Caring For  Dementia

For homes across Northern Ireland, our in-home carers provide dementia care that is completely tailored to the patient. We want to ensure that all our patients are as comfortable as they can be, whilst making their safety a priority. And this can occasionally mean changing the interior of certain rooms that if left, may cause a safety hazard for anyone with dementia. 

 

Before we begin our bespoke care plan, we will first work closely with you or your loved one. This is to determine the level of care that will need to be given and any physical alterations we will need to make. So, let’s have a look at ways to make your home dementia friendly and how our dementia care at home can accommodate. 

Change in Lighting

Most older people, especially those with dementia, benefit from brighter lighting in their homes since it can lessen the risk of falls and help prevent confusion. If the home has succumbed to darkness, there is a chance those with dementia may get confused and may start to panic on where they are. When it comes to dementia care at home, try to reduce any reflections, shadows and glare and increase the amount of natural light. Make sure that nothing is obscuring your windows, such as trees and hedges and that curtains are fully open. 

 

Particular attention should be paid to lighting in the bathroom and on the stairs. Light switches should be accessible and simple to operate. The addition of automatic light sensors may be beneficial. When a person passes the sensor, the lights turn on automatically.

Reduce Excess Noise

Background noise is reduced by curtains, carpets, and cushions. Simply crossing the room on laminate or vinyl floors can be extremely noisy. A hearing aid worn by the dementia patient will amplify these sounds, which can be upsetting.

 

If no one is watching or listening, turn off the television or radio to reduce background noise. Problems with sight and hearing together can exacerbate the symptoms of dementia in people (known as deafblindness or dual sensory loss).

The Kitchen

Without proper precautions, kitchens can be dangerous places. And this risk is increased for those with dementia. When it comes to dementia care at home, certain preventions can be put in place to help improve their safety.

 

Consider replacing solid wooden cupboards with clear doors so that the person can see what’s inside. Or, include signs or stickers of what is inside each door. Make sure all taps are labelled (marked “hot” and “cold”) and for dementia care at home, the patient’s safety should always be a priority. 

Clutter-Free

For dementia care at home, your patient might feel disoriented and distracted in their own home. Eliminate any extra clutter, and make sure that cabinets and drawers are clean. When there is too much clutter in the home, this is also a trip hazard and can result in injury. Especially if the patient has become lost in their surroundings.

 

Also, consider investing in equipment to improve their overall safety. For care for dementia patients, install rails that they can grab hold of to stop themselves from falling. Consider installing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. 

Dementia Care at Home

At Complete Homecare 24, we offer bespoke care plans that meet various individual needs, including those suffering from dementia. Our in-home carers work closely with patients and loved ones when providing dementia care at home and we ensure that all living spaces are dementia friendly. 

 

For more information on our home care services, give us a call at 07955 460 847. Or, follow us on Instagram and see what we do directly on your feed.

 

If you’re interested in caring for dementia, Complete Homecare is always looking for skilled in-home carers to join our team. So, if you’re in Northern Ireland, check out our vacancies here.