Namaste Project AIGNA Conference Ireland

1. Namaste Care Programme
Maria Magee
Macmillan Palliative Care
Facilitator
May 2018

2. Aim
To provide an overview of the Namaste Care Pilot
Programme working co productively with Silverdale Nursing
Home to benefit patients/residents and carers within the
Western Health & Social Care Trust

3. The Namaste Care Programme:
A fundamental aim for all
people nearing the end of life
is to improve the quality of
care
(Gold Standards Framework,
2016)
Meaningful activity for people
with advanced dementia

4. Objectives
 To provide an overview on the meaning of the Namaste
Programme
 To describe the work I have undertaken
 To share experiences/outcomes of pilot programmes
 To discuss plan for the future of Namaste

5. Environment

7. • The presence of others
• Comfort and pain management
• Sensory stimulation: 5 senses
 Sight, Touch, Taste, Hearing
& Smell
• Meaningful activity
• Life history
• Family meetings
• Advance care planning
• Carers education
• Cost effective
Namaste Care - Key Elements
‘Honouring the spirit
within’

8. First Time introduced
to Island of Ireland
Silverdale Nursing Home
Martha Mc Menamin
Scholarship

9. My Leadership Role
 I was successful in my application to AIIHPC & Martha Mc
Menamin Scholarship
 Identified and led on the pilot projects with Silverdale Nursing
Home .
 Arranged and chaired project steering groups
 Secured support and buy-in from Director of Nursing WHSCT

10. Programme Plan
• To provide carers with the skills and support to give comfort and
pleasure to their loved ones through sensory stimulation.
• 2 hours a week: Wednesday afternoon 2pm-4pm - 7 week
Programme
• Delivered by myself and assisted by identified staff from each area.

11. Evaluation Methods: Silverdale
Nursing Home
1. CMAI Scale Agitation
2. Challenging Behaviour Scale
3. Cornell Scale for depression
4. Focus Groups
5. Family meetings
6. Reflective Diaries

12. Silverdale Nursing Home – Results
 7 out of 9 people had an improvement in all three of the
scales
 Weight: over the course of the study a small increase in
mean weight was achieved
 Improved communication between relatives and care home
staff
 Enhanced the rapport for residents
 Encouraged drinks and provided extra time to enable
residents to eat extra snacks

13. Carers Feedback
“Better grounding
on the needs & attitudes
required to be a carer”
“Realised how important
an environment filled with
fond memories e g pictures, smells
& momentums from the past”
“Certain foods
brought back fond
memories for my mum”

14. Overall Outcomes
• Vision – focuses on values
• Offers an alternative structure to care and guidance for
‘being with’ a person
• Opportunities for closer relationships between families
• Gives permission for intuitive care
• Encourages new skills and creativity
• Fosters relationship-centred care
• Creates a positive framework for end of life care
conversations
• Reduces need for care packages and Hospital Admissions

15. Future Plan
Share this innovative, cost effective model of practice:
– Acute Care, Nursing Homes & Voluntary Organisations
by the training of facilitators
– Commissioners at the PHA. Department Of Health,
Belfast
– “Dementia: Transforming the Journey, Prevention,
Treatment and Quality of Life” Conference
Templepatrick
– Macmillan Professionals Learning Event Templepatrick

16. Conclusion
Towards the end of life,
with a condition that
robs individuals of so
many of life’s
pleasures, even modest
gains are important.

17. Thank you for listening
St Christopher's Philosophy of Care
is: “You matter because you are you,
and you matter to the end of your
life, and we will help to live until you
die.” (Dame Cicely Saunders)