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Being a carer is extremely challenging at the best of times, but especially when administering care to someone suffering from dementia. As a syndrome, dementia gradually impacts on the brain and its ability to function. Care has to be provided round the clock – which can obviously be mentally and physically very tiring. And watching a loved one go through this experience of steady decline is a heart-breaking and emotionally draining experience. If you’re planning to take on the role of carer for a loved one suffering from dementia, it’s important to get a plan, or a dementia care strategy drawn up and in place. If you’re planning to turn towards a specialist dementia home care agency it’s also equally important for you to get a dementia care strategy drawn up. This dementia care strategy should cover all the key areas – i.e. who’s going to responsible for managing the financial affairs of the dementia sufferer, who’s going to be in-charge of making any final decisions, as well as the type of care they’re going to opt for: home care or care in a residential home? Getting these issues dealt with – in a dementia care strategy - during the early stages of dementia is absolutely imperative. No one really wants to talk about the subject, but during the earliest stages of dementia, someone with dementia can clearly have their say and get their input on the issue heard. It’s a sound idea to discuss who in the family unit will be responsible for any key decisions. One of the focal points in a dementia care strategy, it also gives everyone within the family unit a clearly defined role. This cuts out the potential for confusion or unimportant petty arguments in the future. All this information should be noted down on paper. Another important issue that has to be dealt with is the type of care to be administered. Someone within the family unit may be ready to take on the mantel of carer. However, in other situations this might not be possible – because of work commitments, childcare commitments and so on. In these situations professional care from a home care agency may be sought. It’s something that should be discussed with the person receiving the care – what do they want? What will make them feel most comfortable? Their opinion is the most important one when drawing up a dementia care strategy. Once this has been determined it too should detailed in a dementia care strategy. You should also discuss how this care would be funded in a dementia care strategy. It may be the case that you could afford to privately fund it; for others help from local authorities and charities might be required. Mapping this out clearly in a document is certainly a recommended step to take. A dementia care strategy should ultimately outline responsibilities and a clear plan. Getting a strategy drawn up early will allow more time to be quality time to be spent caring for and focussing on the needs of a loved one. You can get help and advice when drawing up a dementia care strategy from a number of resources, including charities. A dementia care strategy should be drawn up during the early stages of the illness. This article looks at the issues that should be covered in such a strategy. For more information, visit Helping Hands.
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