Ward 7 is the Stroke rehabilitation unit at the Queen Margaret Hospital and it is the most recent ward to received not one but two RITA devices to support patients in their recovery.
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 uses user-friendly interactive screens and tablets to blend entertainment with therapy. Using the RITA device, patients experiencing memory loss or impairment in recalling and sharing events from their past are able to reconnect and engage with aspects of life before their stroke, they can:
The RITA devices have exceeded our expectations and are continually in use on the ward. To date they have had a profound impact on patient experience not just from an entertainment aspect, but from a rehabilitation perspective also.
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.
Using the device when patients have visitors can also help to create discussion and connection between the patient and those caring for them which is invaluable in visiting situations.
