Dementia: A Flight At A Different Altitude
I had never dealt with dementia up until my care training, shortly followed with my first interaction with a client living with it. My preconceptions from a long distance were that it is a disability which prevents any normal living. I was wrong. With the right approach, it becomes an adapted living.
I have learned that it may not be a smooth ride, and patches of turbulence will lay ahead, however it is absolutely possible to ride those out at the beginning and eventually avoid them completely – we may not be able to fly above them but we can go around them. It is important to adopt a strategy as early as possible to delay the onset and facilitate acceptance of a different lifestyle. This can take the form of simple brain games as well as actively supporting the involvement in known hobbies, all be it accepting that tiredness will occur sooner and adapting the length of time and frequency – a little and often approach.
It is also important to support the person in making their own choices often by changing their presentation –an individual living with dementia may not recognise options they were used to, simply because they are presented to them in an unsuitable way. Solutions as simple as changing the background on which the options are presented ie dark coloured cakes on a light coloured plate help tremendously. This maintains independence for longer, keeping the client at home instead of specialist centres which can cause undue stresses.
Guardian Angel Carers focus a lot of training on dementia knowledge but also on adaptive techniques to support the client through this journey. Our carers will be either matched or develop their knowledge of the client’s hobbies, providing active engagement, supporting social activities through outings to ensure the client has a normal living, right at home.