Belmont Lodge offers support for people worried about dementia

With the growing incidence of dementia now receiving far more national attention, Chigwell care home Belmont Lodge opened its doors to visitors on 19 May, for Dementia Awareness Week (18-24 May 2015), to find out more about caring for those living with the condition.

“There can be very few people who don’t have friends or family who have been touched by dementia, and yet it is quite remarkable how little people know about making life easier for those living with the condition,” comments manager, Maureen McDonagh. “We desperately need to educate anyone who might come into contact with people living with dementia about some of the simplest ways of dealing with them, particularly to try to avoid causing them more confusion in stressful situations, and we hope that members of the public will come along to see best practice in operation during Dementia Awareness Week.”

One common example is when those with the condition ask about people from their past – often forgetting that parents or partners have passed away.   “Our natural instinct is to try to correct them, but this will cause them stress and more confusion. If you imagine that they may believe they have seen the person very recently – because in their minds, they are living a memory – it would be deeply distressing to hear that a person has died. Instead, you need to step into their world and offer calm reassurance. This technique can make a huge difference to their wellbeing, and you can see it in action every day in the home,” explains Maureen.

The home’s events team organised a pampering session on Tuesday 19 May to highlight some of the many practical ways in which dementia can be managed and so visitors can see the kinds of events residents at the home enjoy and benefit from.

Visitors are welcome to drop in and chat to staff and residents any time from 10.00am to 4.00pm. The home also welcomes visits at any time from those looking for residential care for themselves or a loved one, with no appointment necessary.

“At Belmont Lodge we are passionate about giving all our residents, including those with dementia, the opportunity to be included in everything that goes on in the home. It’s all about keeping them happy, healthy and stimulated,” says Maureen.

Belmont Lodge is located on Fencepiece Road in Chigwell, and offers 24-hour residential care for older people, with a particular specialism in dementia care. The home has 40 bedrooms, most of which have ensuite facilities, and five day rooms where residents can enjoy views over the beautiful gardens. The home is one of 13 in the Forest Healthcare family of homes, offering excellent care throughout Greater London and the South East. For more information, please call 0208 500 5222 or visit www.foresthc.com. For those looking for a suitable home for a loved one, visits are welcome at any time with no appointment necessary.

ENDS

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Pyper York Limited

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