Seeing a loved one affected by dementia can be a challenging and emotionally distressing experience, and it can be hard to decide what to do about caring for them.
Dementia is a progressive condition, so you know that if your parent, relative or friend is suffering with it, their symptoms are only going to worsen with time. It’s important to explore the various options available, including the possibility of caring for a person living with dementia in their own home. This can be challenging for the caregiver, but the benefits for the individual of being able to stay in their own home can be extremely valuable, and it can be a great option, as long as their care needs can be met.
Is it possible to care for someone with dementia at home?
Depending on the speed with which their dementia is progressing, it can certainly be possible to care for someone with this condition at home, especially in the earlier stages. No two people living with dementia are the same, and everyone experiences the symptoms differently, so the level of care needed can vary greatly between individuals. It’s therefore crucial to consider each person’s needs case by case. A care needs assessment, which your local authority can provide for free, can help you to establish whether it’s possible for someone’s needs to be met at home, or if they require more intensive care, for example in a care home with specialist dementia care, where they can be treated with dignity whilst feeling safe and secure.
What are the benefits of caring for someone with dementia at home?
There can be a number of advantages to caring for someone with dementia in their own home, rather than in a residential care or nursing home. These can include:
- Enabling that person to stay in familiar surroundings, which can be grounding and reassuring for those experiencing dementia, and avoid the distress and confusion which can come with moving into a care home or nursing home.
- Continuing to be able to do everyday tasks, such as shopping, gardening, walking a dog or cooking, with individual guidance and assistance which most likely would not be available in a larger care home.
- More one-on-one attention than in a care home. This means that you, as a caregiver, can keep a closer eye on symptoms, and are more able to prevent accidents such as falls.
- Saving money, since care home fees can be very expensive. Staying at home, whether with visiting or live-in professional care, or with care from a relative or friend, is likely to be significantly cheaper.
- A greater sense of dignity and independence, particularly for those who are less advanced in their condition, and want to maintain as much self-sufficiency as possible for as long as possible.
What is it like to care for someone living with dementia?
Caring for someone who is living with dementia can often be both a hugely rewarding experience, and an important one when that person is someone you love, while also being very taxing. It’s important to be aware of and prepared for how intense a caring role can be, both in terms of the time and effort involved, and also in the emotional toll it can take. Naturally, seeing the deterioration of your parent, relative or friend’s mental state and memory can be upsetting, especially when they are no longer able to remember the people closest to them, or to perform basic personal care tasks. This is why many people will choose to move their friend or family member into a care home to allow others to support their needs.
However, caring for a loved one with dementia means that you can spend the maximum amount of time with them. It also gives you peace of mind because you can ensure that they are being surrounded by love and compassion provided by someone who cares about them. It can be frustrating and difficult to see a loved one suffering from this illness, and it’s essential that you take care of yourself, so that you can continue to be patient, gentle and supportive with them and keep them calm when they are experiencing anxiety or are feeling agitated.
5 tips for caring for a person living with dementia
Caring for a person who is living with dementia at home when you are not a professional carer is challenging, but it is certainly possible, and there are plenty of excellent resources available to help you manage. We’ve collected some of our favourite tips for caring for someone with dementia, and for looking after yourself at the same time:
1. Understanding dementia care needs
Do plenty of research in order to expand your understanding of dementia and its symptoms, which are not limited to memory loss, but can also include other personality and behavioural changes.
2. Monitor changing symptoms
Expect the unexpected. The progression of a condition like dementia cannot be predicted, and the severity of symptoms can ebb and flow. The only certainty about the effects of the condition will be that they are constantly changing.
3. Manage the home setting
Use visual cues such as signs and photographs to remind the person of their surroundings. For example putting up signs to indicate different rooms in the house, including the kitchen, bathroom and their bedroom, or different appliances like the fridge and washing machine.
4. Ask for help
Don’t hesitate to reach out for help from professional carers in order to allow yourself a break. Short term respite care at a care or nursing home can be a great option, allowing you to relax and take some time off while knowing that your loved one is being taken care of by experienced professionals in a safe environment.
5. How to communicate with a dementia patient
When speaking to someone with dementia, avoid constantly correcting them when they get something wrong. Memory loss is, of course, one of the key symptoms of the illness, and correcting the person won’t prevent their continued deterioration in this regard. Most of the time, the least distressing course of action both for you and for them is simply to go along with what they are saying, as long as it doesn’t impact on their safety and wellbeing in the present.
How can you prepare the home for someone living with dementia?
Preparing a home for someone living with dementia requires creating a safe, comfortable and supportive environment. Here are some key steps to consider:
1. Remove hazards: Identify and remove potential hazards such as loose rugs, clutter or sharp objects. Secure electrical cords and outlets to prevent accidents.
2. Create familiarity: Keep the layout consistent and familiar. Label rooms and drawers, and use colour-coding to make items easily recognisable.
3. Improve lighting: Ensure good lighting throughout the house to reduce confusion and disorientation. Install nightlights to prevent falls during nighttime.
4. Lock medications and chemicals: Store medications and cleaning products out of reach and in a locked cabinet to prevent accidental ingestion.
5. Secure exits: Install locks or alarms on doors to prevent wandering. Consider installing door sensors to alert you when they are opened.
6. Use memory aids: Create memory aids, like calendars, to help with orientation and scheduling. Keep important information, like emergency contacts, visible.
7. Establish routine: Consistency is essential for individuals with dementia. Establish a daily routine for meals, activities, and bedtime to reduce anxiety.
8. Ensure comfort: Provide comfortable, easy-to-access furniture. Consider specialised cushions or chairs if needed.
9. Avoid injury: Install grab bars in the bathroom for additional support. Apply textured stickers to slippery surfaces to prevent falls around the house.
10. Encourage independence: Keep items they use frequently within easy reach. Use simple labels on drawers and cabinets to help them find what they need.
Remember that caring for someone with dementia can be a full-time responsibility and extremely challenging at times. To better understand how a care home can support the needs of those requiring care and to enquire about a dementia care home within The Fremantle Trust contact us today.
We have dementia care homes located across the Buckinghamshire county. Learn more about care homes nearest to you:
Dementia care Aylesbury
Dementia care home Princes Risborough
Dementia care home Chalfont St Peter
Dementia Care home in Amersham
Dementia Care homes in Slough
Dementia care home Chesham
Dementia care home Stoke
Dementia care Burnham
Dementia care High Wycombe
Dementia care Marlow