Dementia is an umbrella term for the range of progressive conditions that affect the brain. Each type of dementia stops a person’s brain cells (neurones) from working properly, which usually reduces their ability to think, remember and speak.

At Arlington House we are experienced and skilled in helping residents who are living with dementia. We go to great lengths to remove any potential obstacles that may prevent them from living their best possible life.

One case in point is the level of our staff training. Gita Luthra (co-owner of Arlington House) recently completed a Diploma in Dementia, which is in addition to her NVQ Level 5 in Health & Social Care. These extra studies were done to enhance her understanding of the condition, which in turn can be passed onto our management and care teams to improve the overall service to those residents with dementia.

When it comes to dementia, there is never a ‘one size fits all’ solution. It’s vital that all care plans are personal, patient-centric, and robust – which in turn leads to increased positive resident outcomes. Most importantly however, all care staff need to be trained properly to understand, listen, and respond to a resident’s specific needs.

Gita Luthra commented “My diploma in dementia shows my commitment and dedication to making a big difference to all the lives we have in our care. By understanding certain behaviors better, we can provide care with more patience, empathy, and compassion. For example, it can take up to 90 seconds for a person living with dementia to be able to process certain information. In this instance, repeating the question or raising your voice won’t help – the person needs the space and time to respond. It’s the small details like this, which help with the bigger picture, and I’m delighted to see so many of our care team trying their own techniques to get memorable outcomes for all residents”.

As a boutique care home with just 25 bedrooms and shared communal areas, Arlington House is ideally formatted for people living with dementia. It’s widely known that imitation is a powerful tool for dementia patients, so when they are surrounded by people who are doing routine actions such as eating, drinking, or playing – they take this a visual cue and often do the same thing themselves.

Stimulation is another big area for dementia. Which is why we pride ourselves on a busy and wide-ranging activities programme. Activities are an enjoyable and friendly way to engage residents living with dementia, as it encourages them to think, reminisce and have fun. Some of the best activities we’ve found for dementia have included blind food-tasting, musical events and pamper sessions – as these provide a strong, personal physical and emotional connection with the resident.

We know first hand how challenging dementia can be for both the resident and their families, but when a care home approaches the condition with expertise, empathy, and patience – the results and outcomes can be compelling.