Dementia Care in Christchurch, Dorset

Dementia is a general term for a number of related symptoms affecting brain function. These can include loss of memory and may cause problems with thinking or speaking, reasoning, and mood changes.

Dementia is not a natural part of ageing, though the chance of developing dementia increases significantly with age. There are more than 100 known causes of dementia. The most known types are Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia.

Dementia Care In Christchurch, Dorset

Because the condition damages different areas of the brain and leads to a variety of challenging symptoms, every person’s experience of dementia is unique to the individual. It is for that reason that the most important aspect of dementia care is that it should be personal to the individual.

As part of this approach our home is designed around dedicated dementia support not only to help those with dementia to live well, but so they also feel comfortable and at home.

In tune with this approach we give residents the opportunity to enjoy a temporary respite stay with us so they have the chance to feel at home in a new environment and get to know the other residents and nursing staff.

Immersive Dementia Experiences

Fairmile Grange is a valuable dementia resource for the community, and as such is recognised in the area for providing innovative training to residents’ relatives and local healthcare professionals.

As dementia affects all the senses, we use innovative, specially adapted body suits in our Virtual Dementia Suit Training to simulate the effects and symptoms of ageing and dementia.

Personalised expert care

At Fairmile Grange we endeavour to learn as much about each resident’s past and their present as possible, enabling us to create a Care Plan as individual as they are. This helps us to consider your loved one’s care needs whilst respecting their preferences, lifestyle, interests, and routines.

We have specific floors that cater for different dementia needs – from the early signs of dementia, behaviour that becomes challenging, and end of life care.

Our dementia dedicated Clinical Leadership Team is supported by skilled care experts, from Home Managers to Clinical Leads and Senior Nurses.

Homely environments

Providing a familiar, safe environment that puts an individual at ease is a crucial element of dementia care. Having the right surroundings can play an important role in reducing stress levels, agitation, sleeplessness, wandering and aggression.

To this end Fairmile Grange is purpose-built to be dementia-friendly, from the layout of the building to sensitive décor and interior design. Our homely environment considers colour, lighting, layout, noise, and access to space and gardens – all factors that help ensure residents living with dementia feel at home and comfortable.

In this respect we encourage all residents to bring their own possessions, mementos, and photos to help trigger happy memories. At the entrance of each bedroom there are purpose-built memory boxes for residents to display some of these items.

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Healthy and delicious meals

We have professional chefs with the expertise to create freshly prepared and delicious 3-course meals that are nutritional, appetising and able to be adapted to suit the tastes of all our residents, including diets requiring specially prepared soft foods.

For residents on a puree diet, our chefs have the necessary skills to accommodate their needs by using techniques such as piping and moulds to recreate certain foods and textures that reproduce the tastes and appearance on the plate.

Sensory Gardens

Our landscaped gardens are designed around the seasons using carefully cultivated arrangements of plants with pleasant textures, colours or scents that residents will enjoy touching and smelling, and that may often promote reminiscence.

We have designed the gardens to create what we call a natural walking ‘flow’ so our residents can enjoy a continual walk around the garden features that avoids abrupt ends to paths. Raised flower beds are also carefully designed features that make it easier for residents to appreciate and tend if they wish.

Devoted Wellbeing Team

We have a range of activities that all of those living with dementia are encouraged to become actively involved in. As dementia affects people mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, we design our activities for their therapeutic and mentally stimulating influence.

The activities on our dementia floors are shaped around groups, or are carefully personalised one-to-one activities to suit individuals.

By learning what they can about each person’s interests, hobbies and preferences, and depending on the resident’s care needs, our Wellbeing team will choose activities that please all our residents and encourage them to participate, creating an environment where everyone feels included and engaged.

Contact the Fairmile Grange team today