Share |

A Straightforward Process For Choosing The Right Dementia Residential Home

Monday, August 6, 2012

If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, you have probably learned to accept the inevitable truth that at one point or another they will no longer be able to live independently. It may well be the time for you to capitulate to the idea of dementia care homes.

To witness a loved one progressively lose their memory and fail to connect with people around them is heart-breaking, to say the least. 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.

It is not unusual for family members to feel inadequate to provide the level of care that the dementia patient requires. This is when dementia care homes and professional care becomes a necessity.

However, you can make a well-informed decision by taking into consideration the following factors.

Determine the kind and level of care the patient requires. This depends on the severity of the patient's dementia condition.

Consider the budget before making the final decision. Although some facilities may demand huge fees, there are dementia care homes that are government funded. Do a comparative cost analysis of several possible choices prior to picking one.

As described on the care homes portal, along with amenities, you should check the standard of services provided in the home, which includes sanitation, hygiene, room condition, quality of food and the expertise of the staff. It is highly recommended that you actually go to the care home and physically inspect the structure and services being offered. In addition to environment stability and good quality amenities, you have to ensure that the care home staff are able to assist the patient in managing routine activities such as sleeping at the appropriate time, finding their way to the stairs or bathroom, and not forgetting to perform daily tasks.

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 is very essential for the care home to be in your vicinity. Convincing a patient to live in a care facility can be a real challenge for several reasons, among the most prevalent of which is their anxiety that they won't see their loved ones anymore. It is important, therefore, to pick a care home closer to other family members so that the patients can be visited regularly.

0 comments: