Dementia care

Who it is for

We admit people who are living with dementia or confusion, as long as they are over 65. Dementia is one of the specialisms Cedar House is registered for with the Care Quality Commission.

Dementia is a word for conditions that cause a gradual loss of memory, learning, understanding, communication and reasoning. The two most common types are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, which is caused by small strokes. Read our guide, What is dementia?, for more.

How the building helps

Cedar House was designed with dementia in mind.

• Wide, bright corridors. Residents can walk about freely and safely.
• Secure gardens. The garden is surrounded on three sides by the building, so residents can sit out in safety when the weather allows.
• Bedrooms that open onto the garden. Ground-floor rooms open onto the middle or back garden.
• Familiar things. Rooms can be furnished with the person’s own things, and the corridors have displays of things many residents will remember, such as the 1950s wall and retro posters.

How we care for people with dementia

The home’s own guide for carers puts it simply: dementia care is about the individual and how they understand what is happening to them. It is about relationships and care centred on the person.

The guide asks carers to:

• Talk people through personal care, such as washing and dressing, explaining what is happening and why
• Help residents do as much for themselves as they can, to keep their independence and dignity
• Go along with the “world” a person is in at that moment, rather than arguing or correcting them
• Gently move the conversation on, rather than dwelling on a problem
• Listen when someone cries out, and check they are not in pain
• Keep an eye on what people eat and drink, and look for physical reasons when someone refuses food, such as a sore mouth or an infection
• Watch for sudden changes, which can be caused by an infection, medication or depression rather than dementia, and ask the GP for advice

Families and visitors

Visitors are welcome at any time. Families often know the person best: their likes and dislikes, their history and what might be behind a particular worry. That helps staff care for them well.

A visit can sometimes leave a person unsettled. That does not mean visits are a bad idea. Our guide for families, visiting someone with dementia, has some ideas.

Health care

Residents can keep their own GP if the GP agrees, or choose a local one. Our staff are trained to care for older people with dementia and work closely with local GPs and other professionals.

More reading

• What is dementia?, the guide written for carers at Christian Care Homes
• Early signs of dementia and when to see a GP
• Talking with someone who has dementia