The benefits of live in care for dementia patients

Don’t miss our podcast episode at the bottom of the page with Kate, the daughter of a live-in care client with dementia.

“9 out of 10 of people with dementia would like to remain in their own home.”

To make this possible, care and assistance with a daily routine will be needed at some stage. When considering care options, many people automatically think a care home. The thought of leaving home comforts, familiar surroundings, loved ones, memories, pets and more can compound the challenges associated with dementia . Live in care for people with dementia patients provides flexible, one-to-one care for your loved one that is completely tailored to their needs. This bring mental wellbeing benefits, lower costs, independence, and someone who is there on a 1-1 basis as the disease progresses.

Fewer hospital admissions

One dementia home care benefit it can be a much safer environment than a care home. Research shows that falls for people with dementia are three times less at home, helping reduce the risk of serious injury and hospital admissions.

Not only that but being admitted to hospital comes with its own set of problems, as prolonged hospital stays may lead to loss of muscle strength, a risk of reduced bone mass, reduced mobility and increased dependence, confusion and demotivation. These problems are sometimes referred to as ‘Deconditioning Syndrome’.

Familiar surroundings

A familiar environment has been shown to reduce anxiety and confusion, as the individual remains in a familiar routine. Additionally, familiar surroundings increases safety, comfort and awareness. Living in a house where memories have been made also helps improve cognitive function in dementia patients and helps reduce memory loss and confusion.

Consistent support

Having 1-1 support has a number of benefits for people with dementia. The familiarity of a regular face that builds trust; someone who can pick up on the good days and the bad days; a single point of contact for the family that provides the ultimate level of reassurance. It also means a familiar routine can be built and maintained, which can prevent a person with dementia from becoming distracted.

Maintaining independence

One of the key benefits of live in home care for dementia patients is providing independence that would be lost when moving into a care home. A person can remain in their own home around the people and things they love, maintaining a routine that is familiar to them and is likely the product of habits formed over many years.

Let McDonald Homecare support you

Getting live in care right for people with dementia is so important. We have many years of experience helping families find the right support and personality fit to meet the needs of a loved one. Get in touch today and see how we can help. You can also listen to our podcast below with our client Kate, talking about her Mum’s journey with dementia.

Listen to our podcast

In this episode Leigh talks with Kate, the daughter of a live-in care client with dementia. In this insightful episode, Kate and Leigh openly discuss the dilemmas and difficult decisions family have to take with Mum's onset of dementia. Kate offers a unique window into the journey of a family managing care for a parent, from pre-diagnosis, finding community support, family dynamics and changing relationships, managing finances and eventually arriving at live-in care as their preferred care option. We really hope you enjoy this episode as we feel incredibly privileged to share with you this open and honest real-life story.

You can also listen to this episode on Spotify and YouTube.