Live-in Care from Helping Hands always focuses on the health and well-being of the person we’re caring for. Our fully trained Carers are personal care experts; they undergo continuous assessment and are supported every step of the way by Live-in Care managers.
Our clients may be suffering from one, or several, of the 45 conditions we are trained to care for. We will regularly update this section with articles, news stories or ideas to help you ensure that the health and well-being of our client, your loved one, remains our collective priority.
Alzheimer’s, Dementia & Mental Health
According to a Memory Improvement study published last year, it only takes about 10 minutes of conversation to improve your memory. The University of Michigan tested people as old as 96 years of age and concluded that socializing was just as effective at boosting memory and intellectual performance as more typical mental exercises, like crosswords or puzzles.
Not a new idea
The idea of using mental stimulation to exercise your brain, to help avoid the onset of Dementia or Alzheimer’s is not new. Abundant research has suggested the "use it or lose it" mantra for years. However, many of the suggested mental stimulation games, particularly electronic games and puzzles, can often be daunting. Less daunting perhaps is a cup of tea, a biscuit and a chat with a friend, neighbor or Carer.
Companionship is important in Dementia Care
The results of this study reinforce a strongly held view by our staff here at Helping Hands; we put great value on companionship. Some of our clients have very mild conditions that don’t necessarily require full time one-to-one Live-in Care, but they love the companionship they get from their Carers. If they don’t have family or mobile friends nearby, just the fact that they have someone to listen or to talk to is important.
A significant study
The University of Michigan study was carried out on a sample of 3,610 people between the ages of 24 and 96. Their mental function was assessed through a mini-mental exam; a test that measures knowledge of personal information, current events and also includes a simple test of working memory.
Then the participants' levels of social interaction were assessed by asking how often each week they talked on the phone with friends, relatives and neighbours, and how often they got together.
After controlling for a wide range of demographic variables, as well as for physical health and depression, the researchers looked at the connection and found that the higher the level of social interaction, the better the cognitive function results.
This held true for all age groups, from the youngest to the oldest. The findings also suggested that social isolation may have a negative effect on intellectual abilities as well as emotional well-being, which is another reason why the elderly should not be left alone.
Dementia Care
Our Dementia Care experts at Helping Hands agree with the results from the University. Samantha Grabham, Head of the Live-in Care Department at Helping Hands has worked in the Care business for 21 years and suggests “Spending time with a friend or a loved one, just chatting or reminiscing is excellent mental stimulation. Some of our personalised care packages are built around companionship for those who are still capable, but suffer with lower level Dementia and have no-one else to turn to.”