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Welsh care company offers free advice on making a home more dementia-friendly
| Published: 29th July 2020 15:18 |
A WELSH care provider is offering people who have loved-ones with dementia staying in their own home free advice on making their spaces more dementia-friendly (July 2020).
ISS Healthcare says it advocates the importance of people with the condition to be able to remain in their own home, but it must be safe for them to do so.
Caroline Jones, Regional Manager at ISS Healthcare, which provides care to people in their own homes in Torfaen and the surrounding areas and has offices at Torfaen Business Centre, said: “There are lots of people out there who have loved-ones with dementia living in their own homes and we feel it’s important that these people remain safe in their own surroundings. We always offer our expert advice to the loved-ones of our service users with the condition and thought we would also offer it to anyone out there who might need it.
“It can be worrying to know that a family member is at home alone, but by putting these small measures into place, they can act as some reassurance.
“The most important piece of advice we can give is to make sure the person with dementia’s home is secure and deters any potential thieves. This could mean installing visible security devices, locking garden sheds and tools and making sure doors and windows are secure at all times. A letter box cage can be fitted on the front door to deter thieves further as this will restrict them from tampering with locks by putting their hands through the letter box. Valuables should also be locked away and keys placed out of sight.
“Ensure there is good lighting throughout the home so the person living there can see clearly and make sense of where they are. Check that any natural light is not blocked, and windows are cleaned regularly.
“When it comes to décor and accessories in the home, it’s important for a person with dementia to be able to distinguish the difference between objects and rooms. Try keeping the colours of beds, tables and chairs plain but contrasting with walls and floors. You should avoid patterns and stripes as they can cause confusion.”
ISS Healthcare provides care support to thousands of people, with services commissioned through authorities in the area or purchased privately by individual service users or their families.
Its aim is to deliver care, which improves the lives of its service users and that treats them, and their families, with respect, dignity and compassion.
ISS Healthcare believes its services should not only comply with regulatory standards, but that it also delivers excellence and promote overall wellbeing.
Caroline added: “You can also install contrasting coloured toilet sets, rails, taps and towels to make it easier for the person to find them. The person living at home might also benefit from visual clues and labels. These can be placed on cupboards, drawers, wardrobes and even on doors to certain rooms.
“You should also make sure your loved-one has essential items such as glasses, keys and other household items close by, within easy reach.
“If anyone is worried about a relative currently living at home and feels they might need extra assistance, they can get in touch with us about the care services we provide.
“While the changes advised can be made to a service user’s home when they first take on a care contract with us, their needs may change and as our carers will be visiting on a regular basis, they are able to determine what does and doesn’t work for the service user and can advise accordingly.”
ISS Healthcare offers flexible and supported work for kind, committed and reliable people, who have excellent communication skills and a genuine care for others.
Caroline continued: “Being a carer is a highly skilled, professional vocational occupation that is essential to the fabric of our society and the beauty of a job for life means people can start at the very bottom and work their way up with training and qualifications.
“We’re looking for kind and caring individuals to join our team. We can offer people who work in rural areas the opportunity to become a carer in their community. We have found that there are often people living in the same small community as someone who needs care and support and who would be pleased to work for us, if only with one or two people.
“Anyone looking for work can register with us and we can let them know when work becomes available in their area. Working in a close-knit community enables a richer relationship between the carer and the person supported, as they can have more in common and can also pop in more easily.
“Where this kind of match between the person needing support and the carer can be made it also helps enormously with safety during the winter months, as locally based carers can almost always reach someone even in heavy rain or snow.”
To enquire about a position, people can call ISS Healthcare on 01495 759977 or leave a message on its Facebook page at https://bit.ly/345tgvU. Alternatively, people can apply for positions via Indeed at https://indeedhi.re/2JBKAiU.
New recruits are given free uniforms, access to national staff discount scheme for many major brands, as well as 28 days paid holiday, paid travel between calls and paid mileage.
“We offer competitive wages, generous holiday allocation and a refer a friend bonus scheme. It is a great opportunity for people to achieve recognised qualifications and they’ll also have access to exclusive discounts online and in-store from retailers including Tesco, Primark and Argos, as well as discounts covering holidays and electrical goods.
“Being a carer is a highly skilled, professional vocational occupation that is essential to the fabric of our society and the beauty of a job for life means people can start by training with us and work their way up the career ladder gaining further training and qualifications. In today’s changing world of employment, we pride ourselves on being able to offer long-term job security and career prospects.
“Thanks to modern technology we are able to conduct interviews via FaceTime and Skype for speed and to ensure people don’t leave their homes unnecessarily. We could receive a person’s application and have them on a FaceTime call the same day. The Government has also taken steps to ensure a quicker turnaround on DBS checks, so we can get people into work even quicker.”
For more information about ISS Healthcare, please call 01495 759977 or visit www.isshealthcare.co.uk.
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