Dementia Live-In Care
By Sandra Doru
Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 of people with dementia would like to remain in their own home. To make it possible for a person with dementia to stay at home, care and assistance with a daily routine will be needed at some stage.
When considering care options, many people automatically think of a care home. The thought of leaving home comforts, familiar surroundings, loved ones, memories, pets and more can compound the challenges associated with dementia.
Benefits of Live In Dementia Care
Live in care for people with dementia 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 big dementia home care benefit 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 Are Essential
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.
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.
If you’d like to know more about the process of setting up live-in care, read our article on How Live-In Care Works