Looking after a friend or relative who has been diagnosed with dementia is often very challenging. In this circumstance, caregivers must also pay attention to their own health, as well as that of their loved one. At Beloved Homecare our specialist dementia care services allow your loved one to remain in familiar surroundings for as long as possible whilst giving you peace of mind knowing that they are being properly cared for. Our services include home care in Manchester, Trafford.
Understanding Dementia
Dementia is not a single illness. It is a group of symptoms caused by specific brain disorders. The most common cause is Alzheimer’s disease, but dementia can also be the result of a stroke or mini-strokes.
Becoming forgetful does not necessarily mean that someone has dementia: memory loss can be a normal part of ageing, and can also indicate signs of stress or depression. If you know someone concerned about their memory encourage them to visit their GP.
A proper diagnosis of dementia is essential. Either a GP or a specialist will carry out several tests, looking at both memory and ability to perform daily tasks. The GP will also aim to rule out any illnesses that might have similar symptoms to dementia, such as depression. The right diagnosis, whatever it may be, can help patients and those close to them prepare and plan for the future.
Practical Tips
Especially in the early stages, there are lots of simple things you can do to help someone with dementia maintain their independence.
Helpful tips include:
- Keep important items like money, glasses and keys in the same place
- Put labels on doors and cupboards for loved ones
- Place key contact information next to the telephone
- Encourage them to keep a diary for things such as appointments, thoughts, ideas and to-do-lists
- Print out and place a weekly timetable on-to the fridge
- Mark a calendar with the date or get an electronic calendar that changes automatically
- Write down reminders to lock the door at night, turn the gas off, or put the rubbish out
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There are products you can buy which are designed to help with memory problems – telephones where buttons are replaced with pictures of people, and tablet boxes with compartments for different days. An Occupational Therapist (OT) may be able to advise you with further tailored tips. You can find an OT through your GP or social services.
Stay active in older age
People living with dementia can continue to enjoy many physical activities, both individually and with others. Remaining physically active can help them focus on the positive and fun aspects of life.
You can encourage your loved one to pursue simple everyday tasks, such as taking a walk in the park, polishing a pair of their favourite shoes, and looking after a pet, to get them more active.
Tailor and adapt their favourite activities to include more physical tasks. For example, if they enjoy reading books at home, encourage them to take that book with them to the park to read. This approach helps your loved one feel less frustrated that they can’t tackle things they previously took for granted.
Keeping active helps make you feel better about yourself by providing structure to the day as well as a sense of accomplishment.
Establishing dementia home care
Even after implementing these changes in your loved one’s lives, people often need extra support and assistance to help them maintain their independence. This can especially be the case as the symptoms of dementia progress. Early recognition and acknowledgement of support can help families establish care as part of daily routine. The combination of home care and the previous tips mentioned above can help you tailor a routine that will help those living with memory issues to live a healthy and comfortable lifestyle.
When searching for home care services we advise you to seek someone reputable and well-established. A great indicator to look at is their CQC rating. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is a national regulatory board for all UK health and social care service providers. They publish what they find including ratings to help people choose care. They assess a service on their ability to be: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. The care provider is given one of four ratings: Outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate. By inspecting what a care provider has been rated by the CQC you can assess whether or not the firm is capable to look after the needs of your loved one. Dementia can be a tricky condition to manage, so ensuring a care provider is rated ‘Outstanding’ is a good indicator that the service is well equipped to handle the unique needs of the clients and their families.
Out of 492 care providers in the Trafford borough, we are the only ‘Outstanding’ rated care provider. At Beloved Homecare, we’re proud to go the extra mile for our clients and their families and take the time needed to address their individual needs.
“Our Care Quality Commission Inspection and Rating reflect the commitment, dedication, and teamwork of all who work in the Business,” said Mark Collier. “It is a testament to everybody’s hard work. Our aim has always been to be the best care provider in Trafford and to assist and to do our bit to make the twilight years of our clients as pleasurable as possible, whilst at the same time alleviating the worry and stress on families.”
Dementia Care
Beloved Homecare’s dementia care services sensitively respond to the individual needs of you and your family. Our flexible services are tailored to fit with your chosen lifestyle so you continue to enjoy the important things in your life.
Areas in which we can help deliver Dementia support include:
- Personal care support
- Administration of medication
- Meal planning and preparation
- Monitoring of food and fluid intake
- Gentle encouragement to conduct daily tasks
- Social care – companionship
- Communicating with family members
- Maintaining safety and dignity
Dementia home care in Manchester (Trafford Area)
For more guidance and advice on dementia home care in Manchester (Trafford Borough) feel free to contact our care office to see how we can provide support to your loved one.