Elder Family Matters caring for people living with dementia

Dementia Care
In New Zealand more than 40,000 people have Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. This number is expected to reach nearly 200,000 in the next 50 years. These statistics don’t acknowledge the many thousands of families who are living at home with loved ones who have dementia. These family members require respite care. 

Progress in dementia treatment
Considerable efforts are being directed towards medical solutions e.g. ‘pharmaceuticals’ (different drug treatment), brain research (neuro-genesis – growing new brain cells from stem cells), epidemiology (identifying risk factors) and early diagnosis (assessment protocols). The good news is that the development of dementia can be significantly slowed by regular physical activity, good nutrition and stimulating activities. The old saying “use it or lose it” is pertinent for people living with dementia.
 
However in the foreseeable future support for people living with dementia (including the families affected) will be based on ‘socialceuticals’ of care, love, respect, communication skills, patience, and shared experiences.
 
Providing ‘socialceutical’ support on a full time basis can be exhausting or even completely demoralising. This can be made more difficult when the person with dementia doesn’t accept that they have a degenerative disease and go to great efforts to mask the effects.
 
Support for dementia care at home
Elder Family Matters understands these challenges for both the person with dementia and their loved ones who are also living with dementia.  People with memory loss find familiar surroundings the best place to be. Elder Family Matters helps your loved one maintain a regular routine in their home, enliven the quality of their life, and providing peace of mind for concerned families.
 
Elder Family Matters has Carers with the skills to provide additional support for family or carers of people living with dementia, or respite care so the main carer has a break from the demands of 24 hour care. Elder Family Matters can also coordinate 24 hour care for people with dementia - even 24/7. 
 
Support for people with dementia in residential facilities

Residential facilities are being developed for people with dementia and they are doing great work providing a safe and often stimulating environment. However seldom does a residential facility have the number of staff to provide personalised support.

 
Elder Family Matters provides additional one on one support for people with dementia living in residential facilities, for example, taking them on trips and outings, reconnecting them with their interests and their past, and providing outdoor activities.
 
Presentation at Alzheimer’s New Zealand conference 2010
Jude Dore and Lawrie Stewart of Elder Family Matters presented a paper titled “On Yer Bike”. This presentation discussed how Elder Family Matters maintains respect and dignity for its clients with dementia through:

• good information from and to loved ones,
• policies to ensure appropriate Carers are recruited and developed, and
• policies to ensure Client's needs and wishes are maintained.

View the PowerPoint presentation here (pdf, 640kb) and download the presentation notes here (word, 37kb).
 
Elder Family Matters’ Carers
Clients that access support from Elder Family Matters have confidence that their Carers all access training in supporting people living with dementia and their families. These Carers share actions that have worked to help our Clients and their families remain connected. EFM Carers are trained to:

• Maintain a safe environment
• Respond to changing behaviours
• Provide nutritious meals
• Provide mind-stimulating activities
• Create social interaction
• Supervise daily activities
• Communicate with families.

If you live in the wider Wellington region (including Wellington city, Hutt Valley, Kapiti coast, Wairarapa, Porirua basin) and you are looking for quality care for someone living with dementia or respite for someone who is providing care for someone living with dementia then call Elder Family Matters on 0800 321 789 or email on efm@elderfamilymatters.co.nz

For further information
Alzheimers New Zealand (www.alzheimers.org.nz)
USA National Institute on Aging (www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers)