Dementia care guide
A guide to person-centred dementia care developed in association with The Good Care Group.
Dementia: Through their eyes
Dementia: Through their eyes is a completely free downloadable information pack produced in association with The Good Care Group. The dementia care guide covers everything you need to know if you’ve had a loved one diagnosed with dementia.
Our essential dementia care guide
We know that caring for a loved one living with dementia can pose many challenges for families. Despite these challenges, it’s vital to understand that a dementia diagnosis does not mean the end of an active, happy and fulfilled life.
As one of the UK’s leading providers of at-home dementia care, we’ve created this comprehensive dementia care guide to provide practical advice and guidance for families. This guide is designed to help you understand dementia from your loved one’s point of view so that you can provide them with the home care and support they need.
Full list of contents:
- Getting a diagnosis
- Feelings over facts: relating and communicating
- Assistive technology
- Creative therapies: music and art
- Staying active and keeping healthy
- Getting more information
- Bringing carers into the home
- Conclusion
What is included in our dementia care guide?
Live well
at home
A diagnosis of dementia does not have to mean the end of an active, happy and fulfilled life. Thanks to ongoing research, new techniques and assistive technology, it is now possible to live well and remain at home with dementia. With the appropriate level of care and support those with dementia can retain their independence and keep on doing the things they love.
A person-centred approach
to care
Adopting a person-first approach can significantly boost quality of life. This guide will help you understand how you can provide person-centred care for your loved ones with dementia. It also offers tips and techniques for understanding dementia from their point of view.
Practical dementia
care tips
There are also practical tips on communicating, eating well and improving well-being, along with advice on assistive technology and creative therapies. When the time comes to consider professional care, there are guides to funding and ensuring a smooth transition when bringing carers into the home.
Understanding dementia
What is dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe different diseases that trigger a gradual loss of brain function. Although dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal ageing.
Dementia is not a disease;it is a group of symptoms caused by other conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease . The conditions that cause dementia are almost all progressive, meaning the effects and symptoms of dementia worsen over time.
Because dementia presents differently in each individual, its symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Some of the most common dementia symptoms include problems with memory, concentration, communication, reasoning and judgement.
Types of dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed. Its trademark symptom is trouble remembering recent events, such as conversations that occurred minutes or hours prior. Difficulty remembering more distant memories and events occurs later on in the condition.
Other types of dementia include vascular dementia affecting up to 20 percent of those diagnosed, frontotemporal dementia affecting 2 percent and dementia with Lewy bodies which affects between 10 and 15 percent.
Specialist dementia care at home provided by expert carers
If you or a loved one have been recently diagnosed with dementia, there is home care help available. At The Good Care Group, we have over 10 years of experience in providing quality care to individuals with dementia and their families.
Our dedicated live-in care allows individuals with dementia to stay in their much-loved homes while receiving the dementia care they need. A professional and well-matched carer will move into your home and support you through a variety of everyday tasks such as discreet and sensitive personal care, planning and cooking meals, and managing and administering medications.
Our specialist care service, designed for those with more complex care needs, is led by our in-house Consultant Admiral Nurse, Dr Jane Pritchard, and Occupational Therapist, Jackie Cooper. Both of our experts oversee the care delivered for those who may benefit from specialist support, such as those living with dementia. They provide bespoke training for our professional carers, as well as advice and support for our clients and their loved ones.
We adopt a blended approach to the delivery of dementia care that involves collaborating closely with healthcare professionals, academic bodies, and leading dementia charities. Our professional and compassionate carers are well-versed in a wide range of best dementia care practices designed to reassure your loved ones, reduce stress and anxiety and facilitate communication.
View more about our dementia care services
Other conditions we care for
Talk to us about your dementia care needs
Our friendly and experienced team is here to help you and your family make sense of the options available to you. Call us today – we will help you every step of the way.
