How to get a dementia carer
If you are living with the symptoms of cognitive decline and are yet to have a dementia assessment, you may feel that you’d benefit from some additional support around your home until you know the outcome. If however you have had your assessment and you have been formally diagnosed, you may want to consider your future care requirements and get them in place in good time. You don’t have to wait until you are unable to manage independently to welcome our carers into your home, in fact you may enjoy getting to know them before your cognitive decline has progressed, so that you are comfortable with the person supporting you. Contacting our friendly customer care team over the phone, online, or in person, means you can have all your questions around dementia care answered and your care options understood. And because our visiting and live in care services are fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales, you and your loved ones can be confident in what we deliver.
How can a dementia carer help?
Having someone who understands dementia coming to your home or living-in, means you get the highest standards of care, delivered in a manner suited to your condition. We’ve been supporting people living with various forms of dementia since we were established in 1989, and more than two-thirds of our customers are living with one of the more familiar types, such as Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia.
Housekeeping
If you are struggling to keep your surroundings clean and tidy to your usual standards, it can have a detrimental effect on your mental and physical wellbeing. This is because you may become anxious and stressed if your usual standards of housekeeping are not kept, because you are unable to physically use a vacuum cleaner or reach to dust your furniture and ornaments. Our visiting carers can come to you in your own home from just an hour or two a week, meaning however you need our support we can devise a package of care that will mould seamlessly around your routine.
Personal care
Keeping clean and well-presented matters to most people, and if you’ve always prided yourself on your appearance, you may become distressed if you’re unable to manage your own personal care. By allowing a carer to support you with this most intimate of tasks, you get to remain presented to your own high standards which will benefit you emotionally, as well as physically. Our dedicated visiting and live-in carers can assist you from just an hour or two a week to help you in and out of bed, to take a shower, wash your hair, or have a shave. They can also support you to put on make-up, apply creams, and use the toilet; all the time respecting your privacy and promoting your dignity.
Nutrition
Adequate nutrition and hydration are essential for all of us if we’re going to live well, but what if you are no longer able to cook and prepare food for yourself? Having a carer living in your home means that whenever you want to eat you can have something cooked for you, and there will always be someone on hand who can make you a snack, bring you a cup of tea, or provide whatever you prefer. Your package of care will be built around your preferences, and your support plan will detail exactly how you like things done, right down to how long your egg should be boiled for. Your carer will work closely with other healthcare professionals who may be directing your care, such as a nutritionist, dietician, or district nurse, to ensure that your fluids and nutrition are satisfactory and will keep you in the best of health. Difficulties in eating and drinking are quite common with dementia, however it’s important that you have a compassionate carer who will patiently assist you to eat and drink. The Alzheimer’s Society tells us that “A person with dementia may struggle to recognise the food and drink in front of them. They may also be unsure how to begin eating. These problems may start because of changes that dementia causes in the brain.” The situation can also be made worse if the person is given unfamiliar food, or the food is presented differently, as this can increase confusion and a subsequent reluctance to eat or drink.
Accessing your local community
If you’ve always enjoyed playing an active part in your local community, there’s no reason why that should stop. While the activities you do may change as your dementia progresses or you may not be able to do as much anymore, there are still plenty of community interests that are open to you. Perhaps you were active in your local church and would still like to attend? Your carer will go with you and ensure you enjoy as much of the service as possible. Are you a keen nature lover? Even if you are struggling with your mobility your carer will help you to make the most of the outdoors, keeping you safe and boosting your confidence every day. There may even be new activities that you’d like to try, such as singing for the brain or other dementia-related events, which your carer would be happy to accompany you to.
How long does it take to get a dementia carer?
We design you a bespoke package of care when you join us, focussing on your existing routine, condition, and complexity of needs. We will always have a carer in place for you as soon as possible, and we can frequently achieve this the same day in emergency situations. Your local care manager will liaise with you, or your nominated advocate, so that you know what is happening every step of the way. Of course, if we have a little more time to source your live-in carer, we can match them to your interests and hobbies, ensuring that you’ll become firm friends. In fact, they’ll quickly become indispensable, and you’ll wonder how you ever managed without them.
How do I get dementia care at home?
Talking to a member of our dedicated customer care team will begin the process of sourcing the dementia care at home that’s right for you. You can talk to us seven days a week, meaning whenever a question about your care pops into a member of the family’s head, there’ll be someone there to answer it. We also have 150 local branches throughout England and Wales, which makes us a familiar sight on so many high streets, and by checking the details of your nearest branch you can arrange to pop in and chat to the team. Because we’re a dementia specialist company and have supported so many people living with dementia over the last few decades you and your loved ones can trust us to always deliver exceptional dementia care at home.