Dementia Care - Elder care resource for people living with dementia

Elder Family Matters are pleased to have a formal partnership with Alzheimer Wellington to provide public and professional education for high quality dementia care in both home and residential settings.

Dementia Care
In New Zealand more than 40,000 people have a diagnosed 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 or those people that mask their memory loss.

Progress in dementia treatment
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.
 
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). However in the foreseeable future support for people living with dementia (including the families affected) will be based on ‘socio-ceuticals’ of care, love, respect, communication skills, patience, and shared experiences.

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. 

This is the reason why Elder Family Matters has developed a Specialist Memory Loss and Dementia Care Service.
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 a skilled and qualified Memory Loss Dementia Care Manager who can provide advice and guidance related to Dementia. This advice may include:

• Communication strategies
• Safety strategies around the home
• Dealing with challenging behaviours
• Processes for assessing capacity
• Keeping track of where your loved ones is
• Looking after yourself to keep strong in your carer role
• Planning carer responses to regular challenging situations 
• Planning next steps E.g. additional care at home, respite care, transitioning to or from residential care

Elder Family Matters has Carers with the skills and qualifications to assist with the practical aspects of supporting an person with memory loss. These aspects may include:
· regular stimulation including physical and cognitive activity
· safe transport to places of significance
· setting up the home for their safety
· ensuring adequate nutrition and hydration
· support with personal cares
· companionship with people who care and listen.

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.
 
Elder Family Matters’ Carers - skilled and qualified
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. We train our Carers to complete the level 4 Careerforce qualification in Dementia Care. Elder Family Matters are registered with Careerforce to train and assess the competence of Carers working towards industry qualifications.

If you live in the wider Wellington region (including Wellington city, Hutt Valley, Kapiti coast, 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

Presentation at Alzheimer’s New Zealand Conference
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).

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