Dementia is a debilitating syndrome with a wide range of symptoms. Therefore, it often requires a different type or level of care. We understand the challenges that dementia brings and therefore, train our staff accordingly to work with it. We can help put together a care package to suit your loved one suffering from dementia, ranging from personal care visits daily or a live-in care giver.
What is dementia?
Symptoms of dementia are caused by a decline in brain functions. While it’s most often associated with memory loss, some other symptoms include, but aren’t limited to:
● memory loss
● problems with the recognition of surroundings
● difficulty concentrating and following conversations
● feeling restless
● changes in mood and personality
● difficulty communicating and finding the right words.
There are different types of dementia with different symptoms. Alzheimer’s disease being the most common type of dementia in the UK and its causes are related to changes in the brain structure. A build-up of proteins prevents the brain cells from being able to pass messages, leading to cognitive dysfunction. Alzheimer’s patients can easily get lost, even close to home and therefore, their safety is of prime importance.
Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia. The cause of this type of dementia is associated with a lack of blood supply to the brain cells. This is often caused by strokes or a series of mini-strokes called transient ischaemic attacks. The initial onset of symptoms can be sudden but often plateaus rather than continuing to deteriorate.
Dementia with Lewy bodies is a progressive condition that affects motor control which causes symptoms such as tremors, disrupted sleep, and increased risk of falls.
Frontotemporal dementia is the rarest type and affects only 2% of people with dementia. This type of dementia starts affecting at the age of 45-65 and progresses over time.
It is very usual to miss the symptoms of dementia or attribute it to another health problem. This leads to a delayed diagnosis when the condition has progressed to a more serious stage. This is likely when you will realize that you need help with care.
What is the best care for my loved one with dementia?
The type of care your loved one needs will depend on the level their dementia has progressed to. The need for care often comes from
concerns about safety. Some things that people worry about are:
● forgetting to turn the cooker off or even forgetting they are cooking something
● Get lost while out and get disoriented
● personal hygiene; forgetting to wash
● confusion when dealing with money
● concerns about begin taken advantage of
● confusion with medication – forgetting to take it or taking too much.
Sometimes, a lower level of care is sufficient to make sure the patient is taking the correct medication at the right times, washing, and
eating meals.
Home care is also a good option for cases where one half of a couple is healthy but struggling to cope with their partner’s dementia. This can be heartbreaking to see the person you’ve shared your life with lose themselves and their memory. Additionally, changes in personality can be particularly hard to cope with, as the sufferer doesn’t act in the ways you’ve become used to over the years.
Visits from a care giver mean a chance for respite. From a few minutes to have a cup of tea in peace without worrying about anything, to a couple of hours to go shopping or meet a friend for a chat. There is also the option of residential respite care, which allows the friend or relative giving care to have a proper break to ensure they look after themselves and stay healthy. However, as dementia symptoms get worse with time, many people find that a live-in carer is more suited to them.
Advantages of live-in care
Having a care giver living with your loved one can ease a lot of concerns. A live-in care giver ensures that they don’t wander off, get lost or get into any accident by keeping an eye on them. While safety is paramount, a live-in carer can offer so much more than that.
Dementia patients often suffer from a loss of interest in activities and life in general due to confusion or depression. A live-in care giver will get to know your loved one and do their best to engage them, helping to make their life more interesting. This might be something as simple as looking through old photographs or it could be helping them with a hobby such as gardening.
Live-in care also allows the care giver much more time to take care of the personal needs of your relative. Home care visits are good for day-to-day personal care, but sometimes a little extra time spent assisting with doing their hair, moisturizing their skin, or helping them pick out an outfit can make all the difference to the quality of life.
In fact, we train our care givers to deal with the complications that life with dementia brings. Managing behavioral changes is key in giving care to dementia patients and you can be sure your loved one will be treated with respect and dignity. A live-in care giver has the chance to really get to know your relative, enabling them to tailor their care package to their personality. It also means the client has more chance to get to know their care giver and will come to rely on them as someone they know is helpful and caring.
Request an assessment
Don’t worry about trying to choose the level of care your loved one needs by yourself. We will give them a free in-depth assessment, allowing you to fully understand their needs. We commit to take care of your loved ones with our high-quality care and enable them to live comfortably.
Get in touch with us to find out more about our dementia care services.
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