North Yorkshire families urged to get support for loved one with dementia
There are concerns many are reaching crisis point
Dementia care specialists in North Yorkshire are challenging the perception around care in older age after new research has shown that many are waiting until crisis point before seeking help.
Many families admitted to being unsure what different types of care involve, with confusion around residential care, nursing care, dementia care, respite care and social care.
More than half of those surveyed by Vida Healthcare (57%) said they moved a loved one into a care home after a health crisis, compared to just over a third (36%) who had planned and considered the move for some time.
More than half (57%) said their loved one was reluctant to move, and more than a third said they had only spoken to them about a care home as they were about to leave their home. 43% even admitting to lying to loved ones during the process.
Three quarters said having the conversation was very hard and those who admitted to putting it off said they did it because they felt guilty (36%), didn’t want it to reach the point of needing a care home (30%) and because they were unsure of how to have the conversation (26%).
Almost a quarter of those surveyed (20%) said their perceptions of care homes were negative, however those who have had loved ones in care felt very differently.
Bernadette Mossman is from Vida heathcare who runs specialist dementia homes in Harrogate and says it's heart-breaking to see people getting desperate: "That crisis point could be anything from the carer being in crisis to the person who needs care. Basically it's out of their control then, they are in a situation where someone else steps in and makes decisions for them and nobody wants that."
"It's really important to look at this now and look at what can be done to help support people on that journey. So they can continue to have control of their future and their loved ones future."
"People have preconceived ideas of what care homes are. We feel it's very important to welcome people at their earliest point to come and see us. Even if care isn't required at that time, there loved one might have a diagnosis which requires are care in the future."