Caring for someone with dementia takes a physical, emotional and mental toll. But with years of experience, Home Instead is here to help you with whatever you need.
Dementia is becoming ever more prevalent in older people as we start to live longer. But we’re also getting more adept in recognising the signs and achieving an early diagnosis. With or without a diagnosis, people still need help retaining as much independence as possible. Early support can help families establish care as part of a daily routine, helping those with memory loss to remain independent. At Home Instead we know how challenging it is caring for someone with dementia, but our years of experience mean we are experts in providing effective, compassionate and dignified dementia care at home.
Our approach to dementia care is pioneering. We’ve developed a unique programme for Care Professionals accredited by City & Guilds that is specialised for the home care environment. Created by ageing experts, dementia specialists and key medical practitioners from across the world, it means you can rest assured your loved ones are receiving the best possible care.
Our relationship-centred approach provides personalised care that:
We've helped thousands of families to stay safe, comfortable and happy at home. Whatever situation you're facing, or whatever the question is, Home Instead is here to help.
Are you in need of a little guidance right away?
03300 583450Are you in need of a little guidance right away?
03300 583450Let's have a chat to
see how we can help
Dementia is a medical term for a collection of symptoms ranging from memory loss to impaired communication. It is caused by several conditions affecting neurons in the brain and includes Alzheimer’s disease or Vascular dementia. If a person has dementia, their neurons are damaged which means electrical messages cannot be sent efficiently across them, which can impair some or all functions of the body.
The effects of dementia are often small to start with, but over time they can become severe enough to affect someone’s day-to-day life. The persons symptoms will greatly depend on two primary factors; the parts of the brain affected, and the nature of the disease causing the dementia, but it can be extremely debilitating and distressing.
Dementia care is about understanding the condition and the many symptoms that can occur, each person living with dementia will have their own, unique experiences and challenges. Providing care to the whole person, not just the dementia symptoms means understanding what that individual’s real world is and joining them in it , expressing empathy when needed and showing smiles, and providing warmth and positive support.
As the saying goes, “Home is where the heart is”, and the best place for a person living with dementia is in their own home. This is where they will feel secure and comfortable, surrounded by their familiar possessions and loved ones.
Home Instead can provide flexible care to support you and your loved one, for a few hours a week, a few hours a day or 24 hour “live in” care. Combined with knowledge and expert care from our dedicated dementia Care Professionals to give you peace of mind.
Supporting refugees with Family Dementia guide
Discover more
Early warning signs of dementia to look for in the elderly
Discover more
What’s the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's?
Discover more
A guide to dementia care
Discover more
How technology can support somebody living with dementia
Discover more
Eating well whilst living with dementia
Discover more
With the right care and support, a person living with dementia can be as independent as possible. It can enable them to live happily and securely in their own home, in familiar surroundings, surrounded by people they know.
Yes. We understand how difficult it can be caring for someone living with dementia but we have years of experience in helping families cope with the situation at home. Our City & Guilds Assured dementia training programme means our Care Professionals are trained to care for all sorts of people living with dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, followed by Vascular dementia and then Lewy body dementia.
Today, more than 850,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, including over 520,000 with Alzheimer’s disease. Not everybody knows that the two terms are far from interchangeable. Dementia is not a disease, but it is caused by a range of diseases affecting the brain, including Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a disease, and is the most common cause of dementia.
When someone is diagnosed with dementia, it is often assumed that keeping their beloved pet is impossible. This is not necessarily the case. Studies have shown that pets have actually been known to increase the health of those with dementia while providing them with a friend to spend their time with. Owning a cute and cuddly companion can even be an essential part of their daily routine. Before jumping to any conclusions, it may be beneficial to review all of your options when it comes to this important decision.
An unexpected diagnosis can be frightening or difficult, and some might discover that they want their pet to remain by their side. After considering the following factors, you may find that there are other alternatives to immediately giving up a best friend.
For people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, lack of stimulation and boredom can be one of the most frustrating things. It’s important to provide activities that engage and bring pleasure to people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Stimulating activities can help keep them in high spirits and prevent them from developing depression, whilst lessening anxiety and irritability.
Activities should aim to:
If you have a relative with dementia – perhaps you are their carer – you may be aware that at some point you might find yourself dealing with aggressive behaviour from them. This is a prospect that many people fear, but there are ways to cope with such challenging behaviours.
The early stages of dementia are not always obvious, and symptoms and problems might develop slowly. To add to these difficulties, early signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia are frequently easy to dismiss as a normal sign of ageing. However, if you know what to look out for, you can keep an eye on yourself and your loved ones and identify symptoms early. This will allow you to get the medical advice early on and work out care ahead of time.
For a person with dementia, Christmas poses challenges that include disruption to a routine, confusing changes to décor and the layout of a home, and the pressure to be social over extended periods of time. When somebody’s memory or cognitive skills are deteriorating, they will find these tasks especially difficult; it is important that they are catered for in the most sensitive ways possible.
By looking at each potential challenge in turn, we have suggested some ways to manage these difficulties and have a successful Christmas without causing your loved one with dementia distress or exacerbating their confusion.