Watching a loved one succumb to the effects of dementia is heart breaking. There comes a point when you will need more help. Knowing how to arrange dementia care can be difficult.
Where to start
Firstly, be honest with yourself about when more help is needed. Very few relatives can adequately meet the needs of their loved one with dementia whilst also meeting their own needs, and perhaps those of other dependents. There’s no shame in this, and help is available.
A good starting point is to get a Care Needs Assessment from your local council. This will determine the level of care that your loved one needs and can form the basis for deciding on the right care. We strongly recommend choosing a specialist dementia care home, like our Raleigh Mead home.
A Care Needs Assessment is useful, even if you intend to pay for care privately. It outlines what is needed and offers a skilled and informed insight into what is realistically needed, both now and in the near future.
It is also useful to read the NHS guide to dementia as this will help you feel informed.
Financial support for dementia care
Your loved one may be entitled to some financial support to help pay towards their dementia care. The most likely benefit will come in the form of Attendance Allowance and/or a personal budget. If they are under state retirement age then they may be entitled to Personal Independence Payment.
The additional benefit of a Care Needs Assessment is that they will point you in the right direction for accessing financial help. It’s done by your local adult social services, under your local council. You can find your local council here.
Specialist dementia care
Not all social care provisions offer specialist dementia care, yet for someone with dementia it can make an enormous difference.
In our specialist dementia home in the South West, we offer a dedicated dementia care service. Residents are cared for using specialist therapies, such as reminiscence therapy, and even the furniture and lighting is cutting-edge for minimising distress and difficulties in those with dementia. Choosing specialist dementia care can ensure that the confusion and difficulties faced by those with dementia are minimised.
How to get extra support for dementia
We know that supporting a loved one who suffers from dementia is an incredibly difficult and stressful time. You may feel isolated, overwhelmed or like you don’t know what to do. A specialist dementia care home supports the family, as well as the sufferer.
There are also other avenues for help. You can get help, advice and support from:
- The Alzheimer’s Society National Dementia Helpline – 0300 222 1122.
- Dementia UK’s Helpline – 0800 888 6678.
- Age UK’s Advice Line – 0800 055 6112.
Look after yourself
Arranging dementia care for a loved one can be a difficult process. It’s important that you remember to care for yourself as well. Speak to your own GP if you are struggling, and make sure you have a reliable support network around you.
Once care is arranged, you will find that your relationship with your loved one can become more rewarding and focused once more, without all of the care needs falling on you.
