Leading the way: Redefining dementia care

Cavendish Homecare was contacted by a concerned family member after their relative had complications following hip surgery. Whilst living alone, the client sustained a fall and was readmitted to hospital. Past medical history also included living with dementia, poor skin condition and weight loss. Whilst the client suffered minor injuries from the fall, the family realised that this could re- occur, hence they decided to enquire about round-the-clock nursing care.

Our Client’s Story…

Living with mild dementia was considered as one of the reasons that may have contributed to the client’s fall following surgery. After careful discussion about the client’s needs with the family, Cavendish Homecare suggested a short-term care package consisting of 24/7 care, with a nurse and a carer during the day and two carers overnight. The arrangements were put into place prior to the client’s discharge from the hospital.

The Cavendish Approach…

The client was initially apprehensive when mobilising using a Zimmer frame. With the assistance of two healthcare professionals, the client was gently reassured and encouraged with when mobilising, this allowed the client to regain their confidence and independence. The hospital provided a physiotherapist for regular home visits to help the client with strengthening exercises and also incorporated the use of a stationary bike. The duties of the Cavendish Homecare carers and nurses included all aspects of the client’s personal care, continence support, medication administration, monitoring vital signs and assisting with meal preparation. Every element of the client’s needs and their personal wishes were outlined in their care plan.

In particular, the team implemented a healthy high calorie and fluid intake plan, so that the client could regain their confidence and strength. This also aided skin recovery of the operation wound site. Within a few weeks of care, there was a noticeable improvement in the client’s walking abilities and well-being. The client also had an increased appetite, with a 2 kilograms weight gain.

The client presented episodic forgetfulness and fluctuating moods, particularly towards the end of the day, which were likely attributed to their underlying dementia. At times, the client could be verbally aggressive to staff, who were able to recognise this “distress reaction “ behaviour and use distraction techniques to soothe the situation.

The team identified a number of sources of joy and comfort, these included the client’s beloved pets, phone calls with family members, watching family videos, reading books, listening to music, looking through photographs and regular visits from hairdressers and family members. By incorporating the client’s sources of joy and personal needs into their care plan and the care delivered, the team were able to manage their medical conditions, encourage independence and enhance their overall wellbeing.

The Outcome…

As a result of the personalised care from the Cavendish Homecare team and the physiotherapist provided by the hospital, the client’s post-operative wound healed well, and their mobility steadily improved. As time progressed, the client was able to enjoy being out of bed for extended periods of time. Their mood continued to fluctuate at times, however, the client had visibly improved in all areas, as noted by their family.

Despite the client having fully recovered from their operation, the family decided to continue to utilise round-the-clock care provided by the committed Cavendish Homecare nurses and carers as this had such a positive effect on both the client and their loved ones lives and well-being.