When Should Someone With Dementia Move Into A Care Home

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is a condition that affects many aspects of cognition within your brain, from speech to memory problems, with the correct levels of care and support, older people living with dementia can continue to live their lives whilst receiving support to maintain their sense of self awareness and independence. Depending on how bad the person living with dementia is, it can vary from requiring minimal support to more complex care with an addition of medical care. Within care homes you will receive dementia care customised to each individual, with help from staff who work around the clock, providing assistance in both their physical and mental health needs. Most care homes, if not all of them, will also provide personal care.

When Should Someone With Dementia Look Into Going Into A Care Home?

There are a couple of reasons as to why people with dementia should move into a care home…

Safety Concerns - Your loved one is no longer safe to live alone, due to wondering off or forgetfulness. They may also need help with daily tasks such as eating and taking medication, which eventually can become increasingly difficult.

Increased Care Needs - If you, other family members or friends are currently a home carer, you may feel as though you’re not able to provide care for them anymore, keep them safe or meet their personal care needs, even if you used to be able to. It can get to a point where the individual might need 24/7 supervision and a care home can usually provide this through their care specialists and skilled nurses. Additionally, their needs might have increased as dementia is a cognitive condition so it makes sense for care requirements to increase over time, or if they have had an accident, the care can increase this way.

Caregiver Burnout - This is common for many friend or family caregivers, it’s hard work and it’s common for you to start feeling emotional and physical strain, which can eventually lead you to no longer being able to care for your loved one.

Social Isolation - Care homes provide long term care in friendly and social environments, especially if your loved one is experiencing social isolation and loneliness at home.

When the above applies, your loved one will feel safer, more secure and fulfilled within a dementia care home. 

If you’re unsure as to whether a person with dementia should be in a care home, the best option would be to write down a list of your loved ones needs and see if you can meet them, it’s also beneficial to speak with a member of staff from a possible care home. Maybe, previously your loved one only needed help around the house, such as chores, yet if their dementia has moved beyond this point, specialised care may be required. 

Dementia Care At Oakdene Care Home

Here at Alexander House Care Home, we’re proud to offer dementia care to our residents in Exeter. We also offer residential care and respite care to those seeking daily support for group living. Our care services are offered within a safe, caring and welcoming environment, we want out residents to feel and call it their home away from home, being the right care home for them.

Our dementia care team has gone through plenty of specialising training and support to get where they are today, enabling them to understand every aspect of dementia, including different levels of memory loss. We’re always going above and beyond to ensure each resident maintains their independence and dignity, they’re treated with care and respect whilst staying here with us at Alexander House Care Home.

We’re lucky to have activity coordinators who work with us and our residents to meet and exceed their expectations, collaborating with those living with dementia and their loved ones, to help identify specific social activities and therapies which are appropriate for certain requirements to help them be the best version of themselves. We had daily planned activities to improve their quality of mental health and physical health, stimulating their interactions as well as getting rid of any frustrations or tensions associated with dementia.

If you’re looking to come to Alexander House Care Home specifically for dementia, you’ll be within our dedicated community. We understand how daunting it can be moving into a care home. However, the dedicated professional care staff within our dementia community here at Alexander House Care Home have so much to offer. A warm and friendly environment, comfortable and spacious accommodation (all rooms are en-suite), warm inviting lounges as well as intimate dining rooms and to make sure you can relax and settle into your new routine.

Our activity coordinators work close with our residents living with dementia as well as their loved ones to identify social activities and therapies to help them thrive, all alongside our amazing chefs who prepare delicious, home cooked, nutritious foods. The hydration needs are met whilst ensuring our residents feel respected, keeping their choice and dignity.

Away from the stress of running and maintaining a home, our residents are able to embrace their new lifestyle with the companionship and social interaction of others. It also means that their families are welcome to visit anytime to spend special, quality time with one another, all safe in the knowledge that wellbeing and care needs are being met.

We continually strive to offer support services all of our residents to help each individual to attain their best potential to liven a happy, healthy and comfortable life. Regular activities are planned for our residents as well as events as it forms a big part of our dementia care, helping social and mental stimulation and engagement provides more confidence and less fear. We also make sure to make use of our community services within the local organisations of Exeter and we have created this to provide additional support and information for the locals also diagnosed with dementia. Our staff are reliable and available 24 hours a day to assist with any medication management needed, meals, mobility, communication and more. Our home is built with thought and love, understanding the needs for familiarity and comfort as well as practical features such as our en-suite bedrooms and clear signage. We’ve also got little things such as memorabilia on the walls; we want to help those with dementia in the best way we can. For more information on our home, our services and care, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and we will answer any questions you may have.