When a dementia diagnosis is given, it can cause the person diagnosed and their loved ones understandable anxiety. Questions such as ‘will I forget everyone I love’ and ‘who’s going to look after me’ are natural and to be expected. You are never alone though and there is a huge amount of information available about dementia and how the condition may progress on our website and directly from our local branches. The carers in Basingstoke are at the forefront of local dementia provision and they will do their best to answer all your questions and give you reassurances whenever you need it. Dementia comes in many forms; in fact there are over 100 different types, although the most common ones are Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body and vascular dementia. Signs can include confusion and memory loss, so if you or a loved one are living with these symptoms it’s always a good idea to talk to your family medical practitioner and discuss what happens from there.
Staying at home when diagnosed with dementia is a good fit for so many people. This is because when your dementia begins to progress, you can find daily life less unsettling and difficult by being surrounded by familiar people, places and possessions. Listening to a favourite piece of music or watching familiar television programmes can all help to reduce anxiety, as can spending time in a beloved garden or hobby shed. The key is to keep things familiar as much as possible, which will reduce confusion and lower the risk for accidents to happen. You may benefit from one visit a day in the early stages of dementia to support you with your meals, and as things progress you may have several calls or even live-in care. The choices will always be your and your decision makers’, yet at all times we are only ever a phone call away if you need to discuss your care needs further.
Whether you need visiting or live-in care will be something that you and your decisionmakers will choose together, but you will also have the guidance of the friendly Basingstoke team, all of whom are dementia specialists and can give you valuable support and guidance along the way. Whichever type of care you decide upon, you will have a carer who is highly trained and familiar with dementia, meaning that they can often bring personal knowledge and experience into how they care for you. Your flexible support plan will be compiled with you at the centre to ensure that your needs are always paramount, but if things change you can be reassured that it can also change immediately, so will be up to date with how you like to be cared for. You may enjoy an active social life and that doesn’t have to change; your carer can accompany you to the groups and clubs that you’ve always attended, as well as helping you keep in touch with friends and family.
Our carers are all recruited locally and trained extensively before they begin caring for their customers and it takes a very special person to make the grade as a Helping hands carer. We only choose people who are compassionate and empathetic to their customers’ needs and will happily ‘go the extra mile’ for those they care for, meaning that you won’t just be getting a carer, you’ll hopefully make a new friend too. You can also be reassured that we have a huge network of support staff, all of whom are knowledgeable about dementia, meaning that no matter who you speak to at Helping Hands, including the friendly team at Basingstoke, they’re champions for everyone living with dementia. Our fully regulated service has been awarded ‘Good’ status by the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales, so you can be confident in Helping Hands to deliver the highest standards of care at all times.
Call us today to speak to one of our friendly customer care specialists, available seven days a week for your convenience. Alternatively, email us or request a call back via our website and we’ll call at a time that suits you.