“It’s to have a laugh and be with others”
Author: Charly Harvey
Magazine issue: Winter 08
Page numbers: 7-9
Date: 30 November 2008
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Accessing user views is an integral part of the way speech and language therapists in Medway work and, over the past decade, has informed changes in service delivery. Charly Harvey was keen to find a way of enabling people with dementia to express their views personally rather than through their carers. She took the opportunity of a 5 week cognitive stimulation group run jointly with a clinical psychologist to gather sessional and end of group feedback through supported conversation techniques. She also got the thoughts of the clients’ carers (wives) via a questionnaire. A psychology trainee rated clients’ communication skills throughout. Charly found the feedback gave more valuable pointers to future improvements than the health professionals’ own reflections.
