Caring For A Person With Dementia: Everything You Need To Know

Note: As of February 2024, we are not currently accepting respite bookings due to occupancy being at capacity. For any further information pleaes give us a call.

There are many around the country who, unfortunately, find themselves feeling overwhelmed, stressed and burnt out as they try to care for a person with dementia and find the information and support they require.

With this in mind, we wanted to share some information about dementia care — exploring the options available in Australia, how to organise and implement a dementia care plan and more. Read on to learn the key things you need to know about your dementia care options.

What is dementia care?

Affecting 1 in 15 Australians, dementia is one of the most common neurological disorders impacting the aging population. Causing a wide variety of symptoms from memory loss to impaired motor function, dementia is a progressive disease, meaning that the affected person may require higher levels of support the longer they are living with the condition.

After being diagnosed with dementia, it can be very difficult for both the individual and their family to come to terms with what type of care and how much support they may require moving forward. With care options ranging from hands-off counselling to more extensive dementia home care, knowing the choices available is one of the best ways to feel prepared for any new challenges as your loved one’s needs progress.

What are the options for dementia care in Australia?

Thankfully, there are a multitude of care options available to Australians looking to ensure that their family member living with dementia gets the adequate amount of support they need. Depending on the level of progression of their condition, some of the most common care options include:

• Mental health counselling — While often overlooked in favour of physical support, ensuring that both your loved one and the members of your family have access to mental health counselling is one of the best ways to reduce frustrations, plan for the future and decrease the risk of burnout as the disease progresses.
• Dementia home care — As an excellent option for introducing some aspects of care to your routine, home care options can be adjusted to meet your specific needs. Whether your loved one requires home care once a week for keeping track of their medications or needs supervision throughout the day, dementia home care is a popular option for many families in Australia.
• Respite care — Often chosen to prevent family burnout, dementia respite care involves having a trained professional spend a specific amount of time with the individual to provide a break to the regular care provider. Respite care can be organised for weekends, overnight, or during the day, depending on your current schedule, routine and the provider.
• Aged care facilities — If you are looking for more traditional dementia care, an aged care facility is often the most common choice. Able to provide housing and supervision for your loved one, this style of care is often the choice considered for those with dementia who have care needs that cannot be addressed in the home setting. While this option may suit some it may not be suitable for all.

The importance of a dementia care plan

No matter which style of dementia care you choose, having a well-defined dementia care plan is essential to ensure that everyone involved is on the same page. Created as a collaborative process between the individual, family, carers and medical professionals, a dementia care plan is designed to answer the following questions:

• What level of care does the individual currently want or require?
• Where does the individual want to live as the disease progresses? Is there family around should they need support?
• Does the individual take medications, and if so, do they need assistance with this task?
• Is the individual safe in their current location? Do they require additional supervision overnight?
• What are the individual’s wishes as their disease progresses?

While the answers to these questions are likely to change and adapt depending on the individual’s symptoms and level of independence, having a dementia care plan can help the family and medical care providers make decisions that are best aligned with the individual’s overall goals throughout the progression of the disease. Due to a large number of benefits of this practice, we highly recommend that all families looking into dementia care in Australia also spend the time with professionals to create a care plan, so everyone is in agreement about how to proceed.

Aspire dementia care — compassionate and collaborative care for your family

At LDK Senior’s Living, Love, Decency and Kindness are the core values that guide our care. We understand the difference that thoughtful dementia care can make in the quality of life of your loved one, which is why we proudly offer personalised 24/7 aged care services to all residents of Aspire Aged Care.

Facilitated by our dedicated team of interdisciplinary professionals and compassionate carers, we specifically tailor our care to meet the needs and lifestyle of your loved one to deliver thoughtful dementia care. Whether you are looking for a comfortable living space that offers activities and amenities or are in need of more comprehensive supervision, our team will work with you to accommodate the unique wishes and preferences of every one of our residents.

To learn more about our Aspire dementia care program, please feel free to reach out to our team today. We look forward to introducing you to Aspire Aged Care, our high-quality care option, and learn how we can best support your unique needs.