Dementia care services

Dementia care services in your home

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.

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.

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? 

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.

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.

Why choose Abbots Care?

Our dementia care service is ideal for those who could benefit from some one-on-one time with a carer, but do not require around the clock care. We can provide assistance with medical conditions and post operative care for as long as you need us, and we also offer specialist care services for more complex healthcare conditions.

Our approach

At Abbots Care, we enable people who need care services to remain in their own homes, which is why we provide dedicated dementia care. One of our experienced care team will visit on a regular basis, to provide support at home, help with getting out and about or simply offer some friendly companionship and a fresh cup of tea.

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Get in touch

To speak to a member of our team about how we can help to arrange dementia care for you or to enquire about our dementia care services, please call us on 0330 094 5511 or fill out our contact form. A member of the team will be in touch within 2 working hours.