Although some families may opt at first to care for a loved one with dementia at home by employing trained nurses or other health care professionals, there always comes a time when they finally have to decide on a dementia care home.
It’s never easy to watch a loved one gradually cease remembering or recognizing people around them. The level of care and assistance a person with dementia requires increases as the disease advances; and since family members also have other responsibilities, more often than not, they become incapable of giving the necessary care and attention to the patient.
Also, a lot of family members may think they are ill-equipped in terms of training to carry on the task of caring for the dementia patient. Taking all this into account, it would the practical and ideal move to allow professionals at a dementia care home to look after the patient.
Here are a few pointers on what to consider when you start looking for dementia care homes.
Depending on the effects the disease has, find out the kind of care that fits to the patient’s needs. If the patient only requires ordinary care or assistance, any care home can provide those needs; if the patient needs specialized medical care, then be sure that there are medical specialists in the care home that are qualified to handle the issue.
Cost is one of the big factors that should be taken into account before finally deciding which dementia care home works best. Although some facilities may demand huge fees, there are dementia care homes that are government funded. It is best to make a few cost comparisons before picking that which responds to the care needs of the patient; also include in your options government subsidized facilities.
As detailed in the residential homes web page, you should ask about amenities and find out if the rooms are spacious, if the food is appropriate, if the environment is hygienic and the employees are competent. You should personally visit the care home being considered to further assess if it is the right choice for your loved one. Besides the amenities and environmental security, it is more important that the employees possess the necessary specialized skill to handle the dementia patient.
Ensure that activities are designed to also keep the patient active and at the same time retain their sense of independence to a certain degree. Most of the best care homes provide an environment that promotes communication and relationships between staff, residents and family, which enhances a person’s care and quality of life. Activities don’t need to be structurally planned; activities can be as simple as board games or playing with cards. The point is to organize activities that are motivating but not intense.
It’s a good idea to look for a care facility in your locality. A significant number of patients refuse to stay in a care home for fear of losing family and friends; scared that they will eventually be forgotten. Keeping the patient as close to “home” as possible will lessen the common perception that they are being neglected and that they will soon be just part of a memory. It will definitely improve the patient’s disposition and slow down the progress of the disease if they are regularly visited by friends and family.