People living with dementia need specialist care, support, love and patience. Things may stay normal for a while, then slowly change course as life continues. They may remember less gradually or a lot all at once, it’s not always something any person can prepare for, however, it’s good to understand everything about dementia so you can make helpful decisions for those you care about the most.
At Bernash Care Home in Bristol, we provide specialist dementia care to help people living with dementia. Our aim is to ensure our residents enjoy a comfortable and enriching life that keeps them involved in the community and social events. It’s always a difficult and long decision when deciding if a person should go into a care home, so we try to make it an informed and welcoming experience.
Caring is crucial
Being a loved one may make it easier to blur the lines between doing what is needed and recognising that you are a carer for a person with dementia. However, sometimes people have external third-party carers. This caregiving scenario is still just as important as the caregiver will have a detailed understanding of the person’s routines, likes and dislikes and what makes them feel settled.Â
When it reaches the point of finding a care home for the person with dementia, it is important that every party is involved and kept up-to-date. From friends, family and the carer, you will all have valuable opinions when it comes to the care of someone living with dementia. It’s important all factors are taken into consideration and that the right amount of research is done before deciding which care home.
We pride ourselves on our fantastic services at Bernash and you can read about them here to get a better understanding of exactly what we do.
How do I know if a care home is the right thing?
There is no right or wrong time when deciding if your loved one should be put into a care home. Sometimes it’s about the person with dementia’s wishes, your own mental and emotional capacity to care for somebody or a mix of the two. At Bernash, we are not here to judge or decide for you, just simply guide you through the process and how every person is treated and looked after every day. Respite care or day care services can be a helpful way to test the waters of full time care.
Who makes the decision?
On some occasions, the person with dementia will be able to make the decision themselves, however, that is not always possible. When this can’t be done, it is between family members, friends and carers to make that decision. Legally, it will fall down to the person’s attorney, the one who makes all legal decisions with the persons with dementia’s possessions, estate and more. If you need to read more about how a lasting power of attorney can help those with dementia then click here.
Remember, your intentions are to provide the best care for your loved one, it should be a healthy and supportive discussion that we at Bernash can provide advice if and when necessary. We encourage this to be an open discussion as we know this can be a really difficult time for everyone involved. Even if the person with dementia cannot make the overall decision, it’s good to discuss the process with them, after all, they may have their preferences about where they want to go, how close they are to friends and family when they come to visit etc.
What will happen once we decide on a care home?
Once the arrangements have been made to move the person with dementia to a residential care home, it might not always go smoothly. The person may forget the arrangements you made and it will be up to you to reduce the anxieties. Remind them of the plans you spoke of, that they will be looked after and receive visits from friends and family. You may feel guilty but you will have to remind yourself of what led you to this decision, reminding yourself of the support and care the person of dementia will receive whilst alleviating pressure on you and other friends and family members.
Discuss with your care home what is best for the person with dementia, you may not visit them for the first week so they can get settled into their new life and routine. Care homes and their staff are equipped to deal with every scenario so they can help with suggestions and guidance if you’re not sure. Never be afraid to ask the difficult questions.
Find out more about Bernash and our services for people with dementia and how we can help provide them with comfort and all medical needs.