Three Reminiscence or ‘Rem’ Pods, made famous by their appearance on Dragon’s Den, have been donated to the Department of Health and Social Care thanks to the generosity of the Leagues of Friends of Noble’s Hospital and of Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital. 
 
The pods, which are effectively pop-up rooms, recreate specific settings such as a 1950s living room and a vintage shop, with 10 different settings currently available.  A 1960’s living room pod was purchased for Noble’s Hospital, with two pods – a dance hall and a seaside scene – purchased for Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital.
 
Alison Lester, Volunteer Service Manager, who is a member of a working group on dementia care and investigated using RemPods, said: “The idea behind the pods is that they recreate familiar and memorable settings from a patient’s past, drawing on their long term memory.  Accessing these familiar environments, particularly during times of confusion and distress can be comforting and reassuring for patients, especially when they find themselves disoriented by unfamiliar surroundings such as a hospital ward.”

Dementia is an umbrella name for a series of symptoms generally relating to memory loss, communicating and reasoning, and mood and behaviour.  The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for around 62% of cases, but there are thought to be over 100 different types of dementia.  Dementia is progressive which means the symptoms will gradually get worse.

It is estimated that around 1,100 people are living with dementia in the Isle of Man.  In the UK 800,000 people have dementia with the figure expected to rise to over a million by 2021.  In 2012 it was estimated that the cost of dementia in the UK was ?23 billion.  As many as one in three people over 65 will develop the condition.

Barbara Scott, Director of Operations (Acute Services), said: “The research and feedback on the pods to date across the UK shows that they have been very successful.  We are grateful to both Leagues of Friends for these very generous donations which will enhance the care for our patients with dementia.”
 
Leonard Singer MHK, Chairman of the League of Friends of Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital, said: “We’re committed to supporting the development and enhancement of services for patients at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital.  The hospital regularly cares for patients with dementia and we’re happy to be able to offer assistance in making their surroundings more familiar and the experience of a stay in hospital less disorientating.”
 
Chris Kelly, Chairman of the League of Friends of Noble’s Hospital, said: “Caring for patients with dementia presents staff with a unique set of challenges.  Care for patients with dementia is more intense and complex and comes in addition to the underlying medical reason for the patient’s admission to hospital.  We’re delighted to have been able to assist with the purchase of a pod which we hope will make patients with dementia more comfortable and assist staff in caring for them.”
 
Photo - left to right - Howard Quayle MHK, Minister for Health and Social Care; Dr Iain Kewley, Director for Primary Care; Kevin Kneen, Treasurer of the League of Friends of Noble’s Hospital; Chris Kelly, Chairman of the League of Friends of Noble’s Hospital; Leonard Singer MHK, Chairman of the League of Friends of Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital; Ginette Hattersley, Service Lead for Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital; Norman Neschen from RemPods; and Nicola Shaw, Moving and Handling Co-ordinator.