Dementia support and resources

With hundreds of different strains of dementia, and many different stages, it’s important to have a specialist as a live-in carer. Someone who can understand the reasons why a person with dementia reacts the way they do.

Every one of our carers working in this area is a dementia specialist. They will maintain your loved one’s everyday routines, supporting in a way that makes life easier and eases the strain on your family.

Find out more about the type of specialist support that a dementia carer can provide, including issues like personal care, daily life, feelings of confusion or anxiety and challenging behaviour.

A live-in carer, specially trained in providing dementia support, will enable your loved one to live as independently as possible, helping to ease the pressure on your family. With a full understanding of the condition and its many different strains and stages, your carer will maintain your loved one’s routines and provide practical tools and techniques.

Along with assisting with personal care, administering medication, cooking meals, handling household chores and collecting the shopping, a live-in carer also provides the peace of mind that someone is there on a full-time basis. Carefully handpicked for your loved one, they can become a great source of companionship, emotional support and encouragement.

At Helping Hands, every single one of our carers is a dementia specialist. Part of their training includes a simulated experience to demonstrate what living with dementia is really like, helping them to fully understand the condition and care for people with compassion and empathy.

Contact us to find out how a specialist carer can support your family.

A trained dementia carer aims to create an environment where your loved one can live as independently as possible. Rather than taking over tasks, the emphasis is on enabling that person to complete those tasks themselves, by providing the right cues, pointers and assistance where needed.

Get in touch to discuss the one-to-one support a live-in carer can offer.

A move to a new home or change of environment can be very unsettling to someone who is living with dementia.

With a live-in carer, your loved one can stay in their home environment, in the place they’re accustomed to and that is full of memories. Their routines can stay much the same as before, with the same morning and nighttime patterns, the same type of food and eating times, plus hobbies, interests and visitors just as before.

Contact us to find out more about continuing to stay at home.

Sometimes a person with dementia can become distressed when it comes to personal care, such as washing, dressing or going to the toilet. A sign of distress is a way of communicating and should never be ignored – it it likely they are feeling embarrassed and trying to communicate this.

A live-in carer is trained to look into the cause of the stress to find the right solution.

If your loved one is refusing to eat, it could be for many reasons. It’s best to serve small portion sizes that are not intimidating. When serving food, use plain, bold crockery and separate each part of the meal on the plate so they can be easily distinguished.

Another reason for not eating can be concerns over how a meal is being prepared and a reluctance for someone else to take over. Encouraging them to get involved with cooking tasks, and allowing them to share advice, will help them to feel valued and included.

Physical or verbal aggression can be a way of your loved one letting you know that they are unhappy, scared or upset about what you are doing. If they do get frustrated, take a step back and tell them you will give them some space for a few minutes. Then return to see how they’re feeling.

A live-in carer will make a note of the occasions when your loved one becomes aggressive. It allows them to see whether a pattern is emerging so they can fully understand why it happens and then take steps to reduce any stress or upset.

Drop us a line if you want to explore getting some extra support.

Visual prompts around the home, for both rooms and hazards, can help if your loved one becomes disorientated. Likewise, flashcards for regular visitors, such as family members, their GP and your care team, can help to ease any anxiety about visitors who may feel unfamiliar.

Creating a visual planner will act as a useful memory trigger for your loved one’s daily activities. Things like shower time, mealtimes, appointments and favourite TV shows are good things to include.

Contact us to find out more practical tips for caring for someone with dementia.

Free support for your family

Call our Dementia Helpline on 0843 781 4544 if you need expert advice on dealing with the effects of dementia.