Finding Peace of Mind: Choosing Sagecare Dementia Care Home for Your Loved Ones

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It’s hard to describe fully and accurately how difficult dealing with dementia can be, and not just for the millions of people worldwide diagnosed with it annually. When somebody gets dementia, the people close to them are impacted, too.

There’s no simple way to deal with it, whether they’re living alone or aging in place in a residential home with specialized care staff. People with dementia may struggle to navigate familiar places, impacting their ability to live independently.

Sagecare Dementia Care Home is dedicated to providing the safest, most comforting and enriching environment for all our residents. Please read on to learn more about the details of the exceptional, personalized care we deliver for residents with dementia.

Clear Signage and a Colour-Coded System

People with dementia may not recognize where they are from the time they wake up, especially if they live in a memory care home, perceived as a change in environment. Using clear signage and colour coding eases confusion and helps residents with dementia navigate their environment independently.

Our signage for common areas, rooms, and doors is large and easy to read. Ultimately, it’s about providing thoughtful ways to help ensure residents feel grounded and at ease on their own while being ready to provide support from the wings whenever necessary.

Stimulate the Senses

People with dementia have an easier time navigating their environment the more sensory stimulation there is. A cold, featureless space doesn’t provide them with clues about their whereabouts and only helps to create a stressful atmosphere.

In contrast, Sagecare is careful to provide things like soft music, textured materials, aromatic flowers, and visually appealing art to create an environment that’s stimulating, welcoming, and calming. Residents with dementia respond favourably to our soothing outdoor surroundings, like our sensory gardens.

Familiarity is Key

Sagecare understands that residents with dementia may struggle to feel at home in a new space. One key to minimizing this feeling is encouraging people with dementia to bring personal mementoes or keepsakes from their homes.

Relocating is difficult for anybody. Bringing pictures of friends and relatives, or even furniture from their previous home, creates a sense of continuity and familiarity that’s important to foster.

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Personalized environments help reduce anxiety and can really improve mood. They’re also conversation starters! People may ask about the people pictured, which can launch stories, helping to cement old bonds while forging new ones.

Safety Above All

Dementia in seniors can increase the risk of falling down for various reasons. The most common ones include lack of physical exercise, weakness, and memory impairment. It’s essential to bear this in mind when designing the atmosphere in which they’ll live.

That’s why Sagecare makes it a point to remove wires, loose rugs, and other tripping hazards. All stairwells and bathrooms have handrails so residents can support themselves and avoid a fall. Even cabinets containing medications or other essential supplies must be secure so residents don’t accidentally ingest the wrong meds.

Our staff have a heightened awareness about such issues and are always on the alert for residents attempting to wander off. Freedom of movement is excellent, of course! But it should be safe and supervised.

Routines Are Everything

Many people are creatures of habit, but routine takes on another level of importance for seniors with dementia. Establishing a predictable pattern for daily habits provides comfort and a sense of security for seniors with dementia, so it’s one of the best things you can do.

Sagecare insists on regular exercise, meal times, and other activities to give residents a fixed sense of their surroundings. Structure and routine are compatible with flexibility. In fact, understanding that residents’ needs may change from day to day and that routines may need to accommodate this is absolutely essential.

The prime directive to make residents comfortable is to ensure all their basic needs are met. This may mean adjusting routines to ensure they get all the support necessary. Routines serve residents, not the other way around.

Serene Atmosphere

Patients with dementia tend to get aggravated and worked up by chaos and disruptive environments. Creating a dementia-friendly atmosphere means ensuring there are designated quiet spaces that encourage people to feel relaxed and calm.

A well-lit, serene space is ideal. Soft furnishings add another dimension to the tranquillity, as does an interior décor comprised of soft colours and ambient artwork.

Lighting Matters

The intensity and grade of light influence our mood more than we may think. Lighting dynamics are extra important when it comes to creating a warm, calming atmosphere for residents with dementia.

A dementia-friendly environment needs ample light to minimize confusion and help residents see properly. Sometimes, people with dementia have trouble remembering where they put something, so their living quarters should be arranged to make that as easy as possible. Good, warm lighting throughout the morning, noon, and night is essential.

Support and Independence

People with dementia need a range of support, but that doesn’t mean they give up all independence. Sagecare takes many measures to help make residents more self-sufficient.

For example, we label drawers and cupboards with pictures or words so residents don’t struggle to find their belongings. Letting residents participate in daily tasks, like folding laundry or setting the table, helps them age in place. They’ll feel more connected to their daily routines, which helps boost their confidence and self-esteem.

Residents with dementia are still adults with full autonomy over their lives, and engaging with and exercising control over their habits helps them feel situated, grounded, and dignified.

Dementia is a serious condition that affects people differently, but it’s never easy for those who have it and for their loved ones. It’s important for experienced dementia care professionals to give residents the right amount and type of support without being overbearing or exerting too much control over their lives. There’s a balance between respecting their individuality and being there to give them the support they need. We hope that shining a light on our approach to personalized care and sharing the above tips help you when choosing a private care home so you can lovingly and comfortably support your loved ones with dementia.