Graduate foundation scheme with a focus on dignity and older adults

The care experiences of older people in Wales and the rest of the UK have risen to the top of the political agenda recently, and it is the role of nurse managers to find ways to meet the dignity agenda. A review by the Older People's Commissioner for Wales (Marks 2011) recommends that 'better knowledge of the needs of older people with dementia is needed, together with improved communication, training, support and standards of care'. In an effort to meet this recommendation, one healthcare organisation, Cwm Taf Health Board, has developed a graduate foundation programme that focuses on the dignity of older patients in various hospital settings. This article describes the development and implementation of the programme.