dementia care melbourne

Dementia Care Melbourne

Dementia Care Services Melbourne

There is no denying that coping with dementia can be incredibly difficult for the entire family. Of course, it is incredibly hard for the person who has been diagnosed with the illness. However, it can also be a massive strain on the family too, as it is so hard to see the person you love forget about the people they love and their memories, as well as all of the other symptoms that come with this condition. This is why it is a good idea to make the most of professional dementia home care services from an experienced provider. Here at Dementia Caring, we provide dementia care services Melbourne and dementia care Australia wide.

We are one of the leading dementia home care providers in Australia. We have many years of experience, and we provide dementia care exclusively. This means that all of our efforts and training are focused on assisting people suffering from this condition, which should reassure you that your loved one is going to get the level and type of care that is right for them. One thing we recognise is that caring for dementia differs from person-to-person. This is not only because we have different personalities and needs but it is also because there are many different types of dementia and dementia impacts people in different ways. This is something that we have a lot of experience in. it is our aim to provide dementia care in a manner that is comfortable and effective for everyone. Read on to discover more about dementia and dementia care services, and please do not hesitate to give us a call if you would like to get started.

What is dementia?

There is only one place to begin, and this is by delving into dementia and how it impacts people in further detail. In basic terms, dementia is a form of damage to the brain. However, because there are so many different parts of the brain, this means that there are many different types of dementia – depending on the part of the brain that has been impacted and the way that it has been affected. In fact, did you know that there are more than 100 types of dementia? This is something a lot of people do not realise. In fact, they assume that dementia and Alzheimer’s is the same thing. It is understandable why you may assume that this is the case. However, Alzheimer’s is simply a form of dementia. It is the most common form, accounting for six in every 10 cases of dementia. However, there are lots of different forms of dementia, all of which have a different impact on a person. This needs to be taken into account when providing care for someone with this illness. For example, if someone suffers from Lewy body dementia, it is not uncommon for them to become aggressive. They also need regular reassurance because they become disorientated and confused easily. However, for someone with Alzheimer’s, it is more likely for the person to have trouble when making sense of place, orientation, and time. For someone who does not have any experience in caring for someone with dementia, it can be difficult to understand how the type of dementia they are experiencing has an impact on their symptoms and their needs. However, this is something you do not need to worry about when you have the assistance of a dementia carer Melbourne from Dementia Caring.

The 7 stages of dementia

A lot of people also do not realise that there are seven different stages of dementia. This starts from stage 1, which is when the person first starts to experience symptoms associated with dementia, and this ends at stage seven, which is when the symptoms are at their most severe. We can help people through all stages of dementia. You can see a brief outline of each stage below:

Stage 1 – This is when the person first starts to experiences lapses. However, they will be able to cover them up and so they will come across as if everything is fine.

Stage 2 – This is when the individual functions normally on the whole, yet they do start to forget things.

Stage 3 – This is the stage whereby family members and friends may begin to realise that something is not quite right. The person may be anxious and they will probably be experiencing challenges in the workplace.

Stage 4 – If no one has realised that the person is suffering yet, then they will be stage 4. This is because it becomes impossible for the individual to manage their affairs on their own. They will also find it hard to travel and to count too.

Stage 5 – This is when the individual suffering from dementia finds it difficult to dress and, therefore, they need help to do so.

Stage 6 – At this stage, the individual will need help using the toilet (and they could become incontinent), and they will need help eating too. They will be disoriented and it is possible that they will start to forget people’s identities.

Stage 7 – This is the worst stage of them all. It is characterised by total disorientation, incontinence, motor stiffness, and a severe loss of speech. The individual in question will need feeding too.

Living in the past

One symptom that most people are aware of when it comes to dementia is that the person can start to forget people and forget memories. This part of the illness can be the most difficult for family members to cope with. It is important to recognize that your relative or friend still loves you; it is simply the impact that the condition is having on the memory part of their brain. Dementia sufferers experience issues with short-term memory especially, and this is why a lot of people think they are in a period of 20 or 30 years ago, for example. While it can be difficult, it is best not to correct the person. Don’t try to get them to be in the present or ask them if they remember certain memories. They will only become more distressed if they don’t. Instead, our dementia carers Melbourne will focus on helping your loved one to experience and live as good of a life as possible irrespective of the time period they believe it is.

What can you expect from dementia care Melbourne?

Now that you have a good understanding regarding what dementia is and how it has an impact on someone, it is important to take a look at what you can expect when you are assigned a dementia carer Melbourne from our team. Dementia care is all about ensuring your relative or friend gets the support that they need so that they can keep on living in their own property. Here at Dementia Caring, we believe that a person’s home is the best environment for them to have a comfortable and happy life while maintaining as much independence as possible.

We can help you and your family by providing dementia home care throughout Melbourne and Australia. No matter whether you need consistent care or you simply require someone to pop in and see your loved one every morning, we are more than happy to adapt our service to suit you and your family. We provide a wide range of services to ensure a comfortable and healthy life. This includes the following:

  • Facilitating social interaction, activities, and hobbies
  • Tending to household tasks
  • Preparing meals
  • Helping with mobility
  • Medication support

One thing we certainly recognise is that everyone is different and we all have different needs. This is the case no matter whether a person has dementia or not. Just because someone is suffering from this condition does not mean that they no longer have their own needs and preferences. This is something that we respect and we always deliver our care services with this in mind.

Encouraging good health

One of the key parts of our dementia home care services is that we encourage good health amongst all of those that are suffering from dementia. Of course, we know that this can be harder because of the challenges dementia presents. However, it is important to ensure that your loved one leads a healthy life as is possible. You can see some more information about this below:
Vision

  • A lot of people experience problems with their vision because of dementia. It can cause them to have a very limited vision field. Therefore, unless they can see you, it can be hard for someone suffering from dementia to forget that you are in the room. This is why it is advisable to maintain eye contact and sit facing the person whenever you are communicating with them.

Sleep

  • Aside from this, someone experiencing dementia may have disturbed sleep patterns. This can be worrying because it can cause them to have a fall or a trip during the night. It is important to try and stick to a consistent bedtime routine. Having a dementia carer can help with this. You should also make sure that the bedroom is familiar and peaceful. Other tips include limiting drinks that are rich in caffeine and sugar, discouraging napping, and making sure it is easy for your loved one to tell what time of the day it is. You should also keep an eye on the amount of liquid they drink before they go to bed. Incontinence at night and needing to go to the bathroom are two of the most common reasons for sleep disturbances.

Speaking

  • Someone suffering from dementia also may start to experience difficulties and changes with regards to speech. They may become slow or stuttered. There are a number of different things you can do in this regard. This includes speaking in a simple and clear manner, giving the person plenty of time to process what you have said, and not giving them too much information at once. It is also a good idea to ask ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions. Plus, avoid confrontation at all costs. It can be very difficult for someone suffering from dementia to know why you are annoyed with them.

Eating

  • Our dementia carers will also make sure that your loved one gets the right amount of nutrients for their need. This can be difficult and frustrating for family members because dementia sufferers can often refuse meals and it can be difficult to know why. This could be because they have forgotten their tastes, for instance, or it could simply be because they are not hungry now as they have less energy to burn. Of course, you cannot simply allow your relative or friend to not eat. It can be a difficult balance, but don’t worry – you will have one of our experienced carers to assist with this.
  • Facilitating hobbies and interests
  • Finally, our dementia carers can help your loved one to facilitate their hobbies and interests. Just because someone has this illness does not mean that they will automatically lose all interest in their hobbies. They could simply need some help in terms of facilitating them, and this is what we can provide.

Contact Dementia Caring today

If you are interested in the best dementia carers Melbourne has to offer, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us for more information. We would be more than happy to assist you in any way you can, whether you need full-time care services or you would simply like someone to pop in on a daily basis. You may want to simply find out more about our service or to get our opinion on the right level of care for your relative or close friend. No matter the case, simply pick up the phone and we will be ready and waiting to assist you in any way that we can.

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Google Rating
4.5
Based on 13 reviews
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