What are the care options?

An overwhelming number of dementia patients want to be able to live in their own home. It makes sense, it is a comforting environment, it has familiarity and it is after all, their home. So how can you support them to live in their home environment in a cared for capacity and what support is available for you as their carer, or if they live alone, as support for them? 

It depends as to where the dementia patient is in their diagnosis and as to what form of dementia disease they have, as to how much care they are going to require and when. Some dementia diseases are more progressive than others, which means that the rate at which you will require all around care will differ, patient to patient. Some dementia diseases symptoms can be managed with medication, and although there is no cure, can slow down the rate of progression. 

That aside, you may find that the care that they require is too much for you to provide fully on your own, or if they live alone, you may be concerned for the dementia patient’s welfare. Therefore you will want to invest in a carer who can support their needs, known as supported living care. Being able to support dementia patients with care provision at home means that they are able to remain in their home for longer, which means a happier patient.  Living in a care home environment can be noisy at times and stressful because it is not a place that they have an affinity to, particularly if they have lived in their own home for decades. It also ensures a more personalised care for the dementia patient, where someone is available to support them all of the time and they do not have to share the care resources as they would in a care home. And lastly, you get peace of mind.

What are the options? 

There are different options of supported living that are available, from someone who visits the property for a few hours a day, to full specialist nursing care. If live in care is not yet required, then there are many providers who can help with providing daily care and support. This can include shopping, cleaning tasks and supporting the patient in the morning or at bath and bedtime. They could help the patient with taking their medication too, and preparing meals for them.  

Live-in carers 

Live in carers can carry out any function from support with cleaning and cooking, to helping the dementia patient with personal hygiene care, bathing, toileting etc. As the carer is living in the dementia patient’s home, they tend to form a bond or friendship, which can be beneficial support for the dementia patient and also help to encourage the patient to continue to interact socially. Social skills can often be lost as the disease progresses and if the patient is in a care home, they may decide to shut themselves off, as the disease progresses. This is one of the difficulties with managing the disease. However, they may have more advanced medical needs to be met by someone who is more than just a live in carer.

Assisted living care 

If you are looking for more extensive care for a dementia patient, then there are skilled nursing care professionals who can provide live in care support, where a dementia patient may have more skilled care requirements or serious medical support. This is often why patients with more advanced dementia or alzheimers tend to go to a care home, because of the specialist care requirements that they have to support them in the later stages of the disease. In a care home these needs are met with 24 hour support. You can replicate this within their home environment but not all care providers can offer this specialist care and if you do not have this option in your area, then it might be time to consider a care home. 

How are care providers reviewed

There are many care providers who are able to provide either a daily service, to a more 24 hour approach which involves live in care. One thing you will want to be sure of, is that whoever you recruit has the required dementia care experience. Any care provider who carries out personal care or supported living must be registered with the relevant regulatory bodies. Care service providers are reviewed for their services and quality of care by Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, or Care Inspectorate (CI) in Scotland or Wales. So when you are looking into the quality of care provision, this is one of your places to look. The role of the CQC or CI is to ensure that the care provider, whether that is a hospital, care home, care provider or dental surgery is providing a safe level of care, that the people that are carrying out that care are deemed to be competent persons and have the necessary qualifications to ensure that they keep people safe and promoting a good quality of life.

Do they have to be registered to provide care?

If you come across an individual who provides personal care services (cleaning, bathing and toilet help) but isn’t registered, then you have no way of knowing that they are being assessed in their competence and care provision. It is the type of care that is being provided, not whether it is a care home or charity that is providing the care. They really should be registered with the relevant authority and without that you have no understanding on the quality of the care they may be providing, what dementia experience they have and how they would manage and support some of the more difficult dementia behaviours that can be associated with the disease as it progresses. 

Confused by the care options

If you're not sure what level of care you require or are looking to understand differences in costs, then contact our team to understand what care options are available for your loved one here.