Clifden House

The word ‘dementia’ describes symptoms that may initially show in mood changes. The symptoms often include difficulties with thinking, language, day-to-day memory, planning and orientation. Yet it is the manner in which the symptoms become apparent, and more obvious to friends and families of sufferers, that make this such a difficult and emotionally trying disease. In fact, one of the best definitions we have come across to the describe the illness is one where the sufferer may have no idea that they are unwell.

Imagine being confronted by someone in your home who is claiming, however gently and empathetically, that they are there to give you a bath. Your confusion at this event, even if you cannot remember that the same thing occurred the day before, and the day before that, may swiftly turn to exasperation or even anger at the ridiculous idea that someone should be here to bathe you. Yet you may not have been aware that perhaps you’ve been unable to look after yourself quite as well lately. You’re forgetting your meals, or having issues cooking on your old kitchen, and beginning to lose weight, and forgetting your medication because that used to be taken after dinner, and you haven’t been out in a while, or caught up with concerned family, and so on.

So how do you give someone a bath when they don’t even recognise that they need help with this previously straightforward part of their day? By gaining their consent, their real consent, through communicating the idea of a rewarding rest in warm water and a cosy environment or freshening up in the shower so that the reward becomes their idea, their goal, we can then assist them to achieve another positive in their day.

At Clifden House we negotiate this learning and relearning with each individual in many different areas, perhaps several times a day. This requires special patience and fortitude from our carers. We care deeply about our residents and have specific training to help them with their needs, whatever they might be.

Initially you may see that the person is withdrawn, anxious or unusually sad. This may start off in small ways and grow over time to become more noticeable. With some types of dementia, the person may also suffer from visual hallucinations or become delusional.

We take an individual approach to each resident, working alongside families to find out things they liked doing, and all our staff are fully trained in managing symptoms. Often, this can be as simple as taking the time to sit with a resident and talking to them about their day, in order to open up all and any lines of communication at a time when communicating previously straightforward thoughts and emotions has become complicated, difficult and frustrating.

Clifden House Dementia Care Centre has been delivering exceptional residential and respite care for 50 years. It aims to maximise each individual’s potential through choice, reducing the use of unnecessary medication and alleviating the symptoms of dementia in a caring and supportive environment.