Insights on dementia care during COVID-19

It was a privilege to be invited to speak on behalf of Home Instead Senior Care globally on the Alzheimer’s Disease International webinar this week. As the global voice on dementia, ADI have run some interesting sessions to showcase how organisations have been adapting during COVID-19 to best support the millions of people affected by dementia globally.

Home Instead has been a proud supporter of Alzheimer’s Disease International for more than 10 years, our Founder Paul Hogan has served on World Dementia Council since 2016 and CEO Jeff Huber is on the WEF Board of Governors for the Council on Global Health and Healthcare Industries.

Being part of these bodies has been hugely beneficial to hear and share insights from other companies on how we can give people with dementia a voice and the opportunity to live well at home.

The session by Alzheimer’s Disease International highlighted the challenges the pandemic has had on people living with dementia and how care providers are adapting to the challenges so I thought I would share some insights on behalf of Home Instead.

Continuity of care has never been more important

The pandemic has no doubt caused anxiety and confusion amongst many people but particularly for people living with dementia. Having the same CAREGiver visit and offering continuity has been a lifeline for many older people who have been reassured by a familiar face. Relationship-based care has been key for us in helping care and reassure people with dementia during this time.

“The extraordinary has become the new ordinary”

The situation is going to continue for a considerable amount of time, so we need to look to the future and how care is delivered. It’s been heart-breaking to see older clients not able to see loved ones but heart-warming to see how many have been able to use video technology with their CAREGiver to connect with family members and friends.

Small gestures make such a difference

CAREGivers wearing PPE can be upsetting and confusing for clients with dementia and so we’ve worked on simple touches such as putting a photograph of the CAREGiver on their apron so the client can still understand who it is. CAREGivers have also helped clients adapt to a change of routine – for example not being able to leave the house for a shopping trip and instead helping them to order their shopping online.

Supporting care workers is key

We’ll have all proudly stood on our doorsteps and clapped for our carers but it’s important that this recognition is continued and that they continue to feel safe and empowered to do their job. Now more than ever all care workers, like our CAREGivers need wellbeing support, access to counselling and ongoing training and support to keep delivering highest levels of care. This is so important to us and why it was also fantastic that recent feedback from a survey we held of 4,700 CAREGivers showed that 89% felt that their manager cared about their wellbeing and 92% felt safe at work.

To find out more insights, you can watch the webinar in full below with Home Instead featured around 30 minutes in.

Stay safe everyone.