Dementia – Fundamentals of Care in Acute hospital Settings (DemFoCAS) Final Report.

People living with dementia are frequently admitted to hospital, yet many experience distress, confusion and care that does not always meet their individual needs. This project was developed to understand how dementia care is currently experienced in acute hospital settings within East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), and to identify ways care could be improved for patients, families and staff. The project brought together clinical staff, researchers and people with lived experience of dementia through patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE). We listened to staff working across different hospital roles and spoke directly with spouses caring for people with dementia who had been admitted to hospital. Their experiences helped us understand what works well, what is challenging, and where changes are needed. Findings showed that staff are highly committed to providing compassionate care but often work under significant pressure. Families described feeling excluded, anxious and unsure who to turn to for information, particularly during hospital stays. The hospital environment, communication processes and staffing pressures were all identified as influencing the quality of care and experience. This work highlights the importance of listening to both staff and carers, supporting staff wellbeing, and embedding person-centred dementia care across hospital services. The findings will inform improvements in practice locally and contribute to national learning about dementia care in acute hospitals.