Unfortunately, more than 920,000 people in the United Kingdom live with dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, this is set to increase to over 1,000,000 in 2024.
Learning to live with dementia is a life-changing experience that can often be bewildering and disconcerting. It comes with a whole host of emotional, social, and practical challenges that require considerable support and care. Gradually, the world of the person with dementia shrinks as the disease progresses. This can make maintaining a life outside the home and sharing previously close relationships increasingly difficult. Combine this with the rigorous demands of practical care and it’s little wonder many people providing support often feel isolated and exhausted.
At Eclipse Homecare, our specialist dementia care services can provide the essential support you need. With our trained care professionals, you can rely on world-class care and support from a team you can trust. For us, it’s about providing people with the right level of assistance so they can live the best life possible.
Care and Support
Our specialist dementia care services are provided by highly-experienced, friendly staff trained to help you maintain the best quality of life in your own home. Every single client has their own dedicated area team leader responsible for the day-to-day management of our clients care. They have extensive practical experience, as well as detailed and ongoing training, having been involved with the 10-day Dementia Specialist training course run by the Department of Dementia Studies at Worcester University. As a result, they’re able to provide the very best care and support.
Every client has a bespoke dementia care plan, so all parties are clear about the level of service required. Typically, these could include:
- Reminding or helping you to take your medicines to manage your symptoms
- Support with bathing and/or dressing to keep you looking your best
- Catheter care and continence management to maintain your dignity and comfort
- Help to establish a regular exercise routine to improve mood and mobility and to strengthen muscles
- Making sure you have plenty of fluids and a balanced diet, with enough fresh fruit, vegetables, and fibre to keep you healthy and avoid constipation
- Assisting with routine household chores and shopping so your home life is as you would like it to be
- Companionship or helping you to be involved in social activities
Whatever you need, our helpful, trained carers are on-hand to give you and your loved ones all the care and support you need.
Customer Testimonial
What are the types of Dementia?
There’s a common misconception that dementia is an inevitable result of aging – this isn’t true. While age does indeed increase the risk of dementia, it is not the sole cause. In fact, it can actually affect younger adults as well as older people. There are over 42,000 people under the age of 65 years old who suffer from dementia in the United Kingdom and about a quarter of people between the ages of 70 and 79 years old are affected. With the number of people suffering from this group of diseases set to increase over the next couple of years, specialist dementia care will continue to play a critical role in ensuring they retain the best possible quality of life.
Alzheimer’s
The terms ‘Dementia’ and ‘Alzheimer’s’ are commonly confused but there is a fundamental difference. Dementia is the name given to a specific group of diseases which all cause a serious decline in the functioning of the brain. On the other hand, Alzheimer’s disease refers to one specific type of dementia and is the most common form. In the majority of cases where specialist dementia care is required for older people, it’s often for the latter. This is when there are substantial chemical and structural changes that cause brain cells to die.
Vascular or Multi-infarct dementia
The second most common form of dementia is vascular or multi-infarct dementia. This occurs when a person suffers a series of strokes that prevent oxygen reaching the brain. As a result, it causes the brain cells to die.
What are the signs and symptoms of dementia?
The signs and symptoms may vary depending on the type of dementia and the area of brain cells affected. While dementia cannot be cured, it can be slowed down if it is caught early enough, enabling you to access the right level of dementia care.
Frontotemporal dementia tends to affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain – these are on the front and the side. The front of our brain is used for planning, organising and regulating our behaviour. Disease in this area is likely to result in a personality or behavioural change such as, for example, the loss of inhibitions, becoming more impulsive or withdrawn.
The temporal lobes, on the other hand, organise memory and language. Disease in this area would likely disrupt communication and remembering information. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it is vital to seek medical assistance as quickly as possible.
- More frequent memory loss, forgetful of familiar people, places or recent events
- Slower than usual thinking speed or difficulty finding the right words
- Periods of mental confusion
- Difficulty understanding or making decisions
- Impaired reasoning, inability to make judgements, plan or carry out tasks that require concentration
- Changes in personality or mood and disinhibited behaviour
- Increased apathy or lack of interest in their usual activities
- Withdrawn due to a loss of confidence or inability to manage everyday tasks and communication
- Hallucinations, hearing or seeing things that others don’t
- Loss of sense of time, people, places
If you’re looking for world-class dementia care and support, contact our qualified carers at Eclipse Homecare today 01905 641 070.
