Choosing quality dementia care services
When looking for quality dementia care services for yourself or a loved one, you will find that there are many providers – such as award-winning The Good Care Group – from which to choose.
The needs of every person living with dementia will be different, and your first task when choosing quality dementia care services is to determine exactly what is required of a care provider in order to look after an individual at each stage as the condition progresses. Ideally, if at all possible, care provision should be discussed with the person with dementia in order that their wishes and requirements can be met. For this reason it is sensible to tackle the task of discussing appropriate care at the earliest possible opportunity after dementia has been diagnosed.
When evaluating the kind of care that may be required for a person with dementia, it is important to take into consideration their personal safety and their needs in terms of personal or medical care, social interaction and participation in hobbies and activities and whether or not they need constant round-the-clock supervision or simply periodic visits from a carer.
Finding appropriate dementia care service providers
There are several options open to anyone seeking quality dementia care services. Your GP, regional Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) or local authority may be able to provide suggestions, or you may choose to contact a local or national dementia-related charity such as the Alzheimer’s Society, the Contented Dementia Trust or Dementia UK. You might also seek recommendations from the families or friends of people who you know have received care.
An internet search will return a list of companies which provide 24-hour live-in care for people with dementia. This is an ideal solution for a person with dementia living on their own who wishes to remain in their own home, or for someone whose partner is unable to provide the specialist care, understanding and degree of patience needed to look after them as the condition progresses.
The website of a dementia care provider will give a good indication as to whether they are a suitable choice for you or your loved one. Looking for well-established dementia care providers which provide a wide range of services and offer care that is tailored to the individual is a good starting point. Industry awards and positive reviews and testimonials from those who have benefited from the services provided can also be an indicator of a quality dementia care services provider.
Questions you should ask of quality dementia care service providers
Dementia care service providers are differentiated by the range and quality of services they provide. In order to determine whether or not any company you are considering is suited to your, or your loved one’s, particular circumstances it is worth obtaining answers to the following questions:
- Is the provider registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)?
- Do they employ carers themselves or do they act as an introduction agency only?
- What level of support do they provide their carers and clients?
- Are the carers trained? And if so, in what are they trained and to which level?
- Do they offer dementia ‘information days’ to prospective clients?
- Is the company linked to, or endorsed by, any of the major dementia charities?
- Will the carers look after pets owned by the person living with dementia?
- Can the carers administer medication if required?
- Is the care service nurse-led?
- How secure is the care recruitment process? Are DBS checks required?
- Does the provider have a robust policy regarding protection from elder abuse?
- Is the care proactive, allowing a client to pursue their hobbies and social activities?
- What is the arrangement if the carer is sick or on holiday?
- Can the carer speak and fully understand English?
- How well are carers looked after by the company? Is there a high staff turnover?
- Can the carer cook and prepare meals to satisfy any special dietary requirements?
- Has the company reduced the number of falls and hospital admissions for people in its care?
- Has the company received any industry awards for its dementia care provision?
- Can the company demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of dementia and its effects?
- Are there any limitations to the dementia care services provided?
- Can the company provide care and support for all types of dementia?
- Is there a limit to the duration that live-in dementia care can be provided?
- For how long has the company been providing dementia care services?
The Good Care Group, established in 2009, can provide positive and reassuring answers to all of the questions above. Having won multiple nominations and industry awards for the quality of its live-in care services it is one of the UK’s leading providers of care and support for people with dementia and their families. You can find out more about our one-on-one dementia care services here. Alternatively, to speak to someone about your dementia care requirements please call 0203 728 7577.
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Our friendly and experienced team is here to help you and your family make sense of the options available to you. Call us today – we will help you every step of the way.