Care UK publishes free guide to inspire families caring for loved ones with dementia

Care provider has produced a guide filled with 100 practical tips about living and caring for a loved one with dementia.

It will provide home carers with a set of ideas on how to improve and maintain the independence of the person with dementia as well as suggestions for fun activities to do together which will support their quality of life.

Ideas range from visiting the local library to find large print books, to ensuring that someone can independently find their favourite tea and biscuits by keeping them in a familiar place in the kitchen.

The guide offers craft activities such as flower arranging and games like ‘guess the intro’ by using songs their loved one enjoyed when they were younger.

Deirdre Timney, Care UK’s expert on Activity Based Care, said: “Thousands of people around the country are caring for a friend or loved one who is living with dementia, and many of them will never have access to any kind of training or support.

“This book is designed to offer real-life examples and practical hints and tips about how to care for someone and some of them may be a surprise – for example, we suggest that sometimes, taking a step back and doing a little less can be the best way to help someone keep their independence.

“We’ve included a wide range of ideas, from simply reminiscing over old photos to gentle exercise and how to manage trips out.”

As well as tips on things to do with a person with dementia, the guide suggests that carers join a local club or support group to minimise the feeling of isolation that can affect family carers.

The guide is also directed at families visiting someone in a care home to help them make the most of their time visiting a resident.

Maizie Mears-Owen head of dementia care, Care UK said: “Quality of life and life experiences are important to us all – from being able to choose what we would like to eat to how we would like to spend our days. Activity Based Care, ABC, is one of the approaches that has the flexibility to provide meaningful occupation, hobbies and interests in both a group and individual basis.”

Care UK was founded in 1982, and now is a provider of health and social care services in the UK offering support for people living in the community and running GP centres, hospitals and care homes.