Dementia has become one of the most common ailments seen across the world. More than half of UK adults know someone diagnosed with dementia. In England alone , it’s estimated that around 676,000 people have dementia. You might be unsure what exactly dementia is. Dementia is a term encompassing the loss of cognitive functioning – so your thinking, remembering, and reasoning – to the extent that it interferes with your daily life.
Dementia is not a specific disease.
There are a lot of subtypes, such as:
- Alzheimer’s
- Vascular Dementia
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies
There are also some rare forms of dementia. However, the most common form is Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a challenging diagnosis; the person affected will need lots of support to manage their illness. This support is whylive-in care is the best option for dementia patients.
Here are 5 reasons why:
Safer Environments for Those with Dementia
Living in an environment that your loved one is familiar with can reduce the likelihood of accidents, such as falls. Patients living at home are less likely to have an accident because they already know where things are placed, which reduces confusion compared to being in an unfamiliar environment such as a nursing home.
There are almost a third fewer falls in live-in care than in nursing homes.
There are also half as many hip fractures when a person has live-in care versus a care home.
A live-in carer will also be able to make suggestions about what safety equipment would be best for the home. Since a carer will always be with your loved ones, you know that they are in safe hands if anything like a fall does happen.
All of our carers are trained for such circumstances.
Familiar Surroundings
Being in familiar surroundings has been suggested to help dementia patients. Studies show that dementia patients feel more comfortable in environments with memories and feelings attached. Imagine you aren’t feeling your best, you would rather be at home than somewhere new, right? It’s human nature and something we can all relate to. It has also been shown that being surrounded by memories can reduce memory loss and confusion while improving cognitive function.
Reducing memory loss and confusion is very important for dementia patients, as the illness impacts their memory and thinking. Being in your own home will always make people feel better and safer. If a dementia patient has an episode of memory loss or confusion, they can sometimes become agitated.
This agitation is usually because of the frustration of not knowing what is happening around them or to them. Being around objects and places that are familiar to them can lessen this agitation as it won’t feel like everything is new. However, It is important to note that there is no way to stop or lessen these episodes from happening. The best course of action is to make them comfortable and feel as safe as possible.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for dementia yet.
If you’re worried about funding care, take a look at our affording care guide.
Socialising
People in care homes can often feel lonely and isolated, despite being around people of a similar age. This loneliness can be due to not having real connections with the people around them. When you have a live-in carer, your loved one can develop a real relationship with them and find comfort in having their carer around. A live-in carer will also be able to take the service user to any social interactions that they would usually attend.
These social interactions could be at a village fair, a town meeting, or visiting their friends and family. Maintaining their social life is incredibly important for mental and physical health.
Often care homes operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so your loved one may end up in a home far away from their family. Having a live-in carer will eliminate this issue and allow your loved one to remain close to their support network.
Being around this support network will make them feel safer and more at ease.
Existing Routines and Dementia
There will be an entirely new routine that your loved one has to follow in a care home. The high number of people living in care homes means that staff cannot follow completely different routines for each person. It’s just not possible to do. So instead, staff members will create a routine that everyone has to follow. This routine can be incredibly confusing and upsetting for dementia patients, as often they won’t understand why they have to follow it. Due to the nature of dementia, patients will often not remember the routine they have to stick to and revert to their old routine. Going back to an old routine can cause difficulties for nursing home staff. With a live-in carer, we will be able to follow your loved one’s pre-existing routines.
Following an already established routine will reduce resistance and confusion, which will avoid agitation. Your loved one will feel comforted by having their routine. Routines have to be person-centred. Here at A1 care, we pride ourselves on our person-centred approach and will tailor all routines specifically to your loved one’s needs.
Giving your loved one the best quality of life is a top priority. You can read our guide to, live-in care here.
Independence
Independence is an essential factor in maintaining your loved one’s dignity and quality of life.
A live-in carer can assist your loved one with daily living activities, such as bathing and clothing, making them less dependent on family or friends.This assistance gives dementia patients more time to do the things they enjoy. If dementia patients lose their independence completely, they are likely to become passive observers in their life.
Being a passive observer means they will sit blankly waiting for things to happen. Becoming a passive observer of their life can lead to mental deterioration and make the illness progress faster. This mental deterioration is likely to happen in care homes as staff do not have the time to give patients mental stimulation.
However, a live-in carer can support your loved one with their activities rather than take control entirely.
How A1 Care Can Help with Dementia
At A1 care, we can provide live-in care for your loved one with dementia. Worried about anything? Read, our misconceptions blog here.
At-home care means that our carers will have specialised dementia care training that carers in nursing homes may not have. Our team members undergo this rigorous training to ensure we give the best possible care.
We have been awarded a 10/10 home care rating. We have also been ranked #1 in the BCP area and #3 in the overall Dorset area. A1 care operates within a 20-mile radius of Bournemouth and Wareham.
If you’re in the area, we are the care option for you. If you would like a free evaluation to see how we can help you, get in contact with us here.
We also offer support with other diseases, such as Parkinson’s.
