The word ‘dementia’ is seen as a kind of umbrella term as it shelters a large number of concepts, conditions and illnesses.  The majority of those with dementia are elderly.  The most common forms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, then vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies and dementia can also be associated with other illnesses and conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease Korsakoff’s syndrome and Pick’s disease.

At Aranlaw House, we follow the Dr. Gemma Jones model of care giving which concentrates on four different behavioural stages in dementia.  We are able to provide support, prompting and reassurance in the earliest stage, followed by increasing supervision, social stimulation and help with personal care as the stages progress.  We can also meet the general needs and disabilities of old age on a twenty-four hour basis and the home is well equipped with a range of equipment, such as hoists, assisted baths and walk-in showers, pressure relieving mattresses and cushions etc, to support older people.

We aim to meet each resident’s specific needs, including health, social, cultural, religious and dietary needs.  To achieve this, we will ensure that all residents have a care plan detailing each of their individual care needs and how these will be met.

The environment at Aranlaw House has been carefully planned to make it more ‘homely’ and to help people with dementia to find their way around more easily.  For instance, we have used special signage to assist recognition where needed.  We have bedroom door plaques in place, which contain the occupant’s name and a picture or visual image to assist them in locating their room.  Our corridors have different themes, such as a street, garden or beach scene, to help residents recognise where they are.  Our handrails are all topped with a brightly coloured band to help residents locate the handrail and increase their safety and independence when walking.  Bedroom and toilet doors are brightly coloured so they can be more easily located.

Communal lounge and dining facilities are available on each of our three floors where residents can enjoy socialising, taking part in activities, watching television, listening to music or just sitting quietly.  We also have a secure sensory garden where residents can walk or sit and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in pleasant, relaxing surroundings.

We always involve appropriate health and social care professionals in the care of our residents, to ensure they receive the best possible care.  Staff training needs are constantly monitored and reviewed to ensure that the appropriate skills available match those required for the quality care and support of our residents.  We also seek to ensure that their knowledge is always up to date to enable them to carry out their work appropriately.  We provide a range of policies and procedures to assist and support staff in this. We always ensure we have sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of our residents.