Dementia care at home services

Let us support you with specialist dementia care, tailored to the individual.

Dementia can be challenging, for both the person living with the condition and their loved ones. But support is available.

At Abbots Care, we offer outstanding dementia care services, tailored to the needs of the individual, allowing families to focus on quality time together.

Our dementia home care is delivered by compassionate, highly-trained specialists, all experienced with the variations of the condition.

Dementia Care in Your Own Home

As a family-run home care organisation, we pride ourselves on a person-centered approach that allows individuals to access the support they need, in a way that suits them.

We understand that everyone is different, and use input from service users and their families to devise dementia care plans that reflect the needs and wishes of the individual.

Our dementia care specialists dedicate themselves to providing a standard of care that they’d expect for their own families; meaning service users can get the most out of life.

We’re proud to have twice been rated CQC Outstanding, and our specialist dementia care workers receive industry-leading training at our academy, allowing them to support you or your loved one, physically and emotionally.

We offer local dementia home care services across the south east, and home care visits vary between as little as half an hour each day, through to round-the-clock dementia care at home.

We can also provide emergency dementia respite care if your regular carer needs a break.

Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you and your family with our dementia care services.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is the term for a range of similar progressive conditions that affect the normal functioning of the brain. The brain operates by sending and receiving messages from nerve cells, or neurones. Dementia causes these nerve cells to deteriorate, making it harder for the brain to function normally. It is typically associated with old age and comes in various forms that affect people differently.

Types of dementia

There are six main types of dementia, each with their own causes and symptoms:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Dementia with Lewy Bodies
• Frontotemporal Dementia
• Mixed Dementia
• Young-Onset Dementia

Although there is no cure for dementia, it can be managed with the right support and dementia care at home and in the community. Our dementia home care specialists are expertly trained to help those living with dementia lead fulfilling and rewarding lives, as well as supporting the wider family who are impacted by it.

To find out more about the types and symptoms of dementia, check out our blog: What is Dementia?

Dementia symptoms

Dementia can affect people in different ways, but a few of the most common symptoms are:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty communicating
• Mood swings
• Becoming confused easily
• Difficulty with numbers
• Muscle weakness
• Reduced attention span
• Disinterest in socialising

Although there is no cure for dementia, it can be managed with the right support and dementia care at home and in the community. Our dementia home care specialists are expertly trained to help those living with dementia lead fulfilling and rewarding lives, as well as supporting the wider family who are impacted by it.

To find out more about the types and symptoms of dementia, check out our blog: What is Dementia? 

Why choose Dementia Home Care?

Studies have shown that people respond better to dementia care in the comfort of their own home; showing lower levels of the stress, anxiety and depression that are associated with the condition.

Dementia care at home allows you to remain in the comfort and familiarity of home, offering a sense of safety and reassurance, as well as contributing to independence.

Our approach to Dementia Care

We understand that every person is different, so we ensure our dementia care services are bespoke to the needs of the individual. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.

As experts in the field of dementia home care, we also understand that circumstances can change over time, so we make it easy to adapt your care to your current situation; whatever that might be at a given time.

Consistency is important in dementia care. We work to match you or your loved one with a regular care worker, thereby reducing any potential distress caused by unfamiliar faces.

How to care for someone with Dementia

In the earlier stages of dementia, everyday tasks are still fairly easy to complete. But, as dementia progresses, your loved one may need some extra assistance with things like cooking meals, cleaning and going out.

However, if you’re caring for a loved one with dementia, it’s important to make them feel valued. Ask them to help you with various activities, like laying the table and doing the weekly food shop, to keep them engaged and active.

Our home care services for dementia provide help with these daily tasks, as well as additional emotional support – offering a helping hand and a friend.

Dementia home care memory aids

Memory aids can really help your loved one to continue to find their way around the house easily and safely. Placing labels on cupboards and drawers with a note on what’s inside, as well as labelling doors with which room they lead to, can really help to keep your loved ones feeling comfortable at home and reduce confusion. And this is just one of the benefits of dementia care at home – having the freedom to live in your own, familiar space, rather than having to adapt to new surroundings.

Activities for dementia care at home 

Looking for dementia help at home? People living with the condition can still live full and enjoyable lives, and there are lots of things you can do to help them remain active – both mentally and physically. At home, try encouraging them to help you with puzzle-based activities like jigsaws, or even crosswords. Try to frequently talk about their life experiences and memories, and use photos to help them recognise friends and family members.

You could also look out for dementia-friendly activity groups or classes – such as dance, tai chi and swimming – that can enable your loved one to continue with an active lifestyle. Taking them to visit attractions, such as sensory gardens or following woodland trails, can also help to keep them engaged while also lifting their mood and getting that all-important fresh air.

We understand that caring for your loved one is important to you, but it can also be a lot to manage alone. At Abbots Care, we are there for you if you need a little extra help with any aspect of dementia care at home, and we can work with you to create a care package that suits everyone involved.

What is the cost of dementia care at home?

At Abbots Care, we believe that specialist dementia care should be affordable for everyone.

As such, we’ll work with you to agree on a tailored care package, factoring in the complexity of the support required, meaning you only pay for the support you need.

Our dementia care services start at £21 per hour and can be scaled to meet your needs; whether you’re looking for specialist dementia live-in care or visiting care.

Wondering how to fund the cost of dementia care? Get in touch today to speak to one of our care experts to find out how we can help.

There are options for paying for home care, so we will help you to discuss your options.

The benefits of getting outdoors for dementia care

The great outdoors can be one of the untapped resources for helping a loved one when it comes to learning how to care for someone with dementia.

Most of us are aware of the benefits of spending a certain amount of time outdoors each week and try to fit this into our daily routines. The same is true for people living with dementia, and significant improvements to quality of life have been revealed for those who can get outdoors on a regular basis.

Physical and mental health benefits of dementia care outdoors

There are many reasons why spending time outdoors could really benefit people living with dementia, including sufficient intakes of vitamin D. Lack of this vital vitamin is associated with a range of conditions, including increased risk of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Lack of light can also result in poor sleep patterns as exposure is instrumental in setting the body clock.

Getting fresh air and exercise is also known to reduce stress levels and agitation, all important reasons to consider factoring in time outdoors for dementia care. Even as little as 10 or 15 minutes per day has been shown to improve mood, reduce agitation and enhance sleep patterns for those in adult care services.

Another great reason for outdoor exercise or fresh air is that it breaks the routine that so many service users fall into, and can encourage people to be more sociable and participate in light activities. This could be watering plants, light gardening, or for the less mobile just sitting outside to hear birdsong and experience daylight and fresh air – which is known to have a soothing effect.

Outdoor dementia care causes a reduction in cognitive decline

Even more importantly, studies have shown that light exercise and activity can help with cognitive decline and keep the brain active, while slowing down or warding off further cognitive deterioration. In older people, this activity is synonymous with greater hippocampal volumes, which is known to lead to improved spatial memory function.

Just as many of us can suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) this can also be the case for people with dementia. So, encouraging outdoor dementia care at home can help to combat this. Even for people who are less mobile, simply sitting outside provides stimuli and fresh air.

Involving the family and dementia carers

For many people involved with caring for their loved ones, there is often an overwhelming desire to protect them – which can translate into staying indoors, because the thought of being outside can feel challenging and stressful. But, as with many areas of life, if carefully and appropriately planned it can be a real bonus for loved ones, service users and their respective dementia home carers.

This exercise can also be beneficial for family carers who may not be able to get out as much as they would like to. Where this is feasible, carers can begin to reap the benefits of being outdoors in order to keep active and reduce some of the stresses and strains of caring.

How Abbots Care dementia care services play a role in green exercise

Progressive adult care services have long realised the huge advantages of designing a safe outdoor space where residents can sit out, interact with carers, other services users and their families, and have a change of scenery in a green space. At Abbots Care, we fully understand the need to address the requirements of our service users in a holistic way, which also means allowing space and time for outdoor activity and fresh air. That’s why we implement these activities into our dementia home care packages.

Simple outdoor activities can involve walking with service users or loved ones, making the most of fresh air and sunshine, or just appreciating nature. Another good idea can be a picnic outside and just being out for short periods of time. When you come to us for dementia care at home, we’ll work with you to pull together the best care plan for your loved one.

But there are more innovative ideas for dementia care at home to consider.

The internet provides a range of resources for those who want inspiration or encouragement about how to incorporate outdoor activities into their routine, be that family carers, a care training provider or those in care worker jobs who want new ideas. Organisations such as Dementia Adventure can recommend groups to support with outdoor activities in a range of locations across the country, and other sites such as Relish Life have nature activity packs to purchase and suggestions for dementia care at home. The Sensory Trust also have nature-based dementia games, ideas and activities that can be found on their website.

Looking for dementia care at home? We provide our high-quality care services throughout the south and south east of England. Find your nearest Abbots Care branch today to arrange a free assessment.

Find Dementia Care Services

Looking for dementia care at home? We provide our high-quality care services throughout the south and south east of England. Find your nearest Abbots Care branch today to arrange a free assessment.

Become a Dementia Care Worker

A career in care can be incredibly rewarding. At Abbots Care, we provide nationally recognised training and qualifications to help you begin your career home care for dementia patients. Head to our Abbots Care Jobs section to find out more about how you can benefit from our training courses, as well as our available dementia care jobs.

Those who are considering care worker jobs undertake full Care Training and receive support to enable them to fully understand the needs of the people they will be supporting. For many, the work is extremely rewarding and becomes an end in itself for those who decide to move into this role. For others, it provides invaluable experience that can lead to other jobs and careers in healthcare and associated professions.

Get in touch 

Interested in getting some dementia help at home? Arrange your free assessment or speak to one of our specialist advisors by calling us on 0330 094 5511, or fill out the contact form below and a member of our team will be in touch.

Our aim is to provide considerate, thorough care for those who need it, so we’ll work with you to create the perfect tailored dementia home care package for your needs.