Dementia Awareness Week 2016 – Day Five

At Carefound Home Care we have been providing a story from members of our team each day during Dementia Awareness Week 2016. Today is Day 5 and we have a brilliant article from Jo White who is part of our hourly care team in Harrogate.

Jo provides a brilliant example of the importance of promoting self-confidence and independence in trying to achieve well-being for a person living with dementia. She also demonstrates the value of getting to know the person and remembering that they are the expert about their dementia.

“Part of my role as a home carer is to visit a wonderful lady who is living with dementia. I assist her with the day-to-day tasks that she struggles to perform, the ones we all do without giving a second thought to and just take for granted. This assistance is given subtlety and with gentle prompting as to promote self-confidence and well-being.

The most rewarding part of my job is getting to know my clients. This particular lady is 92 and has a great sense of humour, we have the most weird and wonderful conversations about things past and present. With the continuity of care we provide, over a short period of time we come to know the real person behind the dementia. I discovered this lady’s love of Frank Sinatra. Just the mere mention of his name and her face lights up. We have sat many times watching Mr Sinatra on DVDs singing along together.

I know I make a difference to this lovely lady’s day with the care and assistance I provide for her and she definitely makes a difference to mine. It’s a pleasure to spend time with her and to listen to her stories, and of course to sing along to old blues eyes.”