How Can Care Homes Support Dementia Residents?
Dementia is a condition that affects 1 in 11 people over the age of 65 in the UK, with numbers projected to increase in the future for older people. The symptoms of dementia include memory loss, difficulties with cognitive function, communication and changes in mood. Over time, the symptoms of dementia will become more prominent and individuals will need more support with personal care tasks such as getting dressed, washing, eating and bathing as well as general tasks such as cooking, cleaning and buying groceries.
During the early stages of dementia, an individual can usually complete daily tasks alone with gentle reminders from loved ones. As the effects of dementia become more present in a person’s life, they would begin to require full-time care. If you have noticed that a loved one’s mental capacity has decreased to a point where it is difficult to care for at home, a move into a dementia care home will likely be the next step.
Beginning the journey of looking for residential care homes that specialise in dementia can be overwhelming, however, it will be beneficial for the individual in the long run, and if you have power of attorney for your family member, you will be able to make this decision for them based on their best interests. Care homes and nursing homes provide residents with a fulfilling life whilst a person receives long-term care and support from a team of health and social care professionals. Many care homes offer different types of dementia, from a basic level to a more advanced level of dementia care where they can provide a continuum of care as and when dementia progresses.
Understanding how a care home can support the individual needs of those with dementia is important, so we have collated a list of what you should look for when considering and visiting care homes for your loved one.
What Measures Do Care Homes Take to Support Individuals With Dementia?
Trained Care Professionals
The first thing you should expect from a care home that supports people with dementia is a dedicated dementia care team, with specific experience and qualifications relating to dementia care. A care home will go through a process of interviewing and carefully selecting a range of staff to care for those with dementia, as well as providing them with training to ensure their knowledge and processes stay relevant and up to date. These team members will work tirelessly to ensure residents are cared for to the highest degree and provide them with daily activities that support their interests and hobbies. Family members of residents can feel confident that their loved one is in the best hands, and will always be kept up to date with a resident’s progression during their daily life at their chosen care home.
Support to Residents' Family and Friends
Dementia can be a time of uncertainty for the family and friends of the resident. The care home staff strive to support everyone involved. The dementia care team will work alongside residents' families to create a care plan unique to each individual. Many care homes offer regular support groups where friends and families of residents can meet and share their experiences and give advice to those who may be going through a similar situation to highlight the fact that they are not alone.
Creating an Environment Where Residents Feel Comfortable and Safe
One of the biggest factors you should look for within a dementia care home is the type of environment they provide their residents. If their environment feels like a welcoming and safe space, this will reflect upon a resident's mood and help them to feel happy and comfortable. The environment people live in is one of the largest contributors to their quality of life, and care homes understand this is particularly important for those with dementia who can often tend to feel agitated and worried. Examples of a dementia-friendly space could include ample space to move around, larger clocks and fonts on signs, signs over every door, natural lighting instead of bright artificial lights and colour-contrasting furniture.
Offering Regular Stimulating Activities
Within a care home, there are often activities coordinators who will create an activities programme consisting of a range of stimulating dementia-friendly activities for residents to take part in. The ethos of most care homes remains the same: to enable residents to make the most of every day in a way that suits them. The activities team will work closely with residents and their loved ones to incorporate activities that will be both stimulating and beneficial to the resident, but also be something they truly get enjoyment from. It is vital that care homes offer their residents everything needed to live a rich and meaningful life, with the opportunity to get involved in group activities or enjoy time to themselves.
Opportunities to Socialise Both In and Out of The Home
As well as offering a regular activities programme, care homes will ensure their residents have the opportunity to get out of the home to socialise with the local community be it at a dementia café or social club or to encourage socialising with other residents through music and games. Socialising with others and undergoing music therapy in old age will have a positive impact on the well being of any resident, particularly those with dementia.
First-Class Levels of Care
The most important factor you should expect a care home to provide is first-class levels of care for every care need. Most dementia care homes have on-site care staff that will have the necessary dementia training and experience to provide person-centred care and support alongside a range of facilities and amenities. A dementia care home will provide a caring and supportive environment, with the intention of ensuring each resident can reach their full potential no matter their age or abilities. Care homes are about being inclusive for all, tailoring care to each individual so that a resident can be truly happy.
How We Support Our Residents With Dementia at Beaumont Manor
Beaumont Manor is a private, luxurious care facility situated in the beautiful seaside town of Frinton-on-Sea, near Colchester. We provide unrivalled levels of Dementia Care as well as Residential Care, Nursing Care and Respite Care. Our dedicated team understands that each dementia experience is unique to an individual, and we are committed to providing each person with around-the-clock care tailored to their individual needs. The team at Beaumont Manor have all undergone professional and specialised training to care for the various needs of an individual and lessen the symptoms of dementia.
In order for our residents to thrive, we offer them an environment where they feel comfortable and safe at all times with ample social activities and options to fill their days how they wish, enabling them to live independently for as long as possible. Some of our first-class facilities offered to residents include an extensive activities programme, a hair salon & spa, a library and a cinema room which residents can use at any time, at no extra cost.
My Father has settled really well at Beaumont Manor and the management and the staff have been instrumental in this process. From the moment I arrived with a very frightened, very poorly Father, both of us were made to feel part of the Beaumont Manor family. Amazingly, the staff even remember the visitors' names and who they are visiting, making the whole process of transitioning into care much more bearable. From the moment you step into the entrance, you are given a warm welcome and it continues through visits both into the residents' lounge, communal areas and the individual bedrooms that are really tastefully decorated and spotlessly clean at all times. The manager and her staff cannot do enough to assist with the visiting experience, making it most enjoyable. Refreshments can be enjoyed in a beautiful setting within Beaumont Manor, either in the resident's rooms or one of the other communal areas. As a family, we could not wish for a more beautiful place for our loved one to reside. Well done! - Review from D H (Daughter of Resident) on carehome.co.uk
Contact a Member of Our Friendly Team
If you require any more information regarding dementia care at Beaumont Manor or if you have any queries about anything else, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team. To contact the team, please do so by calling us on 01255 388500 or emailing us at info@beaumontmanorcare.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Alternatively, if you would like to become more educated on the topic of dementia and understand what support is available through social services like the local authority, we recommend the following services that offer free advice:
