Caring for Dementia – A Carer’s Experience

One of our carers wanted to relay this story about a client who has dementia. The small ways regular contact with a companion carer can make a big difference to their lives.

Living With Dementia

I have the privilege to care for a number of clients who have dementia. They are all very different and some can be very challenging as well. People with dementia all have different symptoms. They can be forgetful – something we usually associate with dementia – but there can be other issues too.

One of the symptoms many people don’t think about is loss of mobility. As a person’s brain stops sending messages to the rest of their body in the same way, they begin to lose some of their functions. They can need help moving around, getting up and dealing with everyday normal tasks. I often have to help people clean themselves, dress themselves, feed themselves and so on.

Another symptom is that people’s personalities can be changed through this disease. They can become more placid, less engaged and they can stop wanting to do things. Or they can become more irritable, and sometimes very difficult indeed.

Finding ways to deal with challenging behaviour

I have a lovely client, who I spend time with, who has dementia. My role is to encourage him to have a shower and get dressed for the day.

His dementia affects his moods which can make him very anxious, frustrated and his behaviour can be quite challenging during these times. Quite often he can be stubborn and difficult. It’s a symptom of the disease affecting him. But managing his behaviour and helping him do what he needs to, requires patience and lots of creative thought.

During the last few weeks I have tried many different ways to enable him to make his own decisions regarding his showering. Unfortunately, many of these don’t always work and I’ve constantly had to try new ways to prompt him to get up. That is, until 2 weeks ago.

“One Day My Prince Will Come!”

A fortnight ago, he wouldn’t get out of bed at all and was being very stubborn about it too. So I decided to try something new. I simply said to him that I needed my Prince Charming to get ready as I needed to go the ball!

He looked at me quite surprised, so I carried on with the game and talked about Sleeping Beauty and how she had needed her Prince Charming to take her to the ball. I suggested to him that he could be my Prince Charming.

He clearly rather liked that idea! He gave me a lovely smile, got up and went to the bathroom for his shower.

After he had got dressed I thanked him and said that I was now ready to go to the ball with MY Prince Charming. He gave me a hug and we went downstairs. Throughout the rest of the morning,  he kept laughing at me whenever I called him my Prince Charming.

More than just everyday care …

Even though a client’s conversation can be limited at times, there are always new ways to engage them and to work with them. In this case, I discovered a funny and silly way to engage with him worked really well. Laughing at me encouraged him to make some sort of conversation and it put a big smile on his face at the same time.

His wasn’t the only face that was smiling, either, mine was too, because we had achieved our goal. Not only had he got up and showered and cleaned himself, he’d been able to think, to remember, to laugh and to spend time really interacting with another person. This is true companionship, which is such an important part of my role as a carer.

Creative Care from Right at Home, Stockport & Didsbury

When people first hear that someone they love has dementia, there’s usually a lot of fear. People get worried that they will lose their loved one completely. Everyday care can often be required. But what is also required is companionship, interaction and engagement to help them through the disease.

At Right at Home, Stockport and Didsbury, the care we offer is more than just performing everyday tasks. Real care invovles knowing and helping the whole person. And that can mean finding new and creative ways to engage them, make them laugh, brighten up their day and give them the support they need.

Our loved ones need care that goes beyond the everyday, when they live with issues like dementia. With Right at Home, Stockport and Didsbury, we make sure that we offer quality care that goes beyond the ordinary, making a real difference every day.

If you’d like to find out more about the care and support we offer, contact us today.