Dementia Care Home: Points to keep in mind before making the final decision

Taking care of elderly with dementia at home can be challenging, but most of us don’t want to consider the idea of care homes at first. However, elderly with dementia need continued attention and skilled care, which can be difficult to provide at home in the absence of a trained caregiver. Due to this, specialised care homes might emerge as the only solution to this specific situation.

However, making the final choice regarding the right care home can be equally daunting due to the emotions involved and differing opinions. Senior Care Genie makes this process easier for families by helping families make informed decisions according to their personalised needs.

Whether you are looking for care homes or for long-term care for your loved one, these are the key things that will help you decide the best:

Expertise and training of the team

The staff of the care home will be responsible for ensuring your loved one’s safety and wellbeing.Therefore, their expertise and professionalism is the key element that you need to check. You should always ask a lot of questions and keep an eye on the staff before you decide.You should consider care homes with skilled caregivers and nursing experience. Also observe if they are polite, warm and welcoming. Dementia patients require utmost care, so ensuring the appropriate training of the staff caring is vital and should not be ignored.

Direct contact person

The caregivers in the care home should see the elderly more than as a mere patient and should take their unique qualities, interests, preferences and needs into account. Here the personal care also includes maintaining the dignity and respect of the elderly. Knowing the direct contact person who is in charge of taking care of your parents/grandparents will help you to get weekly reports and updates about any changes in the elderly’s behaviour. Also, you can directly share the likes and dislikes with the person to help him understand the needs of your loved one easily. 

Dementia activities

It is equally important to analyse what all dementia activities are available before picking up a care home. Activities are really important as they keep the elderly occupied and do not let boredom hit them. Physical exercises ensure that they are physically fit and mentally stimulating activities like remembering past events, places they have travelled, art and craft, etc. to keep them engaged.

Security

Elderly with dementia have the tendency to roam around and walk out of secured premises. So, the security of the care home is most important. There should be defined emergency and alert systems in all areas of the care home. 

Food and dietary requirements

The food and dining experience has a significant effect on the satisfaction levels of care home residents. So before making a final decision, you should always visit the home during meal time for a clearer understanding of the kind of meals they serve. You should check during your visit to see if residents can choose from various options. Ask someone whether they offer food options and nutritious snacks when residents ask for it. Learn how they care for the elderly who are unable to feed themselves.

Timely reports

A care house is not only responsible for caring for the elderly with dementia. Care Home staff are also required to remain in contact with families if an accident or incident occurs. A staff member should always be available to discuss any specific concerns  with family members. This should include physical and emotional problems, and you should always look for whether this support is available.

It is important to choose the right care home for elderly with dementia and the above points can help you avoid making the wrong decision. After all, your elderly loved ones deserve time, attention and the right care. You can always rely on Senior Care Genie to make such decisions more informed and convenient for you, as we have intensive experience in caring for the elderly. We first understand the health requirements of the elderly and the expectations of the families to then help them find the right senior care services.