting and overwhelming, not only for the person with dementia, but also for the people caring for them, and their wider family and friends. 

Informal carers are the backbone of dementia care but they need specialist support so that they are not left to cope alone.  Admiral Nurses are there when people need them most, providing health advice, offering compassionate emotional and psychological support, and helping families with the most complex needs to plan for the future.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about the team?

The Admiral Nursing services are delivered in collaboration between Royal Devon and the charity, Dementia UK.

Admiral Nurse services are funded in a number of different ways.  For example, the community-based service in Woodbury, Exmouth and Budleigh is jointly-funded and supported by League of Friends of Exmouth Hospital, League of Friends of the Budleigh Salterton Hospital, Dementia UK and Royal Devon. 

Other Admiral Nurse services are funded by Royal Devon, Dementia UK, Honiton Hospital and Community League of Friends, the Ottery St Mary and District Hospital League of Friends, Dementia Friendly Honiton, Sid Valley Memory Café and individuals and community groups who support Admiral Nurse services through fundraising.

To find out more about Admiral Nurses, you can contact the Dementia UK helpline on 0800 888 6678 or find out more on our website here.

Admiral Nurses Rachel Oakley and Hollie Prowse 

Angela Walter is the Admiral Nurse Lead at North Devon District Hospital and tells us about the team in North Devon

The admiral nursing team at North Devon District Hospital was set up in 2018 with the support of Dementia UK. We are an acute service supporting families and carers who have come into contact with the hospital via telephone, email, text or face to face clinic appointments.

The team of five are passionate, dedicated nurses who care deeply about dementia and delirium and are there to be advocates for those living with dementia and their families.

How does the team support patients and staff?

The main role of the admiral nursing team is to support families and carers, the person with dementia and support staff with teaching and education.

Of the many areas that we support, one of the first was to set up a twice monthly Dementia cafe, offering an interactive and supportive environment to anyone living with dementia, and their families.  This is hugely popular and gives people the opportunity to chat about their concerns and worries.

The team has also set up a dementia carers group, developed dementia and delirium champions for all ward and patient areas, and are developing an interactive 'virtual dementia tour' for staff to experience 'what it is like to live with dementia'.

Admiral Nurses at North Devon District Hospital