The Butterfly Scheme provides a way to offer more help in hospital, or some areas of community healthcare, for people living with dementia or who simply find that their memory isn’t as reliable as it used to be.

Butterfly_logo_large

In hospital, dozens of staff can pass through a patient’s life each day and in order to deliver appropriate care, they need to know that a patient has dementia or memory impairment and how to support them; this is where the Butterfly Scheme comes in.

The scheme teaches staff how to help people who need memory support whilst they’re in hospital.  You can request that extra support by choosing to display a discreet Butterfly symbol.

What happens when someone has opted into the scheme?
A discreet Butterfly symbol will be placed next to the patient’s name. This prompts all staff to follow a special response plan which could include ensuring that: 

  • the patient feels reassured, rather than worried, each time a member of staff approaches them 
  • the patient is appropriately prepared for what is to happen next (e.g. blood pressure, examination) so that they aren’t taken by surprise 
  • the patient’s bed position will, whenever possible, be chosen to reassure the patient and keep them safe 
  • the bedside area (table, etc.) will be kept as consistent as possible, with possessions, drinks and so on easily accessible 
  • cleanliness and drinking, which may become more difficult to maintain independently when the patient is away from home, will be given special attention 
  • medical history of any kind will be checked via records or carer; the patient will not be relied upon to provide accurate medical history, but will still be asked courteously about it 
  • instructions and information will be offered to the patient but the patient will not be relied upon to remember them; a member of staff will take responsibility and will, where appropriate, pass information on to carers

Carers will also be asked to fill in a carer sheet, so that the valuable insight they have into their loved one’s care needs can be shared with the staff who are taking over that care during a hospital stay. This way, carers can really help staff to help their loved one. Even a little information can help staff a lot.

ABMU Health Board – SW Wales

Cardiff & Vale UHB

Butterfly scheme website

What do you think? Could this scheme help some people with ME or just reinforce a misunderstanding that ME is a mental health condition?

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One Response to Is the Butterfly scheme helpful for people with ME?

  1. Miriam Wood says:

    This initially seem to be a good idea but on second thoughts, the person with ME is constantly up against medical persons and Social Services as well as their family who do not understand ME and then they will not be asked too much if this sign is displayed. Their views may be overlooked and their relatives may be looked to for answers and gloss over their condition or maintain that ‘they are always like this, not willing to get up and go’ or some other statement. On the other hand, if they have a good named Advocate who can be referred to or they have a prepared statement that can go with them from place to place, that includes the best knowledge about ME and have it affects them, as a basis, then the sign could be good. But it could portray to the staff that they ought not to listen to the individual as they are not reliable and they are mentally affected, so another reason not to listen to what they are trying to communicate to staff and a greater opportunity for family who do not understand to say that it is not use listening to them.