In many cases, residential care is seen as an inevitable or sole solution. There are indeed specialist dementia centres and nursing homes that can offer round-the-clock support and ensure that residents are well looked after, especially when dementia progresses and results in severe memory loss.
However, a permanent home isn’t the only way forward, nor is this wanted or needed by a large proportion of people with dementia who would prefer to stay comfortable, safe and looked after in the familiar environment of their homes.
Let’s talk about at-home dementia care and what this may look like for each family.
How Does a Home-Based Dementia Care Service Work?
Whenever we consult with a prospective new client or family member, or chat with a person with dementia who wants to make care arrangements, we start by pointing out that everybody is unique. There isn’t a right or wrong approach to care.
Dementia can progress at considerably different rates, and many people find that in the early stages of dementia, they are generally fit, well and capable and wouldn’t dream of leaving behind their home, friends, social groups and perhaps a beloved pet.
That doesn’t, though, mean that they don’t need some form of support, such as help with everyday tasks and check-ins, to ensure they continue to live fulfilling lives.
This is why there isn’t a pre-set template or format for dementia care. We create personalised care plans that take into account what we can do to make life easier while respecting the privacy, dignity, and right to independence that apply to every care recipient.
Some families might want a visiting carer to pop in once a day or a few times a week to check that their loved one has eaten well, has help with cleaning and cooking, and to protect against the risks that a person forgets a medication, for instance.
Others may require ongoing live-in care, where professional carers work to an agreed schedule to provide continual assistance, from emotional support coping with a dementia diagnosis to practical personal care, help to administer medications and therapies to combat the rate of cognitive decline.
What Are the Benefits of Specialist At Home Dementia Care?
As we’ve seen, home-based dementia care is adapted to the needs and wishes of the person living with dementia. For many, this offers enormous peace of mind that they won’t need to manage the financial and emotional distress of relocating to a care facility.
It is also widely thought that continuity and familiarity are essential to helping those with dementia retain cognition and recall. Upheaval can exacerbate dementia symptoms and make it harder to remember names and faces, follow conversations or keep up with social interaction routines that are known to help manage memory loss.
Some of the many benefits of dementia care at home include:
- Helping families manage the costs of care, with the assurance that a loved one is safe, well and being looked after at home, but without any pressure to commit to a 24/7 care service at a point where this isn’t necessary.
- Maintaining hobbies and routines with experienced carers who can help with any tasks, activities or groups, from shopping to walking a dog, meeting with friends and family members to watching favourite shows and preparing nutritious meals.
- Dedicated, one-to-one support, where carers get to know their care recipients, form friendships and can suggest activities that stimulate the mind and memory, encouraging a person living with dementia to build their self-esteem and confidence.
Families often choose visiting care as an initial support system, which provides just the right amount of care without intruding on the person’s privacy. This can also act as part of a respite care routine, which gives family caregivers the time to rest, take a break, focus on their own work or health, and avoid carer burnout.
Over time, live-in care remains an option, where someone with dementia wants to keep living independently but needs additional support to ensure this is safe.
Is Live-in Care a Viable Alternative to Residential Care for a Person With Dementia?
In short, yes, we work with many families who either dislike the thought of relocating a loved one into a care home or don’t want to rely on day centres, but equally recognise the unpredictable nature of dementia and need to know their relative is cared for with compassion, sensitivity and respect.
The later stages of dementia necessitate a higher frequency of care, which can mean occasional care visits need to be replaced with overnight or live-in care, but this might also comprise a pattern of visiting dementia support or respite care at home, combined with family caregiving.
Our focus is on ensuring that dementia care at home is accessible and available, and that every family making complex decisions about how best to protect the safety and welfare of their loved one knows all of the options available to them.
Expertly trained carers deliver the highest standards of support, with extra attention available, given that home-based care is one-on-one. They can adapt the hours of care delivery, the types of assistance they provide, and the nature of personal care offered as dementia progresses, depending on whether their care recipient is having a good day and wants to manage independently or needs a little more help.
When Is It Time to Seek Professional Care Support for a Loved One With Dementia?
We know that making care decisions can be upsetting. It is never easy to manage the responsibility that comes with choosing how a loved one might want to be cared for, especially if they aren’t able to communicate their needs or participate fully in care planning.
The best advice is to focus on safety and quality of life. When either of those elements is at risk of decline, it may be wise to speak with our dedicated team or your preferred care service to ensure your loved one is in good hands.
Families worried about a person living with dementia, experiencing increasing hospital admissions, or unsure whether at-home support would be right for them are very welcome to contact Guardian Angel Carers at any time for a confidential chat with one of our friendly, experienced care managers.