Are you the loved one of an elderly person with dementia? It’s such a tough time to navigate, and you can feel like the weight of the world is upon your shoulders. Seeing your mum, dad, or grandparent suffer from dementia is one of the worst things you can experience in life. That’s why finding dementia aged care in Mount Gravatt, or nearby to wherever you live, is so important. It is essential that you find the very best quality aged care service provider to look after your loved one, and that you do your due diligence when seeking a provider. This informative article will share the top questions that you should ask dementia aged care providers when choosing from a shortlist, so that you can be sure your loved one will receive excellent, quality care. Continue reading to learn what the questions you should ask are.
Availability and Waiting Lists
The first thing that you should ask is if the facility has availability, or if there is a waiting list. All the other questions are moot if a provider cannot admit your loved one due to capacity issues. If there is a waiting list, you need to know how long it is, as you’ll need to sort out care for your family member until a bed opens up.
Staff Training, Ratios and Care Approach
You should definitely ask some questions about the levels of training and qualifications that the aged care staff hold, as well as the facility’s approach to caring for patients with dementia.
It is worth asking what specific dementia care training their staff have completed, and how often it is updated. You want to ensure that your loved one will receive the utmost standard of quality care possible, and a decent provider should be able to answer this question with confidence and trust in the calibre of their staff.
You may also want to ask about staffing ratios, such as the staff-to-resident ratios during the day, evening and overnight, with a good ratio being 7:1 for the morning, 8:1 for afternoon, and 1:15 for overnight. If a provider is unable or unwilling to answer these questions, instead opt for a provider who can answer them with confidence and commitment.
Furthermore, you’ll want to ask about behavioural support, such as how the provider manages both behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Ask if they attempt non-pharmacological strategies before defaulting to using medication to manage symptoms. It is much preferable for behavioural management to not default to medication in the first instance.
Continuity of Care
You’ll want to ask some questions about continuity of care for your loved one as they transition to the dementia aged care service provider. Ask if their GP can visit the facility to ensure a smooth transition from home to care. Also, you may want to ask if any dementia specialists visit the facility, or if they have a hospital transition plan available in case things deteriorate or if any off-site travel for appointments is required.
Environment and Safety
It is worth asking some key questions around the environment and safety for your loved one. For instance, is the dementia care unit integrated with general aged care residents, or is their unit a dedicated, secure and structured support environment?
You can also ask about freedom of movement and how the facility balances safe wandering and movement with secure perimeters, with features such as keypads or alarmed doors. People with dementia can wander and get into trouble, so it’s important that the provider can answer these questions with confidence.
In addition, you can ask some questions about the sensory environment of the unit, such as how the provider minimises heavy noise, harsh overhead lighting, and general confusion and bedlam in common areas. Ideally, you’ll want a calm, soothing and safe space for your loved one suffering from dementia.
Daily Life, Nutrition and Communication
Next up on your useful list of questions to ask are the topics of daily life, nutrition and communication on the unit. You’ll want to ask the providers you’re considering what structured or sensory activities occur during unscheduled or quiet times. Do they have games, art, craft and other things that your loved one can engage in to pass the time? You’ll want to ensure that these activities are safe for your loved one to participate in.
When it comes to nutrition, you should ask the provider how they handle changes in eating habits, swallowing difficulties and specialised dietary needs. Do they have speech pathology and dietitian specialists available to assist with this?
Next up is how the provider intends to communicate with the family. How, and how often, do staff communicate changes in a resident’s condition and behaviour to you? Some people prefer frequent, small updates, while others are happy with more information but less frequently. This will depend on your personal preferences.
Costs and Future Planning
This is an important topic, and one you should ask some targeted questions about. You should ask providers what exact services are covered by their fees, and what additional expenses there are. For instance, are toiletries, outings and specialised therapies covered by the general fee, or are these optional extras with an additional cost?
With regard to future planning, does the aged care provider have any policies around “ageing in place”, so that your loved one can stay there as their dementia progresses into the advanced stages, or will they need to relocate later on to a hospice or more specialised facility?
In Summary
This helpful article has explored choosing dementia aged care providers, and has listed some key questions to ask as you explore care for your loved one. You’ll want to ask about availability and wait lists, as well as staff training and continuity of care. Furthermore, ask about the environment and safety factors, as well as daily life, nutritional needs and communication. You should also ask about the fee structure and future planning. Make sure that you write down the questions to ask, and bring these to your meetings with providers, to ensure that your loved one receives the best standard of care possible.
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