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Advice to other carers of people living with dementia
Make the most of what you have and be flexible in your response to changes in behaviour. Be prepared to put yourself second. {media 27990}...
Every person we interviewed talked about the kind of care they suggested and recommended to other people in a caring role. They talked about how it was important to get the right balance between the person’s preferences and protecting their safety. Many people found the person living with dementia became settled more quickly if they were able to cater to their preferences.
Jazz described cultural competency as part of the care package that she set out when she began to support her former employee. Understanding a person’s background, their likes, dislikes and preferences is an important step to provide impactful care.
Neil described the challenges around staff’s negative attitudes towards his civil life partner who began to lose weight rapidly. He talks about how he intervened and encouraged his partner to eat.
Helen who is caring from a distance describes the need to have more diverse activities for people living with dementia. She thought the available activities in her area would not suit her mother’s preferences.
Jenny talks about how to find the right balance between what her mother’s care needs are and weighs it with what her mother may want for her care.
Kiran, who was a young carer supporting her grandmother, found it difficult to navigate services for people who did not speak English. She took on a role to interpret as hospital interpreters were not regularly available. She felt services could provide more reliable support to people who had additional needs.
Make the most of what you have and be flexible in your response to changes in behaviour. Be prepared to put yourself second. {media 27990}...