People suffering with dementia require a specialist type of carer who is both understanding and experienced working with people who have memory and mobility impairments as well as other mental and physical difficulties. At Good Oaks Home Care, we provide both home care visits and live in carers for those suffering with dementia.
Can a dementia patient be cared for at home?
Yes, a dementia patient can be cared for in their own home. For dementia patients, a change of environment and routine can be incredibly stressful and daunting, therefore moving into a care home should always be a last resort. Keeping a dementia patient in their own home helps to lift their mood, improves their memory and keeps them within a familiar and comfortable routine.
What is dementia care?
Dementia care is a specialist type of care which enables those suffering from dementia to live as normal a life as possible whilst maintaining a sense of independence and dignity. Dementia care includes all of the usual duties such as helping the patient to get washed and dressed where necessary, cooking and cleaning, helping with mobility and providing emotional support.
Dementia care duties go a step further though. Dementia carers can help the patient with memory aids, whether that be by putting notes around the house reminding them where things are or by playing regular memory games to build up the patient’s cognitive function. It also involves prompting the patient to drink, as dementia patients often don’t realise they are thirsty, or take specific medication at specified times, as well as many other specialist tasks that our carers are well trained to do.
Dementia care in your home
With Good Oaks Home Care, our carers come to you or your loved one’s home to provide care in a safe and familiar environment. Our carers create a completely unique care plan for you or your loved one’s specific needs, ensuring you feel supported and in control at all times. Our dementia home carers provide one-to-one care, ensuring you or your loved one gets the attention they need. We are here to fit into your life, so we always make sure to set expectations from the very beginning before we even start providing your dementia homecare services.
Our carers aren’t just there to provide you with minimal personal care, they are there to help enrich your life. Our carers can help to facilitate hobbies and interests to keep the brain stimulated, whether that be help with reading, visiting friends or just going to the shops.
Ethos
Good, enabling dementia home care can transform the lives of people with dementia and their families. With skilled, reliable and empathetic support, people with dementia can continue doing the things they love, with the people they love, in the community they are rooted in.
Because dementia can be such a disorienting and frightening experience, stability, continuity, compassion and expertise form the basis of our work providing dementia care at home.
Different forms of dementia affect everyone differently, so we believe it is important to focus on the individual and their strengths and weaknesses, rather than on the condition.
Please see the information in our dementia resources section for information and tips for caring for people with dementia.
Why Good Oaks Dementia Home Care?
- The bespoke and in-depth seven-module dementia training course that our carers receive
- Dignity in Care registered carers
- Alzheimer’s Society “This is Me” sheets in our support plans to help if there is a hospital admission or appointment.
Dementia Home Care – Case Study
Background
Mr A lives with his wife in the bungalow they retired to 30 years ago. A retired scientist, he was diagnosed with dementia in 2009. He was cared for by his wife, who has macular degeneration. Mr A’s daughter initially contacted Good Oaks about providing support in 2011.
Our manager assessed Mr and Mrs A in their own home, and we began a dementia home care package of visiting once a day to prepare meals, as Mrs A was starting to find this difficult.
Delivery
Our regular carers formed a strong, enabling relationship with Mr and Mrs A. As time went on and despite both being very independent, they started to accept more support, with calls changing and more help being provided in the mornings.
Companionship is a big part of the dementia home care package with Mr and Mrs A. Good Oaks carers bring in audiobooks on topics that interest Mr A, and read the paper to Mrs A, as well as taking them out to shops and appointments.
Results
Over time the package of care increased to live-in care to give greater peace of mind for the family and to better meet the needs of Mr and Mrs A. They are still at home, now both aged 94 and enjoy their time together in the place that they love.
Good Oaks continues to work with the family to facilitate Mr and Mrs A’s wish to remain at home.
The level of care provided has been nothing short of exemplary. You have been caring & compassionate & always ready to go the extra mile & are now a much valued asset for both my parents & myself.
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