By Marco Polledri of Radfield Home Care
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an opportunity to improve our understanding of dementia and consider how we support those living with it.
For me, this is personal. My grandmother had Alzheimer’s and, as her condition progressed, she seemed to disappear into a world of her own. She lived in a care home, and it was painful to feel the person we knew becoming harder to reach. That experience has stayed with me, and is one reason I feel so strongly about helping people remain in their own homes for as long as it is safe and right for them.
Through my work in home care, I have learned that a dementia diagnosis can easily become the first thing others notice. Yet the person remains an individual with a lifetime of experiences, relationships, preferences and stories. Dementia may affect memory, communication and behaviour, but it does not erase identity.
Good dementia care begins with curiosity. What matters to this person? How have they lived their life? What makes them smile or causes anxiety? Which routines help them feel secure? Familiar surroundings cannot remove the effects of dementia, but they can provide reassurance. A favourite chair, a well-known view, treasured photographs, or the familiar rhythm of the day can help someone retain a sense of comfort and connection.
Understanding these details allows care to be shaped around the individual, rather than expecting the individual to fit around the care. This belief shapes the care I want us to provide at Radfield Home Care.
Email marco.polledri@radfieldhomecare.co.uk to find out more about Radfield Home Care York & Rural.
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