As lockdown begins to ease, this might be the first time you are able to see your relative with dementia this year. With such a long time apart changes in their condition may be more apparent and trying to ensure COVID-19 guidance is followed may be particularly hard when your focus will be making sure the person with dementia is as safe and comfortable as possible. However it is important that we continue to stick to the rules to try and ensure we don’t have to deviate from the current roadmap.
The biggest news must be the ability to now visit loved ones in their care homes. This can be two visitors (one at a time) on a regular basis (ie the same two people must visit each time). This brings with it another set of challenges… what if your mum is in a care home and you are one of three siblings, how do you choose? How do you explain to your mum, when communication is more difficult, that one of her children isn’t allowed to visit. Although not perfect, it is progress and we will continue to arrange video calling for all those who are unable to visit for whatever reason.
With the widespread launch of free lateral flow testing, we hope that COVID-19 is coming under control and we will continue to test our staff regularly. We will also ask anyone entering the home to test and await their result before they are allowed to enter. Please bear this in mind if you are coming to visit, that you will need to arrive 30minutes prior to your slot to allow time to take the test and await the results.
For the foreseeable future we will continue to live with restrictions to protect the NHS and continue to save lives, so how can you start to introduce the “new normal” and begin to socialise once again with your loved one with dementia?
- Embrace the time you do get to spend together, bring photo albums and reminisce about happy memories. Photo albums can be a great source of stimulation and will help not only reminisce but keep your loved one in touch with what has been going on in the family during the various lockdowns.
- Use music to help stimulate conversation – play a favourite song or a song that takes you both back to a special event or place. Whenever I hear the lambada it always brings back a memory of my nana and grandad dancing on a warm sunny evening. It’s amazing how a song can take you right back to a moment in time.
- Get outside together, whether this is a walk along the beach, in a park, or perhaps there is an activity you enjoy together like painting in the garden, or a spot of tennis. Activities give your loved one a sense of purpose and belonging.
- Lockdowns have given even greater focus to technology and not everyone finds technology easy to use. It might be better to have a telephone call, rather than increase stress with new technology if your loved one hasn’t got the help they need. It is a good idea to call at regular times of the day to build a routine.
- You could also send things through the post to help with the continued feelings of isolation – the world is opening up, but it is slow and the feelings of loneliness continue. This could be a letter or a card, or perhaps you could put together a photo book with descriptions and messages from other family members.
With all the new rules and regulations and COVID-19 guidance, remember this may be confusing and worrying for someone living with dementia. Continue to be understanding and patient and help them through the transition period to when we can hopefully all be together again.