13 to 19 May 2024 is Dementia Action Week (DAW). Every year, Alzheimer’s Society works with individuals and organisations across the UK to raise dementia awareness and encourage people to act.
Right at Home Croydon to Caterham supports vulnerable adults to live independently in their own homes. A number of our clients live with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. Their care journey with us might start before this has been diagnosed, but our person-centred services can adapt to meet their changing care needs.
A dementia case study
In 2015, a client started using our services after hurting her back in a car accident. She had three care visits per day, which included rehabilitation and exercise, until she was able to resume her usual lifestyle.
For the next four years we helped her three times a week, and this regular contact meant we could keep a watchful eye on her. In 2019 we started to notice she was not her usual self. She was getting confused around her medication, and mixing up foodstuffs with cleaning products: a carer stopped her from putting soap powder in a cup of tea.
We spoke with her family about our concerns: it was a delicate situation, as the client had always been independent. It was agreed that medication and meal preparation would now be supported by us, and that cleaning products and medication would be locked away.
The client was diagnosed with dementia, but continued to live an independent, yet supported, life in her own home. She was taking her meds properly, eating well and her home was free of dangers. She resumed her community activities and was often not home when we arrived for care visits, but we knew where to find her – often on the way to Waitrose or in a local park!.
Our much-loved client sadly passed away recently after a short illness, but until then was able to live well with dementia because she was in familiar surroundings with familiar people, and her local community was dementia friendly.
Dementia Action Week
This year, the main theme is on the importance of obtaining a diagnosis.
A dementia diagnosis is vital to give people access to the care, treatment and support they need. Yet, incredibly, one in three people with dementia do not have one. And the cost of not getting a diagnosis is hundreds of thousands of people not getting help.
This is happening in towns and communities across the UK. If we don’t address it, we have no hope of managing the major dementia challenges we are faced with and reducing this cost for thousands of people, now and in the future. Dementia is the biggest health and social care issue of our time, it’s the UK’s biggest killer, and yet it isn’t the priority it should be among decision-makers.
Getting a diagnosis can be daunting, but we believe it’s better to know. It can enable people living with dementia to plan for the future and gain access to care, symptomatic treatments, information and advice. If you’re worried about yourself, or someone close to you, then know what to look out for using the symptom checklist at alzheimers.org.uk/checklist.
Dementia Friend Information sessions are fun and interactive, enabling you to become more knowledgeable about dementia, and help our community become Dementia Friendly, by turning understanding into action. Please consider attending one during DAW.
Dates for your diary
Monday, 13 May: Dementia Awareness Session (18:00), Right at Home, Caterham
Tuesday, 14 May: Dementia Drop-in Day (10:00 – 15:00), Right at Home, Caterham.
You are welcome to pop in for a cup of tea and a friendly chat about all things dementia with our team. An Alzheimer’s Society dementia wellbeing advisor will be there from 10:30 – 12:00.
Wednesday, 15 May: Dementia Awareness Table (12:00 – 14:00), Morrisons, Caterham
Friday, 17 May: Dementia Awareness Session (14:00), Right at Home, Caterham
Throughout DAW, we will be spreading awareness of dementia throughout Caterham Valley. We will have information bookets to give out to our neighbours, and will be fundraising via a raffle. We will also have a stall outside Right at Home.
For more information on dementia or our care at home services, please email enquiries.tandridge@rightathome.co.uk or call Gemma on 01883 460376.
Right at Home is located at 5 Station Road, Caterham Valley.
