Is Dementia a Mental Illness?   It’s a common question, but one that is difficult to answer: is dementia a mental illness? There are many reasons why dementia presents as a mental illness but also many reasons why it isn’t. Here we look at why it’s not a straightforward issue. The terminology of dementia The first issue when deciding if dementia is a mental illness is that the term ‘dementia’ is actually an umbrella term for different conditions causing a common set of symptoms, such as Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms are a result of declines in brain functioning. This would make dementia a neurological condition, rather than a mental illness. However, the reason many ask ‘Is dementia a mental illness?’ is because many of the symptoms of dementia are similar to some mental illnesses. And, indeed, some mental illnesses (such as depression) are more common with dementia. Is dementia a mental illness in the eyes of the NHS? In the UK, we don’t categorise illnesses in such a clear cut way, and instead predominantly look to manage the symptoms, whatever their cause, with illnesses like dementia. However, the American Psychiatric Association maintains a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders […]

How to Get an Elderly Person into a Care Home: A Guide for Families   Knowing what type of care home is needed, what level of care is required, how it will be paid for and how to physically make the move, are all concerns loved ones have when faced with elder care. All of these concerns come under the umbrella of how to get an elderly person into a care home. Here we look at everything from your first steps and early questions about types of care through to making the move itself, so that you know how to get an elderly person into a care home with minimal stress or difficulty. How do you know a care home is needed? Moving an elderly person into a care home is a huge decision. It’s not just costly, but you may have concerns about whether it’s necessary, the right setting for them, or how to encourage your elderly relative to consider other care options. It is generally best to consider a care home for an elderly person if they are struggling to live alone at home. It may be possible to mitigate some of those difficulties with help and support […]

full Her Majesty The Queen will mark her 70th anniversary as monarch with a weekend of festivities.   The May Bank Holiday Weekend will be moved to Thursday 2 June and an additional Bank Holiday on Friday 3 June will see a four-day weekend to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – the first time any British monarch has reached this historic milestone.   This historic event will reflect on Her Majesty’s reign, and her impact on the UK and the world since 1952.   As well as events in London and other major cities, communities across the UK and Commonwealth will be able to celebrate at a national and local level. Here at Eastleigh Care Homes we have a fun filled long weekend including a Garden Party, a variety of performers and plenty of games.    Our East Street home has been busy decorating ready for the big event.    XQfqevYQQIQ https://eastleighcarehomes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220603_141443.mp4

Government guidance on managing Covid concerns in care homes was withdrawn last month. This is great news in many ways, but has left many confused about what care home Covid rules they need to follow. While there are no government-led care home Covid rules, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any rules governing visits. This is because individual care homes still have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of their residents. As such, they may have their own rules and these can vary from home to home. However, there are some general principles which should govern the individual care home Covid rules that are in place. This helps you to determine what is fair, but also give you peace of mind that adequate safeguarding of your loved ones is taking place. Care home visits are important The overriding principle that should lie behind all care home Covid rules is that visits from loved ones to care home residents should be considered important. At Eastleigh Care Homes, we value the enormous contribution of visitors for our residents. They contribute to the wellbeing of residents, help them feel valued and cherished, and also add to the sense of community in our homes. […]

It can be a hard step to take, but acknowledging that a dementia day care centre can help your loved one is invaluable. The very best dementia day care centre can improve quality of life, help keep an individual safe and feeling valued, stimulate and engage, and also offer peace of mind and reassurance to the family. The important thing to know is when they are being helpful, but also being able to recognise when it’s time to consider more comprehensive care. Dementia day care centres – what are they? Day centres are a place the elderly can go to during the main part of the day for companionship, activities, support and a good meal. A dementia day care centre is similar, but it focuses on supporting those with a diagnosis of dementia and the structure and activities at the centre will cater for these needs. Using a dementia day care centre ensures someone living with dementia gets support, stimulation and a good meal, while retaining the independence of still living at home. It can offer respite to family carers, especially if they are working themselves. They bring together others in the community living with dementia. A typical day at […]

Preparing for care home visits are a vital part of ensuring the wellbeing of a care home resident. However, to make care home visits go smoothly, it is essential that you know what to expect and how to prepare. Armed with this knowledge and by taking a prepared approach, you can ensure that the visit is worthwhile and enjoyable for both the care home resident and the visitors. When to visit Care homes often have designated visiting hours. These are determined around the routine of the home, ensuring that your visit takes place when your loved one isn’t busy being washed, dressed, eating or enjoying a scheduled activity. You will need to establish the best time that works around your loved one’s needs and your schedule. However, for those with dementia, morning or middle of the day visits work best. At this point, your loved one is likely to be most alert and refreshed and able to engage more easily. Be aware that evening visits may be characterised by agitation. If this is the case, speak with the care staff about how this can be managed. Emotionally prepare If you are emotionally preparing for care home visits then they are […]

A common question for those with dementia and their loved ones is: is staying at home or moving into a specialist dementia care home best? There are pros and cons to both arrangements, but often it comes down to judging when dementia care in your own home isn’t practical, safe or most beneficial for the individual living with dementia. Dementia care in your own home may enable you to live largely independently for many years, but often there comes a point when it is in your own interests to have more comprehensive care provided in a care home setting. It can be a difficult decision, but feeling in control of it is important. Here we look at everything you need to know about dementia care in your own home so that you can make the best decisions for your future. The pros and cons of dementia care in your own home · Familiar environment Your home is, of course, your most familiar environment and this is a huge draw for remaining at home. This can be very reassuring in the short term. It allows you to retain independence for as long as possible. However, over time, it may become apparent […]

When choosing a care home for your loved one, it’s important that you feel confident in your choice. You can look around the home and chat to staff. This is essential for seeing what the home is like and envisaging your loved one living there. However, beyond this, care home reviews can be a really valuable way of getting a good insight into what the home is like. There are a number of sources of care home reviews in the UK. However, you need to be a little wary to ensure you are looking at genuine reviews which haven’t been filtered. It’s important to seek out independent reviews. To ensure that you are getting clear, authentic and unbiased care home reviews we recommend two sources: Carehome.co.uk reviews and the relevant Care Quality Commission (CQC) report for the target care home. Be very wary of Google reviews which are peppered with marketing, spam and biased information. Also be very wary if reviews provided are based solely on feedback cards given to residents and their loved ones in a home, and then published elsewhere. This system is fraught with bias! You are likely to only see positive reviews and others will have […]

A diagnosis of dementia can leave you concerned and in need of a range of support. In addition, you may have learned that staying as active and engaged as possible can help you manage the disease, and even slow down memory loss. As such, you are probably keen to track down dementia support groups in the UK for yourself or a loved one. Unfortunately, finding dementia support groups wherever you live in the UK is actually quite a complex process, which is far from what you need. As such, we’ve tried to bring together the relevant information and services here, so that you can find the dementia support groups that will help you best. The types of dementia support groups available Here we most focus on dementia support groups for individuals living with dementia. These groups range in type from social meet up groups through to classes, singing, art and trips. In addition, support is available for loved ones and carers and we touch on this later in the article. It can be helpful to be signposted to different dementia support groups in your area. Speak to your healthcare provider as they often have recommendations. In reality, the number and […]

How does poor sleep affect our health? Recent studies indicate that a third of Brits sleep for just five to six hours a night, which is significantly less than the general recommendation of seven to eight hours. Also, many people assume that as their pace of life slows down after retirement, we need less sleep. However, research suggests that our bodies need a constant amount of sleep throughout their adult lives.     Poor sleep can lead to weight gain Sleep deprivation has been shown to trigger weight gain, in addition to genetics and diet, as our bodies use leptin to regulate metabolism, appetite, and calorie intake. When you are sleep deprived, your body doesn’t produce enough leptin, causing your brain to believe that you don‘t have enough energy. You tell yourself you‘re hungry and consume more calories than you need to fuel your body in the future. This process can be especially challenging for older people who are less active because they find it more difficult to combat any weight gain that occurs as their metabolism slows. Poor sleep can be bad for the immune system When we age our immune system becomes increasingly vulnerable to common colds. Lack of sleep adds another dimension to further weaken the immune system‘s ability to fight viruses, since fewer antibodies are released when we don‘t sleep enough. A recent study found that those who sleep for less than five hours a night are 4.5 times more likely to get ill compared those who got more than seven hours. A lack of sleep increases the risk of serious illness Interestingly, long-term sleep deprivation has been linked to an increased […]