Right at Home Solent's Dementia Support Programme: Meet Yvette
Right at Home Solent offer Dementia Support Care at Home across Fareham, Gosport, Southampton and the New Forest
Published: 04/08/2023
Right at Home Solent: Dementia Care at Home
Right at Home Solent offer various Home Care services across Southampton, Fareham, Gosport and the New Forest. One of the services is our Dementia Support Programme; at Right at Home Solent, we offer at-home support for people living with dementia to provide our Clients and their families with an improved quality of life.
Living with dementia is a big challenge for everyone involved; remember that you do not have to embark on the journey alone. Right at Home Solent offers tailored dementia support services to help your loved ones live independently.
Meet Right at Home Solent's Dementia Support Specialist Yvette
Yvette is one of Right at Home Solent's Dementia Support Specialists; she has been with Right at Home Solent since November 2022. Having volunteered in a Residential Care setting in America, Yvette has always had an interest in this line of work and supporting people's well-being; unfortunately, she was never able to find a similar role when she moved back to the UK, and the shift work never fit in with family life.
Luckily, Yvette recently found herself in a position where she was starting a new chapter of her life, one where she could work more shift-based roles and support people in the community. Initially enquiring about Companionship with Right at Home Solent, Yvette had never given Dementia Specialising much thought. After reading up on the Dementia Support Programme, Yvette became even more interested, leading her to become one of our Dementia Specialists.
Did You Know?
Yvette used to play Stoolball for Eastergate (don't worry, we didn't know what it was either). Stoolball is a sport dating back to at least the 15th century and is considered a "traditional striking and fielding sport", potentially the ancestor of cricket, baseball, softball and rounders.
Yvette is also very passionate about arts and crafts, with her latest venture being Macrame, the size of a hula hoop! You can often find Yvette out and about within nature, taking photos of fungi with her gorgeous dog Nelson, who she sometimes brings to her Clients (with their permission).
Dementia Support at Home
One of the most essential things that Yvette does is ask her Clients questions and get to know them and how she can support them. It's about being patient and understanding. Yvette found out that her Client Mr P had wanted to join the RAF when he was younger, so she tailors their activities and conversation around this, and they talk about how his life might have been if he had joined.
We try to match our CareGivers and Clients based on their interests and personality; Yvette loves singing, and sometimes she and Mr P sing at home to the Welsh Male Voice Choir. She noticed he often hums in the car and will tailor the music to his taste (though he does hum along to Pink!).
Yvette's Client struggled recently with memory after spending time in the hospital. When Yvette could see him again, he was unsure about why she was there and what they had done before. Luckily, she had taken photos, printed them off and showed him 'This is what we do'. This journal documented everything from outings to the seafront to dancing with old friends at a Coronation lunch. It helped them reconnect, and although Mr P may not have been able to remember the events exactly, he was grateful to Yvette for being able to support him and piece together some memories.
Yvette | Right at Home Dementia Support CareGiver"When I first started going over there, he would always ask if I took milk in my tea. Eventually, I noticed that he stopped asking because he remembers that I do take milk in my tea. He's learned and remembered that, so it just goes to show really, that there's a lot of merit in what we're doing and a lot of people would probably benefit a lot from it."
Yvette also volunteers for Dementia Support Hampshire, which has highlighted the importance of care and support for family and friends of those living with Dementia to Yvette, even if that support is painting a pebble, talking and having a little cry. Respite Care is also an important factor when it comes to Dementia.
Right at Home Solent Care
If you think you have what it takes to make a difference every day and you're interested in applying with us check out our available jobs and get in touch - We look forward to hearing from you.
Interested in the other services Right at Home Solent offer? Take a look and get in touch to discuss how we can help, you don't have to do this alone. Please feel free to contact us by phone at 01329 233755 or you can email us at solent@rightathome.co.uk.
