Lithgow Hospital’s innovative Tree of Life project, is continuing to make a remarkable impact on patient care, particularly for people living with dementia.
Co-created by Senior Occupational Therapist Tara Gray and Allied Health Assistant Megan Booth, the project provides a simple yet powerful communication tool that captures the personal details that matter most to each patient. Displayed prominently at the bedside and uploaded into the patient’s electronic record, the Tree of Life helps health staff understand a person’s routines, preferences, triggers, and sources of comfort.
The concept is beautifully simple: each patient has a tree design personalised with “branches” of information, such as how they like to communicate, what calms them, and what may cause distress. This helps staff anticipate needs and respond more compassionately to signs of agitation or confusion.
“It’s hard to put my finger on the magic of why it works,” Tara said in the original report. “But if the nurse knows what someone’s triggers are, or what brings them comfort, they can anticipate distress before it happens.”
Results from a trial period have been promising, showing a reduction in falls incidents and injuries to some of the lowest Lithgow Hospital has recorded in four years.
Importantly, the initiative has united hospital teams in a shared approach to dementia care. “Everyone from domestic and kitchen staff, to nurses, doctors, allied health and security have played a part in bringing the project to life,” Tara explained.
The Tree of Life project draws inspiration from existing tools such as Top 5, This is Me, and Sunflower, while incorporating the latest research and evidence-based practices. Its focus, however, extends beyond managing behaviours—it’s about creating a calmer, safer environment for people navigating the challenges of hospitalisation with cognitive impairment.
This commitment to person-centred care has not gone unnoticed. At the recent NBMLHD Innovate Together Quality Awards, Tree of Life received the Consumer Choice Award and was highly commended in the Transforming the Patient Experience category.
Read the full story in the original article HERE.