Dementia care case studies

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Joan’s story – dementia case study

Switching from a care home to live-in care

For the families that we support, deciding that their loved one needs additional support can be a difficult choice to make. For Joan, whose husband, Peter, had vascular dementia, having a live-in carer helped to keep her family together.

After feeling let down by a care home, Joan came across our 24-hour care support. After talking through our services and her family’s needs, we provided her with profiles of some of our carers. Lazlo’s profile stood out immediately.

Lazlo and Peter built a close friendship and other members of Joan’s family also loved having Lazlo around. As Peter neared the end of his life, Lazlo helped to make sure he was as comfortable as possible. He also worked closely with other healthcare professionals involved in Peter’s care, and helped his loved ones in any way he could.

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Sue’s story – dementia case study

A daughter’s peace of mind

What matters most to the families we support is that their loved one is safe and comfortable. When Sue needed some more support for her mother, Barbara, she decided that a live-in carer would be the best option.

Barbara’s carer, Rosemary, quickly became part of the family. She cooks Barbara’s favourite meals, tends to her personal care needs, and even listens to her stories about her adventures in the Pembrokeshire countryside, where they have also taken short breaks together.

Sue says, “Live-in care has made such a difference. [Mum] is so much more contented, she doesn’t have to worry – and neither do I – about somebody different coming in.”

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Andy's story – dementia case study

Expert care for a declining condition

Andy’s mother was living with dementia and her condition suddenly started to worsen. The daycare she was receiving couldn’t stretch to overnight support, and Andy and his siblings all lived an hour or more away.

On the recommendation of a visiting nurse, Andy contacted Helping Hands. “Very quickly things started falling into place,” he said. “I never felt that I was talking to anyone other than professionals, and yet it was done with an empathy which was greatly appreciated.”

Andy explained how we found the right carer for his mum. “Mum’s needs were expertly assessed without coming across as intrusive. We were also invited to provide our thoughts as to the sort of person who would get on best with Mum, the village environment and the friends with whom she would become acquainted.”

After three months of live-in care, during which time Andy said that his mother’s decline “seemed to have slowed”, the family made the decision to move her to a care home so she would be closer to them.

Andy described their Helping Hands carer saying, “I have absolutely no doubt that on this member of staff’s ‘watch’ Mum had a great time… We would often call to speak to Mum and simply had to bail out because Mum and them were giggling too much!

“I have to say I don’t know where we would have been over these three months without their dedication and support,” added Andy. “Thanks to all involved in my mother’s care.”