Dementia & Alzheimer's care at home

We understand that when managing Dementia, consistency of routine is everything.

At Distinguished Homecare we are highly experienced in supporting all types of Dementia sufferers, through detailed and tailored care plans and providing specialist training for our carers in this complex field. We understand that when managing Dementia, consistency of routine is everything. This is why we offer dependable support and a one-to-one relationship with a reliable and experienced carer, whose specialist focus is invaluable to the service that they provide.



Why is dementia care so important?

Whether you may be in the early stages, or a loved one is more advanced, we encourage participation through activities and attending events. With an active interest in current news and developments, our carers adopt the latest methods to interact and reminisce, often using such techniques with photographs, music and games to stimulate memory.

Comfortable and familiar surroundings are a crucial element for the effective care of this condition, enabling sufferers the maximum level of stability. When a trusted relationship is formed with an experienced carer within your home, it reinforces a relaxed environment. As a result, our care team are carefully chosen for their ability to build the rapport that underpins this important connection.

Common types of dementia

• Alzheimer's disease
  
• Vascular dementia
  
• Dementia with Lewy bodies
• Frontotemporal dementia
  
• Mixed dementia

Why should you receive care specifically for people living with Alzheimer’s?

The term Alzheimer's is defined as a neurological disease, symptoms of which will often include loss of memory, problems with reasoning and planning, and personality changes. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. People with Alzheimer’s develop an accumulation of protein in the brain creating ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’, which damage the connections between nerve cells. Alzheimer’s sufferers also have a deficiency of certain chemicals which serve to transmit signals around the brain, further reducing brain function.

Early-Stage Symptoms

• Short-term memory loss
• Difficulty with routine/familiar tasks
• Speech/language issues
• Confusion/disorientation

Middle-Stage Symptoms

• Longer term memory loss and forgetting basic personal information such as name or birthday
• Personality and changes in behaviour such as paranoia or compulsive
• Confusion surrounding dates/times
• Bladder and bowel issues
• Disturbed sleep patterns

Late-Stage Symptoms

• Inability to perform daily activities without a high level of support and assistance
• Difficulty with sitting, walking and, eventually, swallowing
• Increased trouble communicating
• Vulnerability to other illnesses or infections
• Complete loss of awareness of people and environment

Diagnosis...

Although there is no simple test for Alzheimer’s or a single cause, diagnosis can almost always be carried out using a range of medical examinations including blood tests, neurological and physical evaluations and a review of the patient’s medical history.

Diagnosis will usually begin with an assessment by a GP, who will take details of the symptoms exhibited, conduct some basic physical tests and also carry out blood and possibly urine tests. Based on their findings, they may then refer you to a specialist, who will likely be one of the following depending on age, symptoms and availability of the consultant.

The consultant will usually form part of a wider team which focusses on a particular area of speciality, and will include a number of doctors who are at different stages of training in that area.

The consultant to whom you are referred will not always be the person that you see for an assessment, but they are ultimately responsible for your case, and will take a suitably close overview, while also working closely with other healthcare professionals, such as social workers, occupational therapists, and advisors who specialise in Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.