Care Home Support & Respite Care Services

Looking after a loved one or a friend as they get older can be challenging. If that person also has dementia, the difficulties are even greater with their needs being more complex. You want to provide the best possible care for them in their twilight years, but finding the best way to do this can be overwhelming.

Luckily, there are a great many ways you can ensure your loved one is looked after and receives the care they need. It’s just as important that you have support around you too.

Let’s start by looking at one of the ways you can get a break if you need some time to yourself. After all, looking after an elderly relative or friend can be exhausting.

Respite Care Services

It’s essential that you take a break from caring if you need to, and one way you can do this is by taking advantage of respite care services. ‘Respite Care’ is a term used for a service designed to give you a break from caring, and it can take several forms.

It could be arranged that someone comes in to look after your loved one regularly, or takes them out to a day centre or activity group.

Respite care can also be arranged in a family care home. We are proud to provide respite support at Willow Grange. Your loved one becomes a resident for a short period, while you get the chance to recharge your batteries or even go away on holiday without them. A care home support team will ensure they’re properly looked after.

Care Support From Friends & Relatives

It’s important to realise that you can’t and shouldn’t have to do everything yourself. Ask for help from friends, family members, and siblings. However, before you can talk to anyone about what you need, you must understand your loved one’s requirements.

An excellent place to start is to make a list of all the caregiving tasks you perform. Try to be as specific as possible. Then, from that list, highlight the activities you’ll be able to do, remembering to be realistic in terms of your capabilities and time. Any tasks that are left are the ones you’ll need some help with.

It’s not easy to ask for help looking after your elderly relative. You might be worried about imposing on others or fearful of being rejected or resented. But, quite often, you’ll find family and friends who want to help but just don’t know the best way to go about it.

Support From Health Care Professionals

A good place to start is to talk to your GP and social services. They will ensure that you get all the information you need to make an informed choice.

You’re probably already familiar with the care options offered by the NHS. Your GP is your first point of call for any health issues. They’ll be able to refer you to more specialist secondary care, either at a hospital or an emergency, your local Accident and Emergency department. They may also be able to put you in touch with a care home support team.

Social Care

The Social Care system is probably not quite so familiar. It includes several different activities and agencies. Its purpose is to provide help to those in need. Under the umbrella of social care is a broad range of services that provide a safety net for most at-risk people.

They may be able to help with care on a practical level, such as dressing and washing, daily chores, and medication management.

Care Services

Social care services are organised via your local council and will always start with assessing your loved one’s care needs. Then, depending on those needs, the support offered could be:

  • Community support
  • Information services
  • Equipment to help independence
  • Day centre access
  • Home or residential care
  • Contact with a care home support team

There are also specialised and private home care providers who will help you evaluate your situation and provide recommendations for your options.

Carer’s Groups

Joining a carer’s group can be a great way to get support from people who can empathise with what you’re going through. They will have experienced it themselves and be happy to share what they’ve learned. Groups like these tend to meet regularly. You can spend your time sitting and chatting, or there may be speakers, trips, or leisure activities you can take part in.

Organisations That Can Help

Several organisations can provide information on supporting elderly relatives, particularly relating to those living with dementia.

Sources Of Support Within A Care Home

Here at Willow Grange, we do everything to ensure the needs of both our residents and their carers are met.

If you need any advice on getting care home support for your loved one with dementia, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We can offer a range of family care home options. Whether your loved one needs to move to a family care home for the long term or you just need some respite care support. Call us today on 020 8399 8948.