Just because a person has early stages of dementia or is frail due to their age does not mean that they are not able to lead an independent life.

One simple way that you can help the individual in their home or you own home, is to make the house easy to navigate, safe to enjoy and as safe and comfortable for the person to use as possible.

There are many dementia products you could go out and buy but there are a few simple changes you can make that cost very little but can make a big difference to the persons life when they live in their own home.

Stirling University recently published a report on how we can make a home more dementia friendly for a person, which could involve replacing certain everyday items with dementia friendly items that could be more useful, like glass fronted fridges to help a person see their food and easy to read clocks showing night and day. But there are simple changes around the persons home that can be made that can help a person who suffers from dementia.

We take a look at some of the simple checks and changes you can make to help make a house a safer place for a person with dementia

Bedrooms

• Make the bed simple to make up. A quilt is often better than many blankets. Also, trailing blankets on an unmade could lead to an accident if the persons feet were to get caught up or slip on the blankets or quilt.
• Provide bedside lamps. Preferably on each side of the bed. These should have the control switch located on the flex and not under the lampshade if possible.
• Have a telephone fitted in the bedroom if possible so the person does not have to go downstairs to answer the phone.
• Have a clear area around the bed making it easier for the person to get in and out of their bed.
• Provide a bedside table that is big enough to place a drink and maybe a book onto.
• Bedroom furniture that have drawers or wardrobes should be easy to open, It may be helpful to the person to label furniture drawers with whats inside.
• Provide a nightlight that illuminates the way to the bathroom.
• Have a pull cord switch located next to the bed to make it easier for the person to turn on and off the main light.
• The main bedroom light should be bright to help with dressing.

Bathrooms

• Always make sure there are no mains ‘plugged in’ electrical devices placed in the bathroom.
• Are there adequate grab rails in the bathroom. These can be placed close to the toilet and bathtub. If there are, always make sure they are secure and fitted correctly.
• If there are any bathmats make sure they are firmly fixed in place to prevent the person slipping.
• Is the hot water not to hot, the hot water should be cool enough to make sure the person does not scald and burn themselves. Many accidents happen when a person gets into a bathwater that is to hot. Devices can be fitted to appliances like sinks and bathtubs that do not let the hot water get to hot.
• Is the lighting in the bathroom bright enough for the person to see correctly?
• Sinks and bathtubs should have an overflow facility to stop floods should the person leave a tap running.

Stairs

• Make sure there are no loose areas of carpet fitted to the stairs.
• Is the banister rail secure. A banister rail fitted to both sides of the stairs can help a person navigate the stairs more easily.
• Never store anything on any part of the stairs, this also means at the top and bottom landing area of the stairs.
• Try to have the stairs lit at night time by the addition of a night light placed at the top and bottom of the stairs. They should be located next to the light switch that controls the stairs light to help switching the stairs light on and off.

Kitchen

• Keep electrical items away from the sink. Make sure that when any electrical kitchen equipment are plugged in that they will not extend to the sink. This kind of danger was recently exposed in Coronation Street when Alzheimer’s suffering Lesley was killed off when she was electrocuted when she placed a ‘still plugged in’ toaster into the sink.
• It may help to place dementia friendly signs on key appliances and cupboards. A notice on a fridge saying ‘FOOD’ or a sign on a cutlery drawer saying ‘KNIFE FORK SPOON’ can be a great help.
• Is the flooring non-slip?
• Is the kitchen well lit? Bright lights in a kitchen can help a person with dementia enormously.
• Buy cooking pots and pans that have dementia friendly handles which are large and are two handed .
• Does the cooker have an automatic cut off? Also sinks that have an overflow pipe in case a person leaves a tap running.
• Make sure that the hot water tap does not produce water that is to hot.
• Worktops are free from clutter and everyday utensils are easily located. Try not to store anything in high cupboards. It is much better if a person does not have to use a step ladder or climb onto the worktops to locate an item.

Living Rooms

• Always have emergency and family telephone numbers on display next to the telephone. If possible the person should have a dementia friendly telephone with big buttons and/or a photo keypad telephone for easy recognition of the person they want to contact. It may also be helpful to have a corded telephone in the home so they do not loose the handset. It is helpful to have the telephone situated on a low table so if the person should have a fall they may be able to still reach the telephone.
• The floor area in the living room should be clutter free. All carpets should be fitted correctly and any rugs the person has should be firmly fixed in place to avoid slips.
• All electrical appliances should have their cables safely placed around the edge of the room, preferably under the carpet. An on/off switch fitted on the electric socket should make switching on and off appliances easier and safer than having to keep unplugging any electrical device.
• If the person has a particular chair they prefer or a chair they like to sit in, is it easy for the person to get up from the chair?
• All furniture should be sturdy and able to withstand a person leaning on them.
• Is there a dementia friendly clock in the living room. The best type of clocks for a person with dementia is the ones that show whether it is night or day.
• Does the house have an independent alarm system in place to help the person if they require assistance. Home monitoring kits can be bought for the persons home to give you peace of mind. Home monitors for a persons that has dementia can be ones that can be monitored by yourself through GPS (like a mobile phone that allows you to track a persons whereabouts) or they can also be monitored by a third party that will alert you if the person requires assistance, they monitor the person with dementia for you, although there is usually a charge for the service.

Outside Areas

• Have an area for recycling and waste bins located close to the house door.
• Make sure there are no trip areas, broken and uneven paving slabs, concrete or sunken paving can be a dangerous hazard.
• Mark the edge of steps with white paint to allow the steps to be seen easier. Make sure the are no loose steps.
• Keep all pathways clear of clutter, especially the pathway that leads to the bin area.
• Dirt, moss, leaves and weeds can become slippy on pathways so keep all paving and paths clean and free of moss, algae, leaves and weeds.
• Does the area around the front door have an outside light fitted. It is also helpful if any areas where outside steps are located to be also lit.
• Is there a ready supply of salt or sand at hand for icy, wintery conditions to defrost the pathways.

Extra ways you can make a home safer

• Fit smoke alarms. This goes for any home. It is also advisable to have a carbon monoxide detector fitted if the person has gas appliances installed in the home.

If you know of any other ways to help make the home of a person who suffers from dementia, more dementia friendly please let us know below. We welcome you tips and ideas that may benefit somebody to live more safely in their own home.

Well, after watching the long omnibus edition of ITV’s popular soap this weekend, I was able to catch up on whats’ been happening on Coronation Street. It was well documented in the best TV magazines that Lesley was to be written out of the programme so it would be interesting to see how the script writers of Britain’s best loved soap were planning on writing her exit lines.

Last weeks episodes, (that were broadcast every night at 9pm after a brilliant ‘Britain’s Got Talent’) saw the end for Lesley, played by the excellent Judy Holt. But it came to a shock to many people that her character was written out of Coronation Street so abruptly.

We first saw her character Lesley, appear in the ITV show back in October 2011, when we watched Eileen (Sue Cleaver) and Lesley’s fireman husband Paul (Tony Hirst) start dating, even though Paul was still married to Lesley. It soon became apparent though that Lesley was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

We have watched many episodes that involve the love triangle between Eileen, Paul and Lesley and in particularly, scenes exploring what its like to live and care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease. There have been scenes where Lesley has gone missing and scenes where Lesley has shown signs of aggression towards Eileen.

In the very short time that Lesley’s character has been in the soap the writers have explored a lot of situations that a person with dementia and a carer might find themselves in when dealing with a person with Alzheimer’s. With most of the story lines giving a realistic reflection of what its like to live or care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease.

Many of the story lines have involved other characters on the street and we have watched as the other residents on Coronation Street have voiced their opinion about how Lesley should be treated. One such memorable comment came from Tracy Barlow after her daughter had gone to the park with Lesley. “She should be locked up” shouts Tracy.

The comments made by the Streets other residents give us a taste of how many people in today’s society view dementia and often the ignorance or misinformed judgement that other people might have towards a person with the disease. The show’s writers seemed to get this spot on when writing some scenes involving other characters on the street and how someone might perceive someone with dementia.

The story lines have also ignited the flames on the subject on whether it is right or wrong for somebody who is married to a person who is suffering from a progressive disease like Alzheimer’s, to have an affair or relationship, outside of the marriage whilst the person with the dementia is still living. Does the saying “till death us do part” count when living with a person with advanced Alzheimer’s. Some say the person you married is no longer there. I don’t know myself. It’s a tricky subject.

How Lesley’s time on the street came to an end

If you have yet to watch the last episodes of Judy Holt playing Lesley in Coronation street and you don’t want to know how Lesley’s character was killed off then you may want to miss out reading the next paragraph.

Paul proposes to Eileen and leaves to see a solicitor to get a divorce, leaving Lesley in the care of Eileen. After Lesley attacked Eileen, leaving her with a bloody nose, Eileen runs out of the house leaving Lesley alone in the Grimshaws house on Coronation Street. We then watch as a confused Lesley tries to make some cheese on toast. Lesley then gets confused and believes the electric toaster is dirty and tries to wash the toaster whilst the toaster is still plugged into the socket, leading to a fatal consequence. She gets electrocuted and dies.

Eileen later returned to find Lesley dead on the kitchen floor.

- Even though Lesley’s character came to an abrupt end there was still a message to be learnt in the way Lesley was killed. Whether the script writers meant it this way or not there are serious points that the writers make. Leaving a seriously confused person who has advanced dementia alone in a situation where they could cause harm to themselves is one that has to be remembered by any carer, although in this situation Eileen can be excused because she was physically attacked, so no blame could be put on her for leaving Lesley in the house alone.

The dreadful accident where Lesley dies of electrocution could be repeated even if Eileen was present. It draws attention to the fact that a carer needs to have eyes in the back of their head in order to keep an eye on a person who suffers from memory loss. It’s a situation that any carer can find themselves in.

What We Think

The story lines will no doubt continue for a while about Lesley. There will be analysis as to who was to blame for Lesley’s death, what could have been done and how the situation could have been prevented, but eventually things will come to an end and new story lines will overtake those involving Eileen, Paul and Lesley.

We believe the scriptwriters have shown great understanding and empathy towards all involved in the story on Alzheimer’s in Coronation Street and given the time constraints and quest for viewing figures, they have done a very good job of giving a true reality of what its like to live, care and love a person who has the dreadful disease that is Alzheimer’s.

I hope that the writers keep Tony Hirst in the programme. He is a good actor and has played the part of Lesley’s husband and Eileen’s lover brilliantly. My mother also wants to see more of the hunky fireman because as she says, “He can rescue me at any time”

- Have you been following the love triangle on Coronation Street between Eileen Grimshaw, fireman Paul and his Alzheimer’s suffering wife Lesley. What do you think? Let us know below.

You can catch up with Coronation Street on the ITV player. Most of the episodes of Coronation Street shown on ITV are available to watch for up to 28 days after being shown on TV.

It’s been interesting to see how Coronation Street have dealt with the storyline involving Lesley and her fight with Alzheimer’s. We have followed the story since the script writers decided to introduce a character into the street with Alzheimer’s disease back in July 2011 and we have watched many scenes involving other members of the street that have been affected by Lesley’s actions.

In many scenes involving Lesley, Paul and Eileen we have been shown a true depiction of how carers and loved ones have to deal on a daily basis with a person with Alzheimer’s.

But it seems that the end is in sight for Lesley (played by Judy Holt) and her fight against Alzheimer’s.

It has come as a shock to followers of the popular British soap to learn that Lesley’s exit from the popular ITV show will be in such a dramatic way. Many people are disappointed that the story writers are bringing her character to an end in such an unrealistic way and that her exit could have been dealt with in a more sympathetic way. Are the story writers after the big headlines with the story or are they shying away from dealing with the issue?

May followers of Coronation Street and especially the ones that are affected by somebody with dementia and Alzheimer’s are disappointed by such an abrupt end, many believe much more could have been done to bring awareness to the condition that is said to affect over 800,00 people in the UK alone.

At the end of the day you could say Coronation street have played their part in bringing much needed awareness to the disease that is Alzheimer’s and many people, including myself are grateful for what the show has done to highlight the problems carers and families have to face when dealing with a person with dementia.

We also have to try and remember that Coronation Street is not reality or a government advertisement, it is just a show that is judged on the number of viewers that tune in ever week.

We will have an update on how Lesley will exit the soap later this week. You can watch Coronation Street all this week on ITV at 9pm after Britain’s Got Talent. Or watch Coronation Street later with the Itvplayer for the next 28 days.

We would love to know what you think. Post below if you would like to comment.

There are many problems that can be associated with dementia, so it could be beneficial to you as the carer if you learn and understand how to deal with the individuals problems, should they arise.  It is also important to remember to always keep the dignity, respect and privacy of the individual who has the dementia. no matter how difficult the problems get. 

Communication

This can vary in person to person and can also change as the dementia progresses in an individual with the disease. There are a few difficulties that you may experience when communicating with the individual. Some of them may be

• Repetition – The individual continually repeats themselves
• Slowness in speech – The individual speaks very slowly, often trying to find the words
• Dysphasia – This is an inability to say or understand words
• Continuously talking – This can be a sign of anxiety or discomfort with something
• Non-communication – This can be a problem to the carer because it becomes more difficult to communicate with the person with dementia. Understanding how they feel and what they want to happen becomes increasingly difficult.
• Loosing track – Dementia sufferers will often forget what they were talking about. This is because it becomes increasingly difficult for a person with dementia to concentrate and remember things. As a carer you may have to take up the conversation and fill in certain words for the person
• Muddled conversation - As the dementia progresses in a person the words that they use to communicate may become harder to understand. This may be because they use the wrong words to describe something. As a carer, it may be helpful to try and guess the words the person is trying to use and help fill inthe words if they are struggling with speaking words.

You can learn more about communication with a person with dementia here

Sleep Disturbance

Restlessness at bed time is a very common problem with dementia. It can also be very frustrating for the carer if you live or especially if you sleep in the same room as the person. If the person is living in a dementia care home it can become a problem if the person wanders from their room and disturb other residents during the night. It may be worth investing in a bed sensor mat. These allow you as the carer to be alerted if the person leaves their bed during the night. Below are some reasons why a person with dementia may suffer from broken and irregular sleep -

• Is the person sleeping to much during the day?
• Is the person looking for the toilet?
• Are they hungry?
• Is the lack of sleep due to their medication?
• Are they in pain?
• Are they going to bed to early?
• Are they to hot/cold during the night?

Aggression

One of the most difficult problems carers face in a person with dementia is aggression. Not only is it physically difficult to control a person who is showing aggression but it can also be difficult to try to understand why the person is aggressive towards you or others. It can also be difficult to try to understand what triggers a person to get aggressive. Some points to look for are

• Is the person frustrated?
• Are the being correctly prescribed medication?
• Are they tired?
• Are they fearful or frustrated at an inability to do simple tasks?

You can find more information on the causes of aggression in a person with dementia here

Wandering

An individual who is suffering from dementia can be totally unaware that they have a tendency to wander. If the person in in a secure environment then wandering is not usually a problem, in fact, having an area that a person can wander freely around in is an ideal situation. Wandering can become a problem though if the person is not in a secure environment or they are living in a care home environment and may have a tendency to disturb other residents or they are wandering insecurly during the night. Below are a few reasons why a person may wander

• Is the person having difficulty sitting down. Do they have medical reason such as constipation that makes it uncomfortable for the person to sit down?
• Are they looking for the toilet or food?
• Are they bored or frustrated with something?
• Are they looking for something personal to them?
• Are they restless. Do they need some exercise?

You can find out more information on helping to stop a person from wandering here

Memory Loss

It is often the short term memory of a person that seems to be affected the most with dementia which can be very frustrating for the carer and for the sufferer. Memory loss can also affect the way the person carries out their basic day to day routines. The sufferer may forget basic things like when and how to wash and dress or forget to shave or eat food on a regular basis.

There are a lot of products to help a person who suffers from memory loss such as big button photo telephones and mobiles, speaking clocks to help a person remind them of the time and a host of other helpful dementia  products that can help a person who suffers from memory loss

Toilet Difficulties and Incontinence

If a person with dementia has incontinence problems you should as the carer, always provide dignity, privacy and reassurance for the person at all times. The person may feel ashamed of their incontinence and try to hide the problem. You should as the carer, try to spot the signs and symptoms a person may show when they are having toilet difficulties. This will allow you to react in a dignified and speedy manner to the situation.

If you need help with problems you face when looking after a person with dementia there are many organisations that can help you. Please have a look at our Groups page for further help and advice

This is number 2 in the new series of Louis Theroux, shown on the BBC on 26 April 2012. Here we watch as Louis travels to Phoenix, Arizona, which is said to be the capital of dementia care in the USA. He explores dementia and how it erodes the personality of the sufferer and how loved ones care and try to maintain their relationships between themselves and the sufferer of dementia.

I am a great admirer of Louis Theroux. I love his offbeat and what seems at times, naive way of making programmes. The way he gets involved to gain the peoples trust then seems to stand back to allow the true person or situation to shine through. Its his way of trying to get to the truth and I compliment him on how he makes it work in all the programmes he makes.

In his latest outing he travels to the USA where he explores what its like to live with dementia. He visits a care home called Beatitudes, in Phoenix, Arizona, where families and loved ones can live alongside the sufferers of dementia in a specialist unit for dementia, called a ‘memory support unit’. There he meets various colourful characters in the specialist dementia care home, then cares for Nancy, a former New York model.

The programme begins on a comical note with Louis clattering his way through the living room door of Nancy’s house, we watch as Nancy asks who he is, “It’s Louis”. ”Oh, Louis” relies Nancy. She then looks at the camera and whispers “Who’s Louis”.

Beatitudes Care Home

In the specialist dementia unit, at Beatitudes, we begin by meeting Janet, a new arrival who has just witnessed an intruder climbing through the care home window, after speaking to the care home manager Louis learns that it’s Janet having hallucinations. He then speaks to Janet’s daughter Nancy, who explains that her mother, who only moved into the care home yesterday, had wandered away from her house leading Nancy to realize that she was no longer be able to keep her mum safe, so she had taken the emotional decision to move Janet into the home. “My mum knows I love her and the reasons I am doing this is to keep her safe”

Whilst talking to Nancy, Louis asks if she has talked to her mother about moving into the care home at Beatitudes. He asks if at any point she has mentioned to Janet that this is where she will be living from now on. “No, I haven’t mentioned it at all, she is under the impression that she’s just here temporarily, “Is it OK to tell white lies” asks Louis, “We tell them all the time here, we tell them all day long”.

Next we meet Gary Gilliam, one of the few men living at the home. He likes to think that hes involved in the dentistry business. Whilst talking to the care home manager Louis mentions this and we learn how the manager uses this to ‘redirect’  Gary’s thoughts when he wants to leave the care home. “We get him to check our teeth” she says

John & Nancy Vaughan

Louis then goes to meet a home carer called john Vaughan who care for his wife, Nancy, an 89 year old former dancer. Nancy is in the advanced stages of dementia. She is the same lady that we met at the beginning of the programme. Louis talks to John about what its like to look after his wife, we watch as even though Nancy easily forgets simple things she still shows love towards John, who is 88 years old himself.

The program also explores the families and people who care and look after the dementia sufferers at the Beatitudes care home. We meet Gary’s wife, Carla, who visits him on a weekly basis and we watch as they take Gary for dinner with another lady. “Gary has two ladies in his life in the care home”, his wife explains. “I still love him, and am so saddened to see him like this” Carla explains.

Selinda & Glenn

Another person we meet during the programme is happy 49 year old Selinda, who is suffering from early onset dementia, it became apparent to Glenn, Selinda’s husband, that something was wrong when his wife kept misplacing car keys. She went for a check up and she was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s over 2 years ago.

Louis speaks to Selinda and her husband about the disease and we watch as Selinda struggles to remember her age. Glenn then asks his wife to ring their home number on their cell phone to highlight how she struggles with her memory. Selinda then demonstrates how difficult it is for her to even remember where the number 2 is on the keypad. She is unable to dial the numbers and her husband then explains, “this is why she needs care at home”. We also see that things are complicated because Selinda and Glenn also have an 11 year old daughter.

The programme then flits between the care home at Beatitudes and the families who visit the residents of the home, and the homes of the loving couples Nancy and John Vaughan and the ever smiling Selinda and Glenn.

The programme goes on to explores what its like for the families of the individuals who are living with dementia in a very frank and open way. Louis looks after Nancy for a day and learns the pressures her husband faces on a daily basis when looking after Nancy and we also watch as Selinda and Glenn visit their GP and see Selinda put through a simple test to see how the disease is progressing.

The one thing the programme does explore is what the families intend to do as the disease progresses in their family members. We see Glen, Selinda’s husband, talk about what he will do in order to be able to afford Selinda’s care home costs as the disease develops. “I may have to divorce her and make her a ward of the state” he explains.

We also watch as Gary’s wife Carla talks about life without her husband. ” Are you sentimental, still attached” Louis asks Carla. “Its just sadness, not sentimental, everyday gets easier and better, I’ve done all I can do” Carla explains.

The programme finishes with Louis visiting Janet and her daughter Nancy, who we met earlier at Beatitudes care home, where we learn from Nancy that her mother has settled in and is much happier than she was before moving into the care home. “Its pretty cosy”, explains Nancy, “Its nicer now that I don’t have to constantly tell her what to do. I really don’t want to be your mother”, Nancy says to her mother Janet, “Its nice to be a daughter again”

You can watch the programme on the BBC iplayer

Let us know what you think of the programme below. Is the USA system of dementia care similar to what we have here in the UK or is the care in the USA better or worse?

One of the biggest problems a carer can have when caring for a person with dementia is aggression. It can be a very difficult thing to deal with and there are no clear cut answers to how and why the person may become aggressive but it can help if you can identify when and what triggers a person with dementia to get aggressive.

We take a look at some common causes of aggression in a person that suffers from dementia.

Common Causes of Aggression

• Not being to be able to recognise places, people or things that were once familiar to the person, especially if they are often reminded that this is something or somewhere they should know.
• Fear at showing their failings and lack of ability to remember things.
• Misunderstanding or an inability to understand the situation they are in. This could be visit to the doctors or shops.
• Frustration. This can be caused by many things. The individual can get frustrated when they forget how to do common things. It could be as simple as getting washed and dressed or making a cup of tea that can lead to the frustration.
•  Failure to so simple tasks
• Lack of attention which may lead to them feeling isolated and rejected
• Being tired. Lack of sleep.
• Being asked a question that they are unable to answer
• If the person with dementia has their personal space invaded by a person they think is a stranger
• Frustration at having to be depend on other people
• Lack of personal dignity by others which may lead to humiliation
• Fear at their loss of control and realization that they have dementia and they are loosing their mental powers
• Medication. Prescribed drugs and medication can lead to aggression.

Help to Deal with Aggression

There is no one way to deal with an individual if they get aggressive because all people and all situations are different but there are some ways that could help you as the carer deal with the situation. We take a look at some of the things to remember and some of the methods that could help you when dealing with a person with dementia .

• Keep calm. Your tone of voice is crucial. Do not get aggressive yourself. Communicate with the person in a slow, non aggressive manner.  Remember that its the disease that is causing the aggression in the person.
• Remember, it’s not personal. Even if the aggression is aimed at you as the carer.
• Look for the cause of the aggression. Does the person get aggressive at certain times.

If the person gets aggressive often it can be very helpful to keep a diary or write down the trigger points in a care plan if the person has one.  You should look for and keep a note of things that set off the aggression in the person. Are there certain times of day or certain situations when the individual gets aggressive.

By keeping a note of the times and situations that the individual may get aggressive, you should be able to better understand and deal with a person when they get aggressive. Writing down this information will also help you find ways of avoiding situations that may trigger aggression in a person with dementia.

What do you think? How do you deal with an individual with dementia who gets aggressive? let us know below.

One question that we get asked on a regular basis is whether or not dementia is hereditary. Its not surprising that its a question people want an answer to especially with the growing number of people around the world developing diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body, Vascular or one of the many other forms of dementia. We take a look at the evidence to see whether dementia is an hereditary disease.

Many people, especially if a family member has dementia, are worried that they can inherit dementia and could also pass the condition on to their children through their genes. But medical research seems to suggest that it is very unlikely that if a family member such as a parent, has developed dementia, that their children will also develop dementia at some stage in their life because of the genes that they have passed on.

This is not to say that somebody with Alzheimer’s is not able to pass on the disease from parent to child, in some rare cases (less than 1 in 1000 cases of Alzheimer’s) the disease can be inherited but this is rare. There is a group of four genes a person can carry that can lead to a greater risk of Alzheimer’s, with 3 of the four genes(APP, PSEN-1 and PSEN-2)  being responsible for early onset dementia in people in their 30′s, 40′s and 50′s with the other gene being responsible for Alzheimers in older people, usually over 65 years of age.

In the majority of cases of Alzheimer’s (the most common type of dementia) the disease is mostly associated with old age. Most cases of Alzheimer’s are diagnosed with people in their 70′s and 80′s. This is often wrongly called Senile dementia.

Most researchers believe that dementia is caused by diseases that are a result of the lifestyle they lead rather than the DNA that they have inherited from their parents.

Although some diseases that can lead to dementia can be inherited. Diseases such as Huntington’s are inherited diseases and other forms of dementia such as fronto-temporal dementia’s have a greater risk of being inherited from parent to child by as much as 50%. But in general most dementia’s such as Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular dementia are not inherited diseases and are a consequence of the lifestyles we choose to lead, although much more evidence is still needed to confirm this research.

Once a decision has been made to place a family member or friend with dementia into a care home, the one thing that you will want to make sure is that the care home is the best one available, this is especially true if the decision with choosing a dementia care home lies with you.

There are different kinds of care homes, with dementia care homes more specialized in dementia care than a normal residential care homes would be, with a better understanding of how to care for a person with dementia. But there are a few questions you may want to ask or a few things you may want to consider before you decide upon which care home to choose.

The one thing you should always do when choosing a dementia care home is visit more than just one care home. By visiting more than one care home it will help you to confirm your beliefs that the one you want to choose is the best one available for the person you have the responsibility for. You can also ask for a copy of the most recent care inspection report so you can compare how well the care care home is doing.  Some other points you may want to consider that may help you make a decision are -

When You Arrive

• Is there a car park (if you drive). Is the care home within comfortable distance from where you live. (could be awkward if you have to travel 60 miles to visit)
• What were the grounds and gardens around the care home like? Are they clean and tidy and well presented?
• How were you welcomed when you first arrived at the care home? Were the staff welcoming.
• Is there good security at the home. Were you able to walk straight in or was there a bell or other form of communication system in place?
• What is your first impression of inside the home. Is it clean and tidy. What are the decor and furnishings like?

The Staff

• Do the staff look clean and well presented?
• Are the carers welcoming and polite. Do they seem happy/unhappy in their work?
• Do the staff seem well informed on the home and the procedures of the dementia care home?
• Does there seem to be good communication between the carers and visitors at the home?
• Are the staff trained in dementia care?

The Care Home

• What is the star rating of the dementia care home.  This is given by the Care Quality Commission? Ask to see it.
• Is the home wheelchair and disability friendly. Does the care home have wheelchair access?
• Does the care home have a dementia care accreditation? Ask to see it.
• Does the care home smell nice. Is it free from unpleasant odours?
• Is there a garden or area where the residents can sit outside. Is it user friendly and is it safe an accessible for the elderly ?
• Are there day time activities organised for the residents? If so, what are they?
• Does the care home provide day trips outside of the home? If so, is there additional costs involved?
• Are the residents able to bring their own items of furniture into the home? What about personal items such as pictures and other personal belongings, can these be displayed in their own room.

Eating at the Home

• Is there a choice of meals for the residents?
• Are there specialist diets available to individuals?
• Is the resident able to request an alternative menu to the published one?
• How many meals a day are provided. What about between meals?
• Where do the residents eat. Is there a dining room or do they eat in their own room?

You as the Visitor

• What time are the visiting times. Are you restricted in having access to the resident in the care home?
• Is there public transport close to the care home. Other visitors the person may want to receive may not have access to a car. How long did it take to get to the care home by car, bus, train or whichever mode of transport you or others would use for visiting the person in the dementia care home.
• Are there any days when visiting is not allowed?
• What are the different ways for you to contact the dementia care home?
• Is there anything they require from you?
• Is the care home admission agreement acceptable to you?

There are many other questions that you may want to ask when visiting dementia care homes so it may be wise to write a list of questions that you may want to ask the care home manager or the owner of the home. This will help you make the best decision that you can for the person when choosing a dementia care home. There are many groups that can also help you with the process. You can find extra help on our dementia groups page

There may come a time when a person with dementia may need move out of their own home and into a care home. This may be because the person may need more care than can be provided whilst the individual is living in their own home or maybe a care home is the safest most secure place for the individual.  In which case, a care home may be needed to provide extra care that the person may need. 

But what are the different kinds of care home that are available to a person with dementia and which one would be best? We take a look at the different kinds of care homes that are available and how they may help an individual that may be suffering from dementia.

There are different types of care that a care home can provide to an individual, with each care home providing specific levels of care and support tailored to meet the needs of the individual depending on the amount of care that is needed. The vast majority of care homes in the UK are privately run or run by charitable organisations and groups, with a few care homes run by local authorities and the NHS.

Care Homes can usually provide four different types of care and support. With some care homes catering for all four types of care or specializing in one particular kind of care. In general the four kinds of care are -

• Nursing Homes
• Nursing Home with Dementia Care
• Residential Care Homes
• Residential Care Home with Dementia Care

Nursing Homes

These kind of care homes provide a higher level of care for elderly people than a residential care home would and the level of training that the care workers need should be higher. The residents of a nursing home usually require more intensive physical support on a frequent daily basis.  Nursing homes should have a higher proportion of fully qualified and highly trained nursing staff with access to specialist care equipment available in the home such as specialist beds, wheelchairs, hoists and assisted bedrooms and bathrooms for the residents. A fully trained registered nurse should always be available 24 hours a day at a nursing home. They should be fully trained in the administration of medication and drugs.

Nursing Home with Dementia Care

As with a nursing home, a high level of care will be provided for the residents with fully qualified nursing staff and equipment available.  The residents in a ‘nursing home with dementia care’ will be living with a form of dementia such as Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia so the age of the residents in a nursing home which specialises in dementia care may be more varied than that of a residential care home. Some care homes for dementia may have residents as young as in their 50′s due to an increasing number of people with early onset dementia. All staff in a nursing home with dementia care should have had specialist dementia training.

Residential Care Homes

These kind of care homes are where an elderly person can live in a care home environment usually with their own personal room where care is readily available for the residents of the home and who are, in most instances, able to look after their own daily needs without assistance, but who may occasionally need assistance from a care worker at the residential home. The residential care home may provide basic personal care for the individuals with things like washing and dressing needs.

Residential Care Home with Dementia Care

This kind of care home is a residential care home where the residents live on site and are still physically able, but who are also living with a form of dementia that may affect their daily lives. Care workers at the residential care home should have been given extra training in dementia care. The care home will usually have living environments that are specifically designed or adapted towards people with dementia, this may mean specially designed signage to help with getting around the care home by the person with dementia and additional security measures to stop residents from wandering out of the care home.

What do you think of the service and support that a residential or nursing care homes provide for a person with dementia. I know that a lot of you carers believe that the pay could be better for somebody working in a residential care home with many workers on or just above the minimum wage. Let us know your experiences and what you think of dementia care homes below.

This is our fourth post on the storyline that Coronation Street are using with Alzheimer’s as the theme. We first posted back in july 2011, when we had a feeling that the scriptwriters of the UK’s best loved TV soap were going to use an Alzheimer’s story line. But what are we to make of the direction they are taking with the Alzheimer’s story line and how are they doing?

There seems to be a mixed bag of feelings when it comes to the storyline and the way that the subject is being handled on the Street. We have received many comments from many people, some are in favour and some are against the way that the story lines have been written.

A good few of our readers seem to think that the reality of how carers of Alzheimer’s sufferers have to deal with a person have been shown in its true light, but equally a good deal of people seem to think that the story is going to far and painting people with Alzheimer’s and the people who care for them in a bad light.

In a few of the latest episodes of Coronation Street shown since mid March, and especially in the last week, the storylines surrounding Lesley, played by Judy Holt, Paul, played by Tony Hirst and Eileen, played by the brilliant Sue Cleaver have drawn in opinions of other characters on the Street. The latest episodes, shown on 30/3/2012 involving a scene where Leslie (who thinks Amy is her Niece) takes Tracy’s daughter Amy, to the park leading to a few of the characters on Coronation Street voicing their opinion as to what they think about Lesley after a frantic search for the pair.

We take a brief look at where the story is at and some of the subjects that the scenes and story lines are dealing with when it comes to Alzheimer’s.

We last posted on 23rd January 2012, where we saw the developing relationship between Paul and Eileen, with Lesley being looked after by her husband Paul and Paul’s faithful lover Eileen. We now join the story where Paul and Lesley have moved into Eileen’s house on number 11 Coronation Street, whilst their house if being renovated due to a flood.

Eileen has been caring for Leslie whilst Paul is out working all hours as a fireman and we see various scenes over the last few weeks where Eileen struggles to deal with the sudden mood changes and erratic behaviour that Lesley shows from time to time.  But we join the story on the 30/3/2012 because the issues surrounding Alzheimer’s and how other people perceive the condition are dealt with more in these story lines. We take a brief look at some of the scenes that involve the story below.

The story begins with Paul asking Eileen over breakfast if she can look after Lesley again so he can do a few jobs, but the day got off to a bad start for Eileen. An angry Lesley refuses any sauce but brown, “I want Brown” Lesley screams, so Eileen has to go to the shop to buy some. As Eileen is about to leave the house a now calm Lesley turns and says “thank you”.

Whilst Eileen is away Lesley wanders into the back yard and we watch Leslie and Tracy’s daughter Amy talking as they blow bubbles, “the bubbles look better in the park” Amy says to Leslie.  Eileen returns to find the house empty, after looking for her in the house she goes outside to find her when she bumps into Tracy who couldn’t find Amy either and it suddenly dawns on them that Lesley must have taken Amy but where had they gone? After meeting Jason in the street a short while later Tracy says to him that her daughter has gone off with ‘Loony Lesley’

After informing Steve of both Amy and Lesley’s disappearance a worried Steve goes looking for Lesley and Amy in the park where he finds an angry Lesley having an argument with the ice cream van man. “Sort her out mate, she’s putting my customers off” a tyred ice cream seller tells Steve. “You shouldn’t wander off  without letting a grown up know”, Steve tells Amy, “I was with Lesley” Amy replies, “Yes” Steve says with a woeful look on his face.

Steve returns to the street with Amy and Lesley where an angry Tracy confronts Eileen and Paul. After a heated debate between Paul and Tracy, Paul calls Tracy a bully. “Why, cause I don’t turn to mush every time you toss me a smile” Tracy relies, “We’ve all seen you, palming her off with anybody who will take her for an hour. She should be in an institution. “You know nothing” Paul relies. “Social services should be told, she’s a liability” answers Tracy. “You know nothing” again repeats an angry Paul. “She was confused and she should never have been left on her own, 99% of the time she’s fine” he goes on to say. Tracy then finishes by saying to Eileen “I’m warning you Eileen, you get that woman off our street and into a home or I’ll do it for you.”

We finish the latest episodes with Paul begging Eileen not to chuck them out. “you’re not a trained carer, I should not have put you in that position, Paul tells Eileen. “This situation is to much for you, you have to step back and let the professionals take over,” Eileen tells Paul.

What We Think?

From what we have seen and the way the story lines are playing out I think the current producer (Phil Collinson) and writers of Coronation Street are right on the money with the way Alzheimer’s can affect a person. They are also showing the reality of how carers might react and some of the every day situations with how a carer has to cope with a person who suffers from dementia. The show is also tackling the prejudices people have when it comes to how they see a person with dementia. Tracy’s use of the words ‘loony’ and ‘institution’ show that the show understands that many people still don’t understand what its like for carers and sufferers of Alzheimer’s and dementia. They seem to have it right in the way some people might behave towards a person with dementia.

Please let us know what you think and how well you feel the show is doing with portraying a true likeness to Alzheimer’s