Caring for Someone with Dementia

Caring for someone with dementia is a task filled with compassion, patience, and resilience. Whether you’re one of our care workers in a home care or extra care setting, or a family member supporting a loved one, your role is vital in helping someone with dementia remain well, both mentally and physically and encouraging their independence wherever possible.

At Dale Care we offer a variety of different care services to support the various needs of our service users and the help that their loved one’s may need.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a general term for the decline in mental ability that is severe enough to impact a person’s daily life. The term refers to a group of symptoms that affect a person’s memory, thinking process, and social abilities. There are several different types of dementia, the most common form being Alzheimer’s disease. Other common forms include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.

Tips for Caring for Someone with Dementia

Ensuring their home is suitable:

• Good lighting to ensure service users vision is not negatively impacted
• Minimise trip hazards such as loose wires or untucked carpets
• Clear signage and labels to remind the individual of where things are

Maintaining a Routine:

Creating set routines (i.e. mealtimes, bedtimes and waking up) and maintaining them can help the individual feel more in control over their daily routine and can reduce confusion.

Familiarity:

Keeping them within their own home, creating memory books and playing their favourite music can help reduce confusion and create a comfortable familiar environment.

Dementia often damages a person’s ability to maintain short-term memories; however, their long-time memory usually remains heavily intact. Because of this, they are more likely to recall memories from earlier in their life.

The Alzheimer’s society have created a ‘This is me’ leaflet to help you note down what the individual prefers regarding their routine as well as facts about their past that you can use to make them more comfortable.

Communication:

As dementia progresses, it can be harder to communicate. To combat this, we suggest:

• Avoid correcting the individual as this can cause confusion and upset
• Speak slowly and clearly
• Use short and simple sentences

Changes in Behaviour:

It’s possible that people with dementia may experience mood swings, aggression, or confusion, especially as it progresses, however these behaviours often stem from discomfort or changes. To help with this, attempt to identify the trigger of the problem (e.g., noise, pain or hunger), try to solve the problem and offer reassurance.

If behaviour worsens or you feel is too overwhelming for you to handle, it’s important to ask for support

Why Choose our Dementia Care?

At Dale Care we understand that even those suffering from the same form of dementia can experience different symptoms, making everyone’s experience unique. Because of this, all our care plans are unique and personalised to the specific service user’s needs, especially when it comes to our dementia care.

Our Highly Trained Carers

Our professional care staff are trained to understand the complex needs of our service users suffering from dementia. With their training they’re able to recognise and understand the individuals’ needs, behaviours and emotional responses. While providing care tailored to the service user’s needs, they are also able to offer emotional support to the individual and their family during this difficult time.

Ensuring Consistency and Routine

We understand that families may find it difficult to balance their life while looking after a loved one with dementia and keeping to a routine, but there is no shame in asking for help. When caring for someone with dementia, keeping a routine and remaining consistent can reduce the individual’s confusion and stress that are often caused by unfamiliar environments. By providing care within the service user’s home, we can ensure that daily routines are kept, the individual can remain in their familiar environment, and they can feel more secure and in control.

Health & Safety Checks

Our dementia care plans include home safety checks, supervision, and routines that reduce risks such as wandering, falls, or missed medication. This ensures individuals can live within their familiar environment for as long as possible.

Promoting Communication & Positive Behaviour

Our trained dementia carers use proven techniques to communicate effectively and respond sensitively to mood changes, confusion, or agitation. This helps to reduces the service user’s distress and maintain a calm and supportive atmosphere.

Looking After Yourself

Providing care for someone with dementia can have a toll on your physical and mental well-being, which is why it’s important to take time to look after yourself also.

As a Care Worker:

If you feel as though you’re struggling, our Mental Health First Aiders are available to speak to. To contact our Mental Health Lead, Carol Jackson, please email carol.jackson@dalecare.co.uk or call 07751 82989.

We also have our Employee Assistance Programme, TELUS Health, which is free to join for all our staff. By joining TELUS, you can gain access to a range of informative blogs as well as a free phoneline and live chat that operates 24/7 if you need someone to talk to. To join our employee assistance programme, TELUS Health, please email tilly.brown@dalecare.co.uk for your invitation email.

As a loved one:

We understand the toll that caring for a loved one with dementia can have on a person, especially as you’re seeing the effects dementia is having on your loved one. It’s important that you don’t suffer alone and reach out for help whether you need to speak to someone about your mental health or need help to provide your loved one with the highest quality of care.

Dementia UK offer a free helpline where you can speak to a specialist Admiral Nurse for advice.

If you need support and wish to enquire about our care services, contact us through your local branch.

Lasting Power of Attorney

If you’re supporting a loved one with dementia, set up a Lasting Power of Attorney to ensure their wishes are respected as their condition progresses. By having a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, an appointed and trusted person can make decisions on the individual’s behalf.

If the person is no longer able to make decisions and a Lasting Power of Attorney has not yet been put in place, the Court of Protection can appoint a deputy.

If Home Care Isn’t Enough

As dementia progresses, care needs may increase. At Dale Care we have extra care facilities across the North East offering our service users privacy within their own secure apartments, adapted for the specific service users’ needs.

While residing in our extra care, our service users receive on-site care (such as daily tasks as well as personal care if needed) and emergency support.

Dementia Support with Dale Care

With over 35 years of experience providing care to our local community, we understand the demands that often come with dementia care, and we are here to support you and your loved ones.

For more information about our dementia care, contact your local branch today.