How Can a Care Home Help Those Living With Dementia?
If your loved one is suffering from dementia, you may have come to a point where you want to talk abut moving them into a care home and if you’re the one that holds the power of attorney, you can make decisions on their behalf of them. We advise you do plenty of research, seeking advice from professionals before making a decision, so you can find the best care home suited to your loved ones needs.
In order to provide a better understanding of specialist dementia care in Argyll and Bute, we have covered some key areas on how a care home can provide the best care and support for your loved one.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a long term neurological condition which progresses over time, affecting ones cognitive functions including memory, language, reasoning and mental capacity.
Did you know, there are many different types of dementia?
- Alzheimer's Disease: This is one of the most common forms of dementia and symptoms include memory loss, behavioural changes and cognitive declines.
- Vascular Dementia: This type of dementia is caused by a restricted blood flow to the brain, resulting in cognitive decline. This type of dementia usually follows a stroke or other vascular issues affecting the brain.
- Lewy Body Dementia (LBD): LBD stems from abnormal protein deposits, known as Lewy Bodies in the brain, this then leads to cognitive fluctuations, motor symptoms and visual hallucinations, similar to Parkinson’s disease.
- Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): FTD mainly affects the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain, which then affects ones personality, language and behaviour. Although it’s less common than Alzheimer's it more so affects younger individuals.
- Mixed Dementia: It’s likely that some people can experience a combination of different types of dementia, which then leads to a mixed presentation of symptoms.
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD): CJD is a degenerative, rare and rapidly progressing form of dementia which is caused by abnormal proteins called Prions, this type of dementia results in severe neurological symptoms and an extreme decline in cognitive function.
These are just a handful of examples of how diverse dementia can be, dementia progresses and they all have their own characteristics and causes. Early diagnosis and personalised care plans are essential in managing symptoms, meaning a better and improved life for each person with dementia.
Although there is currently no cure for dementia, there are therapies and treatments which can help manage symptoms a little better and slow down the overall progression of the disease.
What is Dementia Care and Why is it Important?
For family members and caregivers caring for a person with dementia, it can be challenging, especially as the condition progresses and symptoms worsen. Therefore, it can be ideal to start looking for a dementia care home in Benderloch as these homes have the residents best interests at heart, offering a variety of benefits to the person suffering from dementia, from helping them live independently and improving their lifestyles to making sure their health, safety and wellbeing stays at the top of the priority list!
Dementia care homes are always providing the best levels of support and assistance, from helping someone with everyday tasks such as personal care, dressing, washing and eating to providing emotional support and companionship. Some care homes are designed to provide specialised dementia care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all tailored to each individual who has had a dementia diagnosis.
What Are The Benefits of Dementia Care?
There are multiple benefits to receiving dementia care within a care home, some include…
Care being unique to each individual - Within a care home, the dementia teams will work close together with the resident and a family member or loved ones, prior to them moving in, meaning a personalised care plan can be put in place, meeting the needs and requirements of each individual. Additionally, residents will be monitored closely, making sure they always receive the correct care.
A safe environment for every resident - All care homes will have safe and secure outdoor spaces, access to emergency response systems, highly trained staff who are able to manage specific needs and support aids such as rails, profiling beds and walking frames. Additionally, the homes will have furniture with contrasting colours, big signs above doorways, personalised bedrooms and spacious hallways to ensure residents feel as comfortable as possible. By doing this and creating a consistent environment with familiar surroundings, it reduces feelings of disorientation and confusion for residents, meaning it’s easier for them to feel relaxed and focused.
Engaging activities for residents to participate in - Some activities include memory games, music therapy, arts and crafts, social events such as parties or movie nights and exercise classes. These activities can help residents maintain cognitive functions, improve physical health, reduce feeling isolated and depressed all whilst enhancing their overall quality of life. Moreover, these activities provide residents with a sense of purpose, making them feel valued and connected with one another and they could also help slow the progression of dementia down. Dementia care homes help residents live with comfort, fulfilment and dignity when it comes to providing tailored support and activities.
A structured routine - A lot of people who suffer from dementia will benefit from a structured routine and care homes can provide this by ensuring regular meal times, medication management and daily activities. Residents can also expect a regular sleep schedule, with set bedtimes and wake up calls, which also helps to regulate residents circadian rhythms, promoting a good sleep routine, which is important for overall health and wellbeing.
Dementia Care at Etive House Care Home
Etive House Care Home provides dementia care in Argyll and Bute for people with dementia. Our home is safe, welcoming and caring, with a dedicated dementia team who have undergone thorough training, your loved one will be in safe hands, treated with outstanding levels of care an respect.
As touched on briefly above, we have a team of activity coordinators who go above and beyond in making sure our residents get the most out of their time here, especially within their social, mental and emotional needs. We collaborate with our dementia residents and their loved ones to come up with therapies and activities which are appropriate for their needs, whilst helping them thrive. These daily activities are there to improve the social and mental stimulation of each resident alongside interactions and relieving any tensions or frustrations associated with dementia.
Our care home was built with thoughtfully designed areas as well as an understanding of the need for familiarity and comfort, our home has practical features to make sure those who choose to reside with us know we have an appreciation for the significance of certain items within our home - we want all of our residents to feel comfortable with us, feel as if Etive House is their very own home.
Contact Us at Etive House Care Home
If you’re looking for a dementia care home in Benderloch, Etive House Care Home is the home for you. We're also able to provide Residential Care and Respite Care, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly team today - we will happily answer any of your questions and even arrange a visit to our care home so you can see for yourself and meet our lovely team.
