Our guide to the different approaches to dementia care

Types of dementia care available

There are four common types of care that those living with dementia can receive, which may depend on you and your loved one’s circumstances.

1. In-home care

If your loved one lives at home or with you, in-home care may be an option if they do not require around-the-clock care. A care provider may visit them at their home to provide them with companionship, help around the home or offer personal care services.

2. Elderly day care

If you provide your loved one with care but need time to yourself for work, other commitments or simply take a day to yourself, elderly day care ensures your loved one still receives the personalised care they need on an ad-hoc basis.

3. Respite care

If you need more than just a day’s break from caring for your loved one, respite care provides your loved one with a minimum of a week’s stay in a care home to receive one-on-one, personalised care. That way, you get a proper break and still have peace of mind that your loved one receives specialist care.

4. Residential care

When you can no longer provide your loved one with the full support they need and they would benefit from experienced care, they can move into a residential care home where fully trained staff are on hand 24/7. Care ensures their needs and wants are met to allow them to retain as much of their independence as possible. If they require specialist medical care, nursing care can also provide that for them.
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The best way to approach person-centred care when caring for someone with dementia

When it comes to providing care for someone living with dementia, it is important to keep care centred on the person, so that they can do more of what they enjoy and less of what might upset them – and by extension, you too.

If you support someone with dementia, consider these approaches to help provide person-centred, empathetic care:

1. Try to see things from their point of view, rather than your point of view as someone looking in from the outside.
2. Treat someone with dementia as an adult and avoid talking to them like they have done something naughty.
3. Encourage them to make decisions for themselves. Ask them about what they want, rather than relying on telling them what to do.
4. Because caring for someone living with dementia is difficult, ask for help when necessary to avoid burnout, which can lead to stress.
5. Offer reminders and be prepared to repeat things regularly, calmly and reassuringly.
6. Do not expect someone with dementia to remember or learn how to do something for themselves. Instead, help them overcome their challenges.
7. Living with dementia can be scary and confusing, so make sure you don’t make someone feel bad because of how their brain works.
8. People with dementia can get confused easily, so try to avoid arguing with them.
9. Do not push someone with dementia to remember something specific, which can lead to frustrations. Instead, offer prompts but don’t expect them to recall something.
10. Offer regular reassurance and don’t talk down to someone with dementia.

Here at Ashberry Care Homes, our experienced teams of carers always focus on a person-centred approach to caring for those with dementia.

When should someone with dementia go into a care home?

Dementia affects everyone in different ways, impacting someone’s memory, behaviour and ability to communicate. When a loved one can no longer live independently at home and it affects how they eat, dress, take medication or bathe, it may be that the time has come for them to go into care. This includes if they already receive care from you or another relative, which can be an exceptionally difficult and emotional time.

How can Ashberry Care Homes support you?

At Ashberry Healthcare, we have a number of care homes across the UK that specialise in providing people living with dementia with empathetic care so that they can continue to live as independently as possible whilst still retaining their dignity.

We offer a range of affordable dementia care services, including elderly day care, respite care and residential care. Our fully-trained and empathetic staff provide personalised, one-on-one care, to reassure you that by asking for a little help, you are doing the right thing.

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