Dementia Care Specialist Shares Caring Message

TEIGNMOUTH, U.K. - Dec. 17, 2013 - PRLog -- DEMENTIA CARE SPECIALST SHARES CARING MESSAGE

South Devon dementia care specialists, Moors Park House, are spreading the festive message of care and understanding this year with top tips on how to support someone with Dementia through the Christmas period.

There are currently 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK. One in 20 people over 65, and one in five over 80 are affected by dementia. In Devon, estimates indicate that more than 12,000 people will currently have dementia.

“People with dementia don’t always receive specialist residential care on Christmas Day,” says Linda Lowe, home manager of Moors Park House. “With the limited awareness and education around dementia it’s hard for many people to understand how they can positively help someone who has dementia. A decline in memory, reasoning and communication skills are part of having dementia but it shouldn’t be a barrier to having a wonderful Christmas, so long as a person centred approach is taken.”

Here are three tips recommended by the dementia care team at Crocus Care for including your family member or friend with dementia this Christmas.

1.Limit confusion

Confusion isn’t exclusive to dementia sufferers, how many lists do you make or reminders do you schedule on your phone? Think about someone with dementia, confusion can be a constant state of mind so just make it a little bit easier for them to be independent.  A blank door in an unfamiliar environment, like your home, can be very disconcerting and disorienting. Avoid the stress this can bring by labelling doors to your bathroom, kitchen, living room etc. with pictorial and written reference. It’s a simple remedy which is effectively directing and reminding that person of where they are and where they are going.

2.Specialist equipment

For people who are in the late stages of dementia, mobility can be difficult. Movements we take for granted such as lifting a knife and folk to our mouths, being able to slouch on the sofa, even visit the lavatory, can be extremely difficult and fraught if the assistive equipment isn’t there to support them. Raised seating would be beneficial, at the dining table, in the living room and the lavatory. Someone with dementia will have limited spatial awareness; low seating presents a problem for many as they will not be able to judge the drop – this can result in missing the seat and falling; and worse breaking a limb. Co-ordination at the dining table can be tricky. Make allowances and provide suitable cutlery, maybe a large spoon rather than a knife and fork. Use a plain tablecloth in a different colour to your plates. Patterns can cause massive confusion and as easy as it for us to distinguish between 2D and 3D it can be extremely difficult for someone with dementia.  These are simple adjustments but the impact can be enormously beneficial.

3.Safety

This may sound alien to you but carry out a risk assessment and check your house carefully for anything that might be dangerous. Unless you have a toddler in the house you become desensitized to what may present a risk. Someone with dementia will be the same; sharp knives in the kitchen may look like shiny objects to pick up, and brightly coloured bottles of noxious substances could even look refreshing! Put them out of sight in a safe place such as a cupboard you can lock. Pay particular attention to doors and windows too. Keep doors and windows leading into the street or road locked; dementia sufferers like to wander when you least expect it! Ensure obstacles such as awkward placement of furniture, cables even family pets do not present as trip hazards. You may have to de-clutter but it will be worth it and limit the potential for accidents or upset.

Linda continues to say: “Only this month the Government announced increased funds for dementia research and the sharing of information globally to enhance the progress and work towards a possible cure; but the here and now is very much focussed on maintaining a good quality of life for the thousands of people with dementia. Helping someone with dementia is about recognising they are a person. Just take the time to think about how they might be feeling this Christmas and spend some time listening and offering reassurance.”

Moors Park House is part of Crocus Care a family run concern providing a flexible and personalised residential and day care service for the elderly in South Devon across three homes based in Bishopsteignton, Torquay, and Yelverton.