Dementia

Health Vision's Specialist Dementia team has extensive experience in delivering personalised care to a growing number of Service Users with dementia. The team is person-centred in approach and achieves excellent outcomes. These are recognised by care managers and contribute to our reputation for having the ability to manage a wide range of care needs, from early on-set and risk reduction to advanced dementia and the possibility of challenging behaviour. We are developing a link with the Memory Service in London to assist with early intervention and prevention.

Our Care Supervisors, headed by Health Vision Registered Manager, Penny Bussey, have a wealth of experience and are expertly trained to understand the fundamentals of dementia care. We understand the importance of familiarity, including environment, language, foods and the benefits of familiar carers, visiting regularly at consistent times.  We set realistic client centred objectives for managing rejection of personal care and resistance to intrusion. We identify risks which require intervention but try to this in ways which support the client's independence. Our 'unanswered calls' policy is acted upon promptly, with care managers and/ or family notified of any concerns as soon as they are identified.

We involve family in detail of care planning where appropriate, with the intention of achieving a holistic understanding of the Service User so that we can develop a personalised care plan with the objective of maintaining as normal a life as possible. Familiar and trusted carers are able to provide the continuity for reminiscence and the reaffirming of easily lost memories and life experiences.

Dementia care training is included as a priority in Health Vision induction training for all new staff.  More specialised dementia training is undertaken for those who are chosen to be part of the Dementia Team. Care Supervisors undergo extensive dementia training with national dementia organisation, 'For Dementia'.

The registered manager is an Alzheimer's society approved trainer and has extensive experience of managing person-centred dementia care in therapeutic residential settings.