Millions of people worldwide suffer from dementia, and it is challenging not only for the patient but also their family. As the illness worsens, the families are required to make difficult decisions for care delivery. Domiciliary care agencies are an option they can try for those with dementia.
Here the patient gets to stay in their home while receiving professional care and medical assistance. For some, this is the best option as it allows them to remain in familiar settings, experiencing practical, psychological, and emotional advantages. Give this blog a read to know how domiciliary help can be the best choice for your family member diagnosed with dementia.
Maintaining Familiarity and Reducing Stress
For dementia patients, staying at home ensures security, comfort, and continuity. Familiar surroundings eliminate the chances of the patient being confused and disoriented, two prominent symptoms of the illness. Daily routines, personal things, and familiar settings act as anchors, lowering the patients’ anxiety. Because shifting them to new environments can make them more anxious.
So domiciliary care plays the part in treating them in the comfort of their own home, being able to see the usual faces every day. Caregivers can adjust their support services to fit the dementia patients’ established routines, including mealtimes, recreational pursuits, and sleep schedules. This consistency promotes emotional health by ensuring a sense of normalcy in the patient’s life.
Personalised and Flexible Care Plans
Domiciliary care providing services develop individualised care plans to meet the specific needs of each client as per the information provided by their families. For someone with dementia, this may include:
• Assistance with daily activities: The carers help in bathing, dressing, moving, meal preparation, and feeding if required.
• Medication management: Administering proper dosages of medications at proper schedules as instructed by their doctors.
• Cognitive stimulation: Engaging with patients in memory-enhancing activities like storytelling, conversations, puzzles, art, or music therapy.
• Companionship: Delivering emotional and physical support to combat loneliness in case they live alone.
These approaches guarantee that the dementia patients are able to maintain their independence in their daily lives while simultaneously receiving appropriate all-round care. However, be aware of the common mistakes people usually make while choosing a domiciliary care service.
Supporting Families in Their Caregiving Role
Many elderly care agencies provide domiciliary care in Croydon, Bromley, and Kingston Upon Thames as additional support for busy families. Because the family members of a dementia patient may also face physical and emotional challenges. Domiciliary caregivers also provide respite, allowing family or primary carers to take breaks and prioritise their own well-being. Professional carers also offer vital medical information, so the family members understand dementia and manage problematic behaviours better.
Furthermore, the scale of domiciliary care can be adjusted as per the development rate of the illness in a patient. Families can initially book caregiving services for a few hours each week but can also request more intensive care if needed. This adaptability guarantees that the care delivered will meet all the changing demands of a patient.
Encouraging Social Connections and Engagement
Social isolation is a major worry for dementia patients, especially because they face difficulties with speech and social relationships. Domiciliary caregivers are the ones who can help foster and develop social engagement in these patients. In-home care combats feelings of loneliness and isolation, specifically if the patient’s family does not stay home with them. So the carers take the responsibility of engaging them in conversations, accompanying them to social events, and mediating interactions with friends and family.
Promoting Safety and Independence
People with dementia, who have no mobility issues, may be more likely to wander, forget to switch off appliances, or misplace important things at home. So with no family member around all the time, safety becomes a top concern. Domiciliary carers receive training on how to identify and avoid hazards by being cautious and keeping the patient under constant supervision. They do so by maintaining patient independence by ensuring safety precautions at home, like labelling rooms or making sure walkways are free of hazards.
Conclusion
Domiciliary care agencies are a compassionate and practical source of help to support people with dementia in the comfort of their own home. Personalised care provision in a familiar setting with constant emotional and practical assistance ensures patient dignity and independence. For families that need to leave for work every day or have other obligations, domiciliary care is the best alternative to other types of care services.
If you are looking for domiciliary care services for your family member with dementia in England, Priory Care Services can be the one to help you. Our domiciliary care services ensure that your loved ones receive the care and attention they deserve.