We have a range of experienced care workers who are able to care for you or your loved ones.
What conditions do we care for?
Dementia care
There are approximately 50 million people in the world today that have been diagnosed with Dementia. We offer experienced care workers who specialise in caring for people with their own individual needs. Dementia is a condition in which there is a gradual loss of brain function (Royal College of psychiatrists)
A condition in which there is a gradual loss of brain function (Royal College of psychiatrists). Different types of Dementia:
Alzheimer’s Disease
This is the most common form of dementia. It was named after Alois Alzheimer, the German doctor who first recognised and described the disease. The brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s do not function properly because ‘plaques’ develop around them and the cells can no longer communicate efficiently with each other. The symptoms develop slowly (scils).
Vascular Dementia
The vascular system is the network of veins and arteries that carry blood around the body. If the vascular network within the brain is not functioning properly parts of the brain will be deprived of blood and oxygen and affected brain cells will die. There are two main types:
- Single infarct dementia – may be caused by a stroke
- Multi-infarct dementia – may be caused by a series of small strokes (scils)
Lewy-body Dementia
Named after the doctor who identified them in 1912 (Frederich Lewy). They are tiny protein deposits found in the nerve cells, they disrupt the normal processes of the brain and cause dementia. This is more likely to affect people over 65.
Fronto-temporal lobe dementia (Pick’s disease)
Named after Arnold Pick who first identified the disease in 1892, when examining the brain of a man who died from dementia and progressive speech difficulties, caused by damage to the frontal and temporal areas of the brain which control personality, behaviour, emotional reactions and language skills. This is more likely to affect people under the age of 65.
Rarer causes of dementia
- Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease (CJD)
- Korsakoffs syndrome – Alcohol related Dementia
- HIV/AIDS
- Multiple sclerosis
- Motor neurone disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Down’s Syndrome Dementia
What are the benefits of receiving Dementia care at home?
- Peace of mind for you and your loved ones that you are being cared for in your own environment
- Familiar surroundings and faces
- Person centered 1:1 care
- Regular social interaction
- Home cooked meals which will provide you with a balanced nutritious diet
- Increase confidence and self-esteem
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is a type of Dementia that affects an individual’s memory, behaviour and thinking.
Alzheimer’sDisease is known as a progressive condition. There are a number of factors that are thought to increase the risk of developing Dementia such as;
- Increasing age
- Family history
- Untreated depression
- Lifestyle factors
The general signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s are:
- Problems with speech or language
- Difficulty making decisions
- Hallucinations
- Personality changes
- Low mood or anxiety
What are the benefits of receiving Alzehmier’s care at home?
- Peace of mind for you and your loved ones that you are being cared for in your own environment
- Familiar surroundings and faces
- Person centered 1:1 care from experienced care workers
- Regular social interaction
- Support with day to day activities
- Home cooked meals which will provide you with a balanced nutritious diet
- Increase confidence and self-esteem
- Remain in your community
- Support to participate in regular exercise
- Be supported to maintain relationships with family and friends
Stroke
A stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
A stroke is a life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. A stroke can happen to anyone at any age.
It is important that we all know the FAST warning signs.
The signs that someone is having a stroke are:
F – is the individual’s face slumped on one side? (FACE)
A – is the individual unable to lift their arm? (ARMS)
S – is the individual’s speech slurred or mumbled? (SPEECH)
T – if you notice any of the above symptoms, call 999 immediately and seek medical advice (TIME)
People who have suffered from a stroke may experience delayed speech or partial paralysis.
A person having a stroke can also experience symptoms such as; blurred visions, severe headaches, confusion and sudden weakness or numbness.
There are three types of strokes. The first being an Ischaemic stroke which is caused by a blockage which cuts off the blood supply to the brain. Research has found that approximately 85% of strokes are Ischaemic strokes.
The second type of stroke is called a Haemorrhagic stroke whereby blood leaks from a blood vessel in or around the brain. Around 15% of strokes are Haemorrhagic, which tend to affect younger people.
The third type of stroke is known as a TIA (transient ischaemic attack) which is the same as a stroke but the symptoms tend to be in a shorter burst. This is usually a warning sign that you are at risk of having a stroke.
What are the benefits of receiving Stroke care at home?
- Peace of mind for you and your loved ones that you are being cared for in your own environment
- Person centered 1:1 care from experienced care workers
- Regular social interaction
- Support with day to day activities
- Home cooked meals which will provide you with a balanced nutritious diet
- Increase confidence and self-esteem
- Remain in your community
- Support to carry out regular exercises as prescribed by your physiotherapist
COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.
It includes:
- Emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs
- Chronic bronchitis – long term inflammation of the airways
COPD is a common condition that mainly affects older adults who smoke. Many people do not realise that they have it. People who suffer from COPD tend to have breathing problems which get gradually worse over time.
Heart disease
Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.
Heart disease is caused by conditions that narrow or block blood vessels. There are several different types of heart disease, some of those being;
- Coronary Heart Disease (is usually caused by a buildup of fatty deposits on the walls of the coronary arteries which are situated around the heart)
- Arrhythmias (is when the hearts rhythm is abnormal, this may mean that the heart is beating too fast, slow or irregularly)
- Congenital Heart defects (is known as a birth defect which can affect the structure of a baby’s heart and the way in which it works)
- Heart valve disease (is when one or more of the heart valves become damaged or diseased)
- Disease of the heart muscle (causes difficulty for the heart to pump blood around the rest of the body)
- Heart infection (also known as ‘Endocarditis’, is a infection of the inner lining of the heart)
There are several risk factors that may increase the chances of someone being diagnosed with Heart Disease such as;
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Stress
- High blood cholesterol
- Lack of physical activity
- Alcohol
- Family history
- Diabetes
The main symptoms of Coronary heart disease are:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Pain throughout the body
- Feeling faint
- Nausea
- Swollen limbs
- Breathlessness
What are the benefits of receiving Heart Disease care at home?
- Peace of mind for you and your loved ones that you are being cared for in your own environment
- Person centered 1:1 care from experienced care workers
- Regular social interaction
- Support with day to day activities
- Home cooked meals which will provide you with a balanced nutritious diet
- Increase confidence and self-esteem
- Remain in your community
- Support with dietary requirements
- Support with prescribed medication
Arthritis
There are two types of Arthritis, these being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
There are more than 100 types of Arthritis although the most common types are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
A reduction in the normal amount of cartilage in the joints can cause a person to develop Arthritis. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber when you put pressure on a particular joint.
Some infections can also break down Cartilage which in effect can cause a person to develop Arthritis.
People of all ages and gender can develop Arthritis although it is more commonly found in women.
Osteoarthritis affects the smooth cartilage lining of the joint. This makes movement more difficult for someone who has Arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is when the bodies immune system targets affected joints which leads to swelling and pain.
The symptoms of Arthritis usually develop over time.
Signs and symptoms include:
- Joint stiffness – especially in the mornings
- Pain and discomfort
- Redness of the skin around affected joints
- Reduced range of motion
- Weakness and muscle wastage
There are several different ways in which the pain and discomfort from Arthritis can be reduced. These include; heating pads and ice packs, prescribed medication, physical therapy and in some cases surgery.
What are the benefits of receiving Arthritis care at home?
- Peace of mind for you and your loved ones that you are being cared for in your own environment
- Person centered 1:1 care from experienced care workers
- Regular social interaction
- Support with day to day activities
- Home cooked meals which will provide you with a balanced nutritious diet
- Increase confidence and self-esteem
- Remain in your community
- Support to carry out regular exercises as prescribed by your physiotherapist
Motor neurone disease
Motor neurone disease affects the brain and nerves.
Motor Neurone Disease affects the brain and spinal cord. The symptoms tend to increase overtime. Motor Neurone Disease causes the messages from the motor neurones to gradually stop reaching the muscles which leads to muscle weakness, muscle stiffness and muscle wastage.
Around 5,000 people in the UK currently have Motor Neurone Disease.
Motor Neurone Disease can be difficult to diagnose and usually other conditions are ruled out before Motor Nuerone Disease can be diagnosed.
Early symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease can include:
- Weakness in your ankle and legs
- Slurred speech
- Weak grip
- Muscle cramps and twitches
- Weight loss
The Motor Neurone’s control muscle activity such as;
- Walking
- Speaking
- Swallowing
- Breathing
- Gripping
What are the benefits of receiving Motor Neurone Disease care at home?
- Peace of mind for you and your loved ones that you are being cared for in your own environment
- Person centered 1:1 care from experienced care workers
- Regular social interaction
- Support with day to day activities
- Home cooked meals which will provide you with a balanced nutritious diet
- Increase confidence and self-esteem
- Remain in your community
- Support with mobility aids
Post operative care
We understand that after surgery you will still be recovering and maybe not feeling your best.
There are many reasons why someone may require surgery.
We understand that after surgery you will still be recovering and may not be feeling your best. We offer experienced care workers to make your recovery process much smoother which will put you and your loved one’s mind at ease.
Before you are discharged from hospital your doctor should provide you with a discharge plan.
Our experienced care workers are able to help you with exercises that have been prescribed by your physiotherapist.
Everyone’s recovery time from an operation can vary but it’s important to have someone on hand in case you need them, this may be support with personal care, food shopping, support to and from appointments, light household duties or meal preparation depending on your needs.
What are the benefits of receiving Post-Operative care at home?
- Peace of mind for you and your loved ones that you are being cared for in your own environment
- Person centered 1:1 care from experienced care workers
- Regular social interaction
- Support with day to day activities
- Home cooked meals which will provide you with a balanced nutritious diet
- Increase confidence and self-esteem
- Support to and from appointments
- Support with exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis affects the brain and spinal cord.
Multiple sclerosis affects the brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis can cause problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.
The main symptoms of multiple sclerosis include:
- Fatigue
- Mobility problems
- Blurred vision
- Problems with incontinence
- Numbness or tingling in different parts of the body
- Muscle stiffness and spasms
- Problems with balance and coordination
- Problems thinking, learning and planning
References
- NHS Choices website: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/pages/introduction.aspx
- Alzheimer’s Society website: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk
- On line talking point, an online forum for discussions about
- dementia related issues:
- Age UK: www.ageuk.org.uk
- Scils website (Social Care Information & learning Services): www.scils.co.uk
- Royal college of psychiatrics: www.rcpsychac.uk
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronary-heart-disease/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronary-heart-disease/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/motor-neurone-disease/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/multiple-sclerosis/