Dementia is a progressive disease, but the rate of symptom progression varies between cases. Changes often happen gradually, and it can be difficult to tell whether your loved one requires help to continue living independently at home or not.
Recognising the early signs that extra care at home is needed can help you make suitable arrangements before your loved one becomes unsafe. Today, we’ll explore how you can judge whether it’s the right time to seek dementia care at home.
Early Signs that Someone Needs Dementia Care
Dementia is often categorised into three stages: early, middle and late. The early stage of dementia can often span several years, and individuals won’t often need routine care to live independently. The only symptom they might experience is mild cognitive impairment.
However, as the condition progresses, you may notice that your loved one requires more assistance with everyday life.
Early signs that they may need dementia care include:
- Increased forgetfulness
- Confusion about time and place
- Changes in mood or behaviour
- Difficulty managing daily tasks
- Neglected personal hygiene
You may also notice increased safety concerns, such as your loved one leaving appliances on or wandering outside of the home. They may forget to take medication on time, which can exacerbate symptoms. These are all signs that extra support could be needed at home.
What Is the Difference Between Dementia Care at Home and In a Care Home?
When considering care services for your loved one with dementia, the main options are often live-in care at home or in a residential care home. The main difference between these options lies in the setting, level of support and daily structure.
Dementia Care at Home
Dementia care at home allows your loved one to remain in their comforting, familiar surroundings, which can help reduce confusion and improve memory. Care is tailored to each individual’s routine. At Country Cousins, our carers will work with you to create a living care plan that can be developed and altered as needs change.
Dementia care at home is excellent for supporting independent living and emotional security. Your loved one may also feel more comfortable remaining at home, rather than being uprooted to a new home.
Dementia Care in a Care Home
Dementia care offered in a care home provides 24-hour professional support in a structured environment. Staff are trained to manage complex symptoms and needs, medication and safety concerns.
Care homes also provide social interaction and planned activities to help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. However, moving into a care home can be emotionally challenging, and the environment may feel less personal at first.
When Should You Start Seeking Dementia Care at Home?
The decision to organise professional care for your loved one isn’t easy, especially when they’re hesitant to welcome a new carer into their home. However, there often comes a point where specialist dementia care becomes the safest option.
Every case is unique, but if you notice your loved one exhibiting the following symptoms, it might be time to consider dementia care at home:
Frequent Disorientation or Confusion
Your loved one may become increasingly confused about their location or the time of day. They might get confused about the date and year, and struggle to recognise familiar places. As this begins occurring, they may need the consistency and supervision that dementia care at home provides.
Increased Social Isolation or Loneliness
Dementia can increase feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially as symptoms get in the way of communicating with loved ones and seeing friends on a regular basis. A live-in carer can provide constant companionship to boost their mood and reduce social isolation.
Safety Concerns
Individuals with middle- and late-stage dementia may start exhibiting concerning behaviours, such as forgetting to turn the cooker off, misremembering if they locked the doors, or wandering. A live-in carer ensures your loved one remains safe while maintaining their independence.
Developing Care Needs
Dementia is a progressive condition, so care needs will develop sooner or later. As their requirements become more demanding, family and friends can struggle with the upkeep. Live-in carers are available 24 hours a day to provide compassionate, reliable assistance.
Frequent Falls or Hospital Admission
Repeated falls, missed medication or frequent hospital admissions are often signs that your loved one needs assistance at home. A live-in carer can monitor your loved one’s health, prevent falls and accidents and respond as soon as help is required.
Night-time Restlessness
Disturbed sleep is a common symptom of dementia, and a lack of sleep can exacerbate current symptoms. This can be challenging for family carers to manage, especially when they have other responsibilities to attend to during the day.
Dementia home care can provide round-the-clock support, particularly with live-in carers and overnight care. Professional carers can ensure safe night time routines to keep your loved one settled and promote good sleep patterns.
Changes in Behaviour, Mood or Emotions
Individuals with dementia often experience changes in behaviour, such as aggression, withdrawal and agitation. These emotions can be distressing for the entire family, especially when they cause the individual with dementia to lash out. Dementia carers are trained to respond with compassion and patience in a safe environment.
Carer Burnout
When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, it’s common for a close family member to become the primary carer. Caring is rewarding, but it can also be exhausting, and carer burnout can impact your health, sleep and relationships.
A live-in dementia carer can ease the pressure of caring while ensuring your loved one gets the attention they need. Whether you require short-term respite relief or complex, ongoing support, dementia care at home is essential to avoid carer exhaustion.
Neglected Basic Needs
If you notice your loved one forgetting to bathe, brush their teeth, change their clothes or eat their meals, they might require a carer to support their regular routines. Professional home care can help them maintain their dignity and well-being through reliable, gentle routines.
Decline in Overall Well-Being
When caring for a loved one with dementia, you might not notice just one increasing symptom. Instead, you may experience a gradual decline in overall well-being, accompanied by reduced engagement and increased confusion. Dementia care can provide the right structure, safety and companionship to offer stability.
How Country Cousins Can Help
At Country Cousins, we take pride in our bespoke, compassionate live-in dementia care services. Our fully trained and experienced carers can provide the correct level of support, tailored to your loved one’s needs, all from the comfort of home, to avoid a confusing and potentially upsetting move.
Our dementia care at home services are tailored to your loved one’s needs, generally providing:
- Assistance with daily routines, including bathing, dressing and oral hygiene
- Mobility support around the home
- Symptom management
- Light housework, cooking and laundry
- Transportation to appointments and social events
- Encouragement to continue hobbies
- Companionship and emotional support
Talk to Our Team Today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm and Saturday to Sunday 9 am to 5pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
