How Can a Care Home Help Those Living with Dementia?

What is Dementia Care?

Although there are many types of dementia and degrees of severity, the most common symptoms affect someone's mood, memory and a person's ability to communicate. Those who are living with dementia can continue with their everyday activities and live their lives as they choose so long as they receive the appropriate level of care and assistance. Dementia brings a number of daily challenges and it is important that the person who is experiencing the condition lives in an environment where they are able to stay safe.

Dementia is a degenerative condition that worsens over time, which means those who have it may need a heightened level of care and support as time goes by. When someone has dementia, you may notice changes about them, such as frequently repeating themselves, misplacing things, or even struggling with their usual routines.

At this stage, you may decide that a specialist care facility is the next best course of action, as your loved one will need more daily assistance and care than you can offer them.

What are the Different Types of Care Home?

When it comes to care homes, it’s important to understand that there are two main types. In the UK, you’re likely to think about relocating to either a residential care home or a nursing home. However there are care homes that offer both residential care and nursing care, and even provide specialised dementia care. So before you begin your search, it’s important to work out what's best for you or your loved one. 

For someone living with dementia, a nursing home or care home that offers dementia care will be most suitable, some even have designated floors where the dementia care unit is placed.

Residential, live-in care homes have an emphasis on giving aid to residents as and when it’s needed. For example, if a resident needs assistance when it comes to taking their medical prescription or if they need help with personal hygiene. However, in a nursing home or care home, dementia care will often be available and provided by a team that has been extensively trained to deal with all aspects associated with dementia. 

Caring for someone with dementia on a long-term basis can be stressful and challenging, especially when making sure the correct level of care is being given to improve quality of life. That's why family members often look to turn to professional care within a safe and pleasant setting.

Life doesn't stop when you go into a care home, it's designed to help those who are struggling, reach their full potential with the help of a loving team.

What are the Important Things to Look Out For?

A care home's latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report is one of the most crucial things to look for when selecting a care home for either yourself or a loved one. On the CQC Find a Care Home Directory, you can locate these reports and come to a decision for yourself. In England, the CQC oversees all care facilities, whereas when searching for care homes in Wales, you'd have to look into what the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) has to say.

You can learn about a care home's performance and any potential improvements needed from its inspection reports. Spend some time touring the care home while speaking with the management, other staff members, and residents. Bringing a friend or family member along will help you see things from another perspective and potentially make your choice that little bit easier.

We recommend the following tips for visiting a care home: 

• The Residents - Are the residents happy? Do they look content and dignified? Are they treated well by the staff members? Do they seem close with the nurses and various team members? Are visitors allowed to come and visit regularly? Does the care home provide additional medical services?

• The Area - Is the home easy to get to? Is it close to public transport links? Are there plenty of things to do in the local area? Is the care home’s environment beneficial to the lifestyle of either myself or my loved one? Will older people feel safe?

• The Amenities - Are there certain rules and regulations when it comes to the rooms? Can residents bring their own personal belongings into the home? Is there enough space to manoeuvre easily throughout the house? Is there garden space? How often is the garden space available for residential use? 

What are the Benefits for Dementia Patients in a Care Home?

Unrivalled Support for Dementia

Those diagnosed with dementia often need a high level of support from those around them. By moving into a care home, or a specialist dementia care home, highly qualified nurses will be on hand 24/7 to assist whenever they’re needed.

A care home is a safe place with a welcoming, familiar environment, one that cultivates an atmosphere where each residents individual needs are taken into consideration, and they are encouraged to be their true, authentic selves. 

Numerous Social Opportunities 

One of the many positives to group living is the ample opportunity to socialise with other people. This is a great chance to talk with those around them and learn more about the people they live with. Lots of other people with dementia might be going through similar things, so this is a brilliant opportunity to reminisce and share stories.

Specialised Dementia-Friendly Activities

Taking part in a variety of dementia-friendly activities in a care home is a sure way to make those people living with dementia feel more at home. Music therapy, various arts and crafts activities, spending time in outside areas and relaxing in a salon and therapy room can really help to calm a person living with dementia and really make them feel listened to.  

Dementia Care at Tŷ Llandaff

While we have established a clear benchmark for offering effective and accurate dementia care. Our team works hard in going above and beyond for every resident, providing a happier, more comfortable way of life for those who are living with conditions such as Dementia.

We take pride in establishing a positive rapport with our residents from the very beginning and carry out ongoing assessments to make sure their care is tailored to fit each and every one of their unique needs.

At Tŷ Llandaff Care Home, we treat each resident with the utmost dignity and compassion in order to fulfil our commitment to provide the best person-centred care we can.

Our Team is Always On-hand and Happy to Help

Choosing a care home, or choosing the right care and meeting the needs for someone with dementia is a big decision, and certainly not one to be taken lightly. If you would like more information and advice about how best to care for a person with dementia, we would be delighted to assist you in any way we can. Our care home also provides Residential Care, Nursing Care, Respite Care and Palliative Care.

If you want to speak with someone on our team about the dementia care we provide or any of our other services, call us on 02920 600 100 or send an email to info@tyllandaffcare.com to get in touch today.

You can also complete our Online Enquiry Form if you would prefer, and one of our friendly staff members will get back to you as soon as possible.