Dementia Care

Knowing whether your loved one requires dementia support in Eltham isn’t always clear. You think they might need assistance. But because you aren’t a doctor, you aren’t 100% sure.

Fortunately, Home Caring provides numerous care options your loved one can use. These keep them safe, secure, and engaged, helping them live the best life possible, regardless of disease progression.

Signs Of Dementia

You can’t diagnose dementia yourself – that requires a doctor. But you can look for the signs and when to go to the clinic for a comprehensive diagnosis.

Here’s what to look out for in your loved one that could indicate dementia onset:

• Inability to perform familiar tasks. People living with dementia find it hard to do things they used to consider simple, such as taking out the bins or reading a book.
• Trouble with memory. Dementia patients find it challenging to remember things that seem obvious to everyone else, like what they just said. Many individuals will repeat themselves, believing they are saying something for the first time.
• Mood swings. Patients with dementia can experience extreme mood swings. One minute they seem okay, the next, they are anxious, angry, irritated or depressed. Most mood swings seem to occur because of a lack of understanding of a situation.
• Spatial and temporal disturbances. Dementia patients can’t always orient themselves in space and time and, therefore, forget where they are, when it is, and how they got there. For example, they might wonder why they are at the beach in the summer or get confused when they see today’s date on the TV.
• Reduced judgement. People with dementia can start making poor decisions. For example, they might hand over large sums of money to telemarketers or engage in less personal hygiene.
• Difficulty understanding visuals. Dementia patients can find it challenging to understand or comprehend what they are looking at, particularly if it is an optical illusion. For example, they might find it harder to judge distances while driving.
• Trouble writing or speaking. Dementia patients can begin to find it more challenging to speak and write. For example, they might stop abruptly in the middle of a sentence or spend a long time trying to retrieve the right word.
• Social withdrawal. Dementia patients may withdraw from social situations because they become too challenging. Many individuals lose interest in their hobbies or social activities, cutting down on  interpersonal interactions.

If you notice any of these symptoms, take your loved one to a doctor. They can conduct tests to determine whether dementia is present.

Why Dementia Care Is Essential

Dementia support across Australia is essential. But why? 

There are several reasons. For many families, safety is the primary motivation. Dementia home care often becomes necessary to prevent the affected individual from hurting themselves. For example, many dementia patients believe they need to go to work but end up walking into traffic or being taken advantage of by criminals. Furthermore, loved ones with dementia are susceptible to scams and frauds because they can’t detect them.

However, caring for dementia patients in Eltham goes beyond providing supervision. It also ensures they take their medication on time and get cognitive stimulation to slow disease progression.

Home dementia care also caters to their well-being. Loved ones are better able to look after themselves if a dementia carer is with them.

How Dementia Support Services Can Help

Dementia care at home can be a lifeline for many families, especially if you are currently responsible for providing support to your loved one. Subsidised care is an inexpensive way to look after them, giving you a break and some time out.

Our in-home dementia care in Eltham begins with a consultation about your requirements. We discuss what you need us to do and when you want us to do it.

If you don’t have funding from My Aged Care or another government body, we can help with your application, including assisting with form-filling and timelines.

Once funding is in place, we provide your loved one with our full raft of care for dementia patients. We do everything, from modifying their home to taking them on trips to enjoy social connections. Team members can also assist with memory and cognitive training, helping to slow the disease’s progression.

To learn more about our dementia care in Australia, speak to a team member today.