ENA, Dementia and Live-In Care

What is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term which describes a collection of symptoms that impair our ability to think, remember and make decisions and it interferes with our capacity to carry out activities. These symptoms can range from impaired communication and motor skills to misplacing things and memory loss and will likely lead to the individual requiring care.

Dementia is a product of a number of conditions such as Alzheimer's and Vascular Dementia (which are the two most common types of Dementia) and causes damage to the brain’s cells, making it difficult for them to communicate. Other types of Dementia include Fronto-Temporal Dementia and Lewy Body Disease but it is possible to have more than one type of Dementia at the same time.

Age is the strongest known risk factor for developing Dementia. One in twenty people develops Dementia under the age of sixty-five, one in fourteen over sixty-five and one in six over the age of eighty. Although Dementia mostly affects older adults, it should not be considered a normal part of ageing and if you have a parent or sibling with Dementia, you are at a higher risk of developing the disease.

While there is currently no cure for Dementia, it is possible to manage the symptoms and live a long and fulfilling life once diagnosed. In this article, we will outline some of the ways in which you can effectively live with and care for a loved one suffering from Dementia and we will include some of the benefits that come with organising live-in care.

The Benefits of Live-In Care

As Dementia progresses, an individual living with the disease will eventually require assistance with instrumental activities of daily living such as meal preparation, washing and dressing and shopping and medication management. In addition, it is common for individuals with Dementia to experience confusion and cognitive impairment so it is not advisable to live alone and without care.

Specialist Dementia care caters specifically to those living with Dementia and aims to reduce the symptoms of the condition wherever possible. It can be very beneficial to those living with the disease and focuses on delivering targeted therapies such as reminiscence therapy and dietary adjustments to activities such as physical therapy and support with challenging behaviour.

Live-in care is a great alternative to hourly or residential care as it empowers the individual to continue to enjoy their favourite activities from the comfort, security and familiarity of their own home. With a live-in carer, those suffering from Dementia always have someone on hand to manage their condition day and night and it allows their loved ones some peace of mind and the freedom to step back.

At ENA, we are equipped to provide for a wide range of complex needs, Dementia care being one of those. Our specialist Dementia-trained carers are taught to anticipate the requirements of those living with Dementia and to communicate effectively with them to allow the individual to keep a sense of self, sustain their relationships and maintain their quality of life.

Our Specialised Dementia Training Programme

We provide extensive training and development and our live-in carers are highly skilled and knowledgeable. Each carer is selected via a rigorous recruitment process with numerous interviews and background checks and all carers must attend a mandatory in-house five-day induction training programme. Our carers must also complete their care certificate as a minimum before being placed.

Each carer is then matched with their future client based on experience and personality and then put forward for any further, complex training needed. Perhaps most importantly, our carers are taught the importance of a person-centred approach from day one and our meticulous training programme has been recognised by the Homecare Awards for training and development expertise.

Our specialised Dementia care course aims to teach our staff how to recognise the prevalence of Dementia in the UK and to identify how stigma relating to Dementia impacts an individual's daily life. We also teach our carers to identify the four most common types of Dementia and to recognise and describe the signs and symptoms an individual living with Dementia may experience.

Our carers are equipped with the most up-to-date information on how to care for and support an individual living with Dementia and to describe how behaviour and cognition may be affected by the disease and how to manage this. ENA carers are also taught to understand the importance of capacity and to identify the five essential principles of the Mental Capacity Act.

Products and Activities to Bring Joy to Those with Dementia

For someone living with Dementia, continuing with hobbies and activities they enjoy can really help maintain mental well-being, sustain mobility, improve mood and reduce stress. Certain activities can help manage the progressive symptoms of Dementia such as listening to music, playing board games and jigsaw puzzles, tackling a brainteaser and engaging in reminiscence activities.

Maintaining physical health is also essential and it is important to encourage light exercise where possible such as walking, swimming or seated exercise. For some inspiration on products and activities for individuals living with Dementia, we recommend Relish, (relish-life.com) experts and creators of products and activities that bring joy and connection to people with Dementia.

In addition to the above, it is important to keep a good, balanced diet and continue to do things that the individual enjoys. This being the case, live-in care is quickly becoming the favoured option for many families of those living with Dementia as the caregiver is not only trained and experienced in Dementia care but is more likely able to offer a high degree of attentiveness, patience and understanding.

Organising live-in care is a great way to help keep your loved one safe at home while allowing them to continue to do the things that they enjoy. ENA can train a carer to suit your needs and is a more person-centred alternative to residential care. Whether your loved one needs a lot of support or just a little looking after, ENA offers flexible, cost-effective, twenty-four-hour care tailored especially to you.

By Caroline Coveney