Both Home Instead and Dementia 1st aim to enable people to stay at home in their familiar surroundings, rather than move into permanent care.
The number of people affected by dementia is growing at an unprecedented rate. It’s estimated by 2051 that over 2 million people will have a diagnosis with a type of dementia
Home Instead has been providing home care for elderly people with dementia for many years and in that time, we’ve worked closely with their families, helping them to put the best and most appropriate care plan in place.
All of our Care Professionals understand how to provide care for those with dementia and we also have several Care Professionals who hold the City & Guilds accredited qualification for dementia care. However, between our visits it’s the husband, wife, partner or sometimes a family member who provides much of the care.
A person affected by dementia can need constant attention and stimulation and very often could benefit from extra support in addition to our regular visits. Various dementia community groups can provide some support, but if longer periods of respite care is needed, day care centres are a good solution.
Greg Brown, owner of Home Instead Reigate & Tandridge said, “we are most fortunate to have Dementia 1st in our area.”
Dementia 1st is an independent charity, set up in 2017 by Carole Worsfold and a board of Trustees, providing much needed day care services in four locations in East Surrey, solely for people with a diagnosis of dementia.
Greg said, “Carole and I have known each other since 2014 when I started Home Instead and Carole was working for the Alzheimer’s Society. We discovered a shared ethos about the quality of care and support that should be provided for those living with Dementia and their loved ones.”
Both Home Instead and Dementia 1st aim to enable people to stay at home in their familiar surroundings, rather than move into permanent care. The many benefits of this approach is now also being recognised by government.
Carole said, “this is a great collaboration with Home Instead, as Dementia 1st doesn’t provide home support. Our specifically trained day care and support staff provide a full day of activities, such as singing, arts and crafts, indoor sports, board games and weekly exercise classes, along with a two-course hot meal and refreshments throughout the day”.
Dementia 1st is also an important source of support and information for family carers, through monthly support groups.
Carole said, “carers tell us they see more life and animation in their loved ones when they arrive to pick them up and have benefited from a much-needed break themselves.
More information about Dementia 1st can be found here.