Following support from Fife Health Charity, innovative software technology is helping to assist in the care of NHS Fife dementia patients.
RITA stands for Reminiscence/Rehabilitation & Interactive Therapy Activities and is an all-in-one touch screen system offering digital reminiscence therapy. A relatively new tool in the fields of nursing and healthcare, RITA utilises user-friendly interactive screens and tablets to blend entertainment with therapy. Patients experiencing memory loss or impairment in recalling and sharing events from their past are able to reconnect and engage with aspects of their life and times by listening to music, watching news reports of significant historical events, hearing famous speeches, playing games, taking part in karaoke and watching films.
Utilised daily on Ward 32 at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, RITA is used by staff, patients and relatives together or by patients individually. A form of cognitive therapy, the software is designed to help to calm, stimulate and reduce anxiety in patients with dementia during their stay on the ward and promote valuable interaction between the patient and those caring for them.
Since the introduction of RITA, the interaction it offers plus the tailored stimulation it brings have brought a range of benefits and positive outcomes.
In addition to improving patient’s mood and creating a sense of wellbeing, using RITA helps patients, staff and family members to communicate more effectively, reducing agitation and combating social isolation.
Favourite songs, films and other media can be saved for the patient to access on demand at the touch of the screen, while sharing the digital experience helps reconnect relatives with their loved one in a way that is accessible and fun.
