More than 920,000 people are living with dementia in the UK, with the total amount expected to rise to over one million by 2024. The majority of those affected are aged 65 and above and require dementia care support during an already fragile time of their lives as they grow older.
Dementia is a group of symptoms that target mental processes in various ways, ranging from impaired communication and loss of memory. There are different causes and symptoms of dementia, which can include Alzheimer’s disease, a stroke, or damage to the brain cells.
What is Dementia Care?
Dementia care is the act of providing personal, professional, and comforting support to those living with the condition. In the early stages, dementia care may be provided by a loved one, but as the condition develops, those with the diagnosis often need specialist dementia care.
Types of Dementia Care
There is never a time where a dementia patient is identical to another, each person has individual needs and support requirements, which is something we understand at Encore Care Homes.
Help with dementia care is available in a variety of ways, always provided by highly experienced professionals, all attending to resident preferences, lifestyle, interests, and routines. An individualised care plan is thoughtfully curated based on these preferences and the level of dementia care required. This ranges from the early signs of dementia to difficulties that bring challenging behaviour.
Facilities and Support in Dementia Care Homes
There comes a time where a loved one will require a level of support which physically cannot be provided without 24/7 care. The thought of making the decision to move a loved one into a care home is difficult for many people. It’s an important decision, and one that takes a lot of consideration and research. In many dementia care homes, the environment is designed to cater to dementia, you can expect:
- Around the clock support and care
- Prepared, timely meals managed by the team so meals won’t be missed
- Medication and healthcare will be managed by professionals
- A safe, homely setting closely monitored to ensure the comfort of the resident
- Socialisation with others, including the team and other residents.
What is dementia care at Encore Care Homes?
Our dementia care includes:
- Personalised expert care and devoted well-being team
We have a Clinical Leadership Team dedicated to dementia care. Our team liaise with every resident to produce a tailored care plan that caters for their needs, personality, and preferences. This level of personalisation applies to activities too. - Compulsory dementia care training for staff and ongoing research
All team members who support dementia patients receive training on providing care, communication and how to best offer person-centred dementia care. We continue to follow the very latest research from the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre at Bournemouth University so we can continue to offer the very best care. - Homely environments and sensory gardens
Our care homes are purpose-built, so the environment is designed for the needs of the residents in our care. - Nutrition provided by professional chefs
Those with dementia can lose their routine, which is why light meals and snacks are available throughout the day for whenever dementia residents would like to eat, instead of a set meal times only.
For more information about how dementia care support can improve health and wellbeing, get in touch with us today, or reach out to our care homes in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch or Southampton, your local care home team will be more than happy to assist you. To see our premises, arrange a virtual tour with us today.
