Five Easy Ways to Communicate with Someone with Dementia

As Dementia progresses the part of the brain which deals with speech and understanding starts to become affected.  It  becomes increasingly difficult for the person with Dementia to make sense of the world around them.  The ability to process information decreases, concentration reduced and they become unable to recognise what is being said to them or to articulate what they want.  It's all too easy for carers to become frustrated and angry when their loved one seems to have difficulty with even simple communication.  Here are five easy ways to ensure that communication with someone with Dementia is not a continuing battle.

The Truth about Handwashing

In recent years there has been a rise in the sale of hand sanitisers, antibacterial soaps and wipes etc and it is easy to become confused as to what is the best way to prevent infection. The easiest and best way to prevent infection is to wash your hands frequently and properly.

Keeping Safe and Well at Home

Looking after an elderly person at home is rewarding and maintains independence but keeping him/her safe at home can be challenging.  This post gives some tips on  ensuring that the elderly person is safe and well at home and reducing stess for carers.

What Carers should know about Incontinence

I remember many years ago the shock of discovering that my elderly mother had become incontinent. It just seemed an impossible situation and looking after her as a carer, I wish I'd known then what I know now. The majority of people who suffer incontinence are over sixty and older people are much more liable to become incontinent because of weakened pelvic muscles, enlarged prostrate glands in men, recurrent uniarary tract infections or simply that they have slowed down and cannot get to the loo quick enough!

Four Ways to Help Someone with Dementia to Eat Well

If you are looking after someone with Dementia you may find that he/she  is no longer interested in food or  forgets to eat regularly or drink enough fluids. . Many people with dementia experience poor appetite and this can greatly affect their health and well being.  Not eating properly can  result in weight loss, increased infections, greater confusion and a lack of energy.  To eat well and healthily the person with dementia should have  a wide range of nutritious food, enough vitamins and minerals, enough fibre, plenty of fluids and very importantly too,....choices which make eating an enjoyable experience.

How to Find Good Homecare Part 2 - Getting a Good Service

Once you have a list of likely companies  do some background research - do they have a website or any literature they can send you?  Find out as much as you can about the companies on your list and then make a shortlist of  2-3 companies you think would be able to potentially provide you with a good service within your area.  Invite them to come and see you in your home (where they will be working), ask them to tell you more about their services and how they operate and ask for a quote for a likely schedule of care for a week (you don't want any surprise bills!).

How to Find Good Homecare Part 1 - Finding a Care Service

What do you do when you think that you may be needing some assistance in the home?  Perhaps  you have had an accident or just come out of hospital after an operation.  Perhaps you are finding that as you get older that those regular  heavy jobs around the house (lifting a basket of washing or carrying the hoover upstairs) is just getting a little too much.  Maybe you have an elderly relative who has been diagnosed with a long term illness and can no longer take care of the house and also needs help with personal care but doesn't want to go into a residential home?  Where on earth do you start?