Understanding dementia care is essential for those who want to provide meaningful support to a loved one. For many, caring for someone with dementia is a rewarding experience that fosters deeper connections and brings unexpected moments of joy. While it can be enriching, dementia care also comes with challenges, requiring compassion, patience, and flexibility as relationships evolve.
As caregiving demands evolve both physically and emotionally, families may need additional support to maintain their loved one’s quality of life. In the rest of this article, we’ll explore how specialist dementia care services, like those offered by Prestige Nursing & Care, can help you navigate this journey with confidence and ensure your loved one receives the best possible care.
Understanding dementia: Important facts
What is dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term for various brain disorders that lead to a gradual decline in cognitive abilities. These disorders primarily affect memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Dementia conditions are usually progressive, meaning they worsen over time and can become increasingly severe, impacting an individual’s ability to perform everyday tasks.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, accounting for around 62% of all cases. People with dementia may experience symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, difficulty with communication, and problems understanding or processing information. As the condition progresses, these symptoms can become more pronounced, making it essential to seek appropriate care and support.
Who is affected?
Research indicates that over 944,000 people in the UK are living with dementia. In fact, 1 in 11 individuals aged 65 and older are affected by the condition.
What about treatments and research?
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or any other type of dementia. However, ongoing research aims to better understand these conditions and develop effective treatments. Advances in medical research are focusing on early diagnosis, disease-modifying therapies, and interventions to manage symptoms more effectively. Clinical trials and studies are exploring new medications, lifestyle changes, and innovative therapies to improve quality of life for individuals living with dementia.
What is dementia care?
Dementia care involves providing specialised support to individuals diagnosed with dementia to meet their unique physical, emotional, and cognitive needs. It focuses on helping people manage the symptoms of memory loss, confusion, and behavioural changes that come with the condition.
Dementia care can range from assistance with everyday activities like bathing and dressing to offering companionship and maintaining a safe, structured environment. The goal is to improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia while supporting their independence for as long as possible. Compassionate and tailored care also helps ease the emotional strain on families, ensuring their loved ones receive the best possible support throughout the condition’s progression.
What is person-centred dementia care?
Person-centred dementia care is an approach that prioritises the individual’s needs, preferences, and values in managing dementia. Unlike traditional care models that may focus solely on managing symptoms, person-centred care helps to enhance the overall quality of life by recognising and respecting the person behind the diagnosis.
This approach involves tailoring care plans to each individual’s unique history, personality, and interests. It emphasises understanding the person’s life story, routines, and preferences and incorporating these elements into their daily care. For example, familiar routines and personal belongings might be used to provide comfort and stability, while activities that align with the person’s interests can help maintain engagement and joy.
In person-centred dementia care, carers are encouraged to build strong, trusting relationships with those they care for, fostering a sense of respect and dignity. The focus is on creating a supportive environment where individuals feel valued and understood, rather than merely managing their symptoms.
By putting the person at the centre of their care, this approach aims to improve both emotional well-being and overall quality of life for those living with dementia.
An adapted care approach: Interactive caregiving™
At Prestige Nursing & Care, our carers are specially trained to deliver Interactive Caregiving to provide the highest-quality dementia care. Our approach is designed to help the elderly, specifically those experiencing the symptoms of dementia, keep their brains active and challenged.
Mentally active older people are less likely to develop the disease and more likely to strengthen their cognitive function. We do things with our loved ones, not just for them. This kind of mental engagement helps older people have greater meaning and enjoyment in their lives and improves their mental health.
Older people who feel involved and engaged have a higher quality of life – and this is what Prestige Nursing & Care strives for. Through Interactive Caregiving, a range of activities are undertaken that aim to improve the mental and physical health of those living with dementia. For example:
- Sharing hobbies
- Listening to music and sometimes dancing
- Walking around the neighbourhood
- Browsing through family photo albums
- Putting puzzles together or working on crafts
- Working together on projects around the house
- Highlighting the role of nutrition in dementia
For those with dementia, it is particularly important to keep a watchful eye on nutrition. Those living with the disease are more likely to lose weight for a variety of reasons, from a lack of appetite and difficulties with coordination and cooking to problems with recognising and communicating hunger.
Prestige Nursing & Care’ Interactive Caregiving makes healthy eating a priority. Our care workers help your loved ones with shopping and cooking, and they share meals together to ensure that they enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
How can I provide dementia care at home?
Providing dementia care at home involves creating a supportive and safe environment tailored to the needs of your loved one. Here are key strategies to ensure you can provide your loved ones with bespoke and person-centred care:
- Create a safe environment: Make your home dementia-friendly by reducing clutter, installing safety features, and ensuring that the living space is well-lit. Use labels and signs to help with navigation and to minimise confusion. Here are some more tips for keeping an older adult safe at home.
- Establish a routine: Consistent daily routines can provide structure and comfort. Regular schedules for meals, activities, and rest can help reduce anxiety and confusion.
- Simplify communication: Use clear, simple language and be patient. Non-verbal communication, such as gestures and facial expressions, can also aid in understanding.
- Encourage independence: Allow your loved one to perform tasks they can manage on their own to help maintain their dignity and sense of self-worth.
- Provide emotional support: Engage in activities that your loved one enjoys and offer reassurance and comfort. Emotional well-being is crucial in managing dementia symptoms.
- Seek professional help: Consider enlisting the support of healthcare professionals or dementia care specialists to provide additional guidance and assistance.
- Take care of yourself: Caregiving can be demanding. Ensure you take breaks, seek support from others, and prioritise your own well-being to avoid carer fatigue.
Dementia care: Support for dementia caregivers
Caring for someone with dementia can be both rewarding and challenging. To support caregivers, several resources and services are available that can help ease the burden and provide much-needed relief.
Local support groups, such as those organised by the Alzheimer’s Society, offer a vital network for caregivers. The NHS also provides a number of resources to help dementia caregivers. These groups provide emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of community through regular meetings and online forums. Additionally, respite care services give caregivers a much-needed break by arranging temporary professional care for their loved ones, allowing them time to rest and recharge.
Financial and professional support is also available. Caregivers can access financial assistance through programs like Carer’s Allowance and Attendance Allowance, and benefit from guidance on managing the costs of care. Moreover, mental health support services are crucial for helping caregivers handle stress and emotional strain, with resources such as counselling and therapy provided by organisations like the Carers Trust.
By tapping into these resources, caregivers in the UK can find the support they need to navigate the complexities of dementia care while ensuring their own well-being.
Specialist dementia care at home
At Prestige Nursing & Care, we believe that people living with dementia should be able to live a fulfilled and healthy life at home. With the right support in place, tailored to their individual needs.
As an established provider of dementia home care, we have supported individuals living with dementia to have an improved quality of life in their own homes and communities for nearly 80 years. We are trusted by families up and down the country to provide care for all of life, evolving the level and type of care we provide to meet changing needs.
Call us on 0808 239 1525, and our friendly care experts will discuss your care and support needs. You can also fill out our online enquiry form or email info@prestige-nursing.co.uk. We provide impartial guidance and advice so you make the right choice for you and your family.
