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Dementia is a collection of symptoms which affects mental processes and social abilities in several ways, from impaired communication to memory loss which affects or interferes with one’s daily life.

Dementia care refers to caring for all conditions defined as dementia – such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Vascular Dementia and Mixed. It covers care for these conditions at all stages.

As the condition progresses, your loved one may need extra care and attention such as help with daily tasks. At this point, a live-in Nurse/Carer can help to keep as much independence as possible.

Care at home is the preferred option or maybe the best option for many older people who are not happy with the idea of moving into a residential care home.

Dementia live-in Nurse/Carers provide support with mobility, communication, safety, medication, personal care, and other assistance needed to fulfil all activities of daily living. Your loved one will have someone to help them manage their condition 24/7 all in the comfort, security, and familiarity of their own home. A family need to be sure that any Nurse/Carer they employ is experienced in dementia care, as their loved one usually requires a high degree of patience and understanding from those looking after them.

Arranging a live-in Nurse/Carer with us helps to keep your loved one safe in their own home. The constant presence of our dedicated Nurse/Carer can be comforting for them while giving you peace of mind that he or she is being looked after 24/7. With Carinyo Care, your loved ones can have that quality of life and they can enjoy the time with their friends and families as often as they wish.

How to communicate with someone who has dementia:

• Keep it simple
• Be patient and remain calm
• Take time to listen
• Learn to interpret.
• Try to understand what is being said based on the context
• Speak clearly and slowly, using short sentences
• Let them speak for themselves during discussions about their welfare or health issues
• Show respect
• Keep your tone of voice positive and friendly
• Encourage them to join in conversations with others, where possible
• Acknowledge what they have said

Palliative care is specialised medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Patients in palliative care may receive medical care for their symptoms, along with treatment intended to cure their serious illness. It can include end of life care, but it is much broader and can last longer.
The goal of care is to enhance or maintain your loved one’s quality of life as they face a life-limiting illness or condition, ensuring they are well and active for as long as possible. A live-in Nurse/Carer can provide this support and companionship to assist whilst your loved one is receiving medication and treatment. It is important to understand the purpose of this type of care and what to do throughout this condition.

Pain management
Treatment of pain and physical symptoms is addressed first because it is not possible to deal with the psychosocial aspects of care if your loved one has unrelieved pain or other distressing physical symptoms.

Palliative care at home can involve several roles including:

• Monitoring
• Pain management
• Medication support including prompts or administration
• Managing equipment
• Personal care such as bathing, dressing and toileting
• Continence care, whether it is changing continence pads or managing a stoma or catheter
• Support on a psychological, emotional, or spiritual level
• Safety
• Other activities of daily living

Palliative care can be provided in a range of different settings, but the most preferred one is care at home with a live-in carer.

Carinyo Care will make sure that our Nurse/Carer has the knowledge, skill, and personality to provide a high standard of personalised care and companionship for your loved one and be able to work harmoniously with their medical team. It includes creating healthcare plans and being an integral part of the multidisciplinary team.

We will provide support for them to live as fully as possible and facilitate effective communication for both yourselves and your loved ones in determining the goals of care.

A Stroke is a serious life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off which starves the brain of oxygen. The lack of oxygen kills brains cells and can have a range of serious consequences.

The two main causes of Stroke are Ischaemic when there is a lack of blood supply to the brain usually caused by a blood clot, and Haemorrhagic when there is a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain bursts.

The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the acronym FAST:

• Face – the face may droop on 1 side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may drop.
• Arms – arm weakness or numbness which makes them unable to lift their arm or arms.
• Speech – speech may be slurred or confused, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake
• Time – time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.

Other additional symptoms that could indicate a stroke:

• Paralysis of one side of the body or lack of balance and coordination
• Lost or blurred vision
• Dizziness
• Trouble swallowing
• Sudden and very severe headache
• Difficulty understanding people
• Loss of consciousness

People who survive a stroke are often left with long-term problems caused by injury to their brain. Some need a long period of rehabilitation before they can recover their former independence, while many never fully recover and need ongoing support. It is hard to see a loved one experience the effects of a stroke and face an unpredictable prognosis.

There are many ways in which you can support your loved one who had a stroke. These include making changes to the home, encouraging independence, and daily activities, and considering the benefits of getting a live-in Nurse/Carer.

Carinyo Care can provide a Stroke live-in Nurse/Carer who can help your loved one recover, and learn, or relearn the skills they need to live at home independently. Help with medications, mobility, safety, personal care, and all other activities of daily living. Effective rehabilitation and care will promote a better quality of life for them.

Heart disease includes conditions that narrow or block blood vessels (coronary heart disease). This can lead to a heart attack, angina, and some strokes. Heart disease also covers conditions that affect your heart’s muscle, and valves or cause abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias).

Symptoms of heart disease vary based on what condition you have and can include:

• Chest pain
• Pain, weakness, or numb legs and/or arms
• Breathlessness
• Very fast or slow heartbeat, or
• palpitations
• Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
• Fatigue
• Swollen limbs

Several risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Stress
• Alcohol
• High Blood Pressure
• High Blood Cholesterol
• Being physically inactive
• Being overweight or obese
• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease
• Ethnic background

Carinyo Care can help
A person living with heart disease whether they already had a heart attack or not, or had heart surgery, will need long-term care professional support. Even with these conditions, they should still be able to live a fulfilling life with extra care and assistance. At any point, it will be appropriate to seek specific nursing care at home which is the best alternative setting if you prefer your loved one not to be moved to a nursing home.

Carino Care can provide emotional support, companionship, and tailored nursing care 24/7 for your loved one based on the level of support they need from our carefully selected Nurses/carers. This way they don’t have to stay in the hospital or nursing home and enjoy their life in the convenience and familiarity of their own home.

Our Nurses/Carers will focus on:

• Communication – is very important for keeping families close and well-connected
• Maintain a well-balanced diet
• Monitor blood pressure
• Manage their stress and anxiety
• Working with your loved one and their full multidisciplinary team
• Know when to call for help
• Monitoring the risk factors involved
• Medication support including prompts or administration
• Personal care
• Safety
• Other activities of daily living

Diabetes is a serious condition where your blood glucose level is too high. There are two main types, Type 1, and Type 2. They’re different conditions, but they’re both serious.

Type 1 Diabetes is a serious condition where your blood glucose (sugar) level is too high because your body can’t make a hormone called insulin. This occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the cells which produce the hormone, insulin.

Your body breaks down the carbohydrate from your food and drink and turns them into glucose and we need insulin as it allows the glucose in our blood to enter our cells and fuel our bodies. When you have Type 1 diabetes, your body attacks the cells in your pancreas that make the insulin which then stops its production leading to high blood sugar levels.

Type 2 Diabetes is a condition where the insulin your pancreas makes can’t work properly, or your pancreas can’t make enough insulin. This means your blood glucose (sugar) level keeps rising.

It is very important in keeping your blood sugar levels within your target range, so you can live well with your condition and reduce your risk of developing complications in the future.

Signs and symptoms

• feeling very thirsty
• peeing more than usual, particularly at night
• feeling very tired
• Unintended weight loss
• blurred vision
• cuts and grazes that are not healing
• fruity-smelling breath

Our Nurse/Carers assist their clients:

• Getting out of bed in the morning
• Washing, dressing, and toileting
• Preparing meals and drinks based on a healthy balanced diet
• Collecting Prescriptions
• Medications prompting or administration (tablets and injections, that may include insulin)
• Arrange your hospital appointments
• Running errands
• Getting settled in the evening and ready for bed
• Other housework

Managing diabetes can be challenging, but Carinyo Care is here to provide support. Our Nurse/Carers can also offer emotional support because we know that diabetes doesn’t just affect a person physically.

Carinyo Care will match Nurse/Carers with your loved one’s care needs and personality types to ensure the right focus of care is met and at the same time maintain a harmonious and safe environment in their own home.

The goal of care is to promote your loved one’s independence at home while still receiving the full-time support they require to manage their condition. And most importantly is to maintain their safety.

Postoperative care is the care you receive after a surgical procedure. The type of postoperative care you need depends on the type of surgery you have, as well as your health history. It often includes pain management and wound care. Postoperative care begins immediately after surgery.

The recovery from major surgery can be divided into three phases. Immediate or post anaesthetic phase; Intermediate phase, encompassing the hospitalisation period; and Convalescent phase or ‘post-hospital recovery phase which is the first few weeks after returning home.

Nursing interventions that are required in postoperative care include prompt pain control, assessment of the surgical site and drainage tubes, monitoring the rate and patency of IV fluids and IV access if they have one, and assessing the level of sensation, circulation, and safety. The main goal of post-operative care is the prevention of any infections at the site of the surgical wound, thereby ensuring complete healing.

Common postoperative complications can be prevented using basic nursing care principles such as proper handwashing, maintaining strict surgical aseptic technique, pulmonary exercises, early ambulation, leg exercises, sequential compression devices, and hydration.

Post-Operative Nursing Care covers:

• Regularly monitor your vital signs that they are within an acceptable range
• Ensure all medical equipment used are in working order
• Wound care
• Prevention of postoperative complications and infections
• Liaise with doctors and family members
• Medications and meals are taken on time
• Personal care and hygiene
• Provide a safe environment

Benefits of post-operative care at homeThis allows your loved one to recover in the comfort and safety of their own home which promotes faster and smoother recovery. This will also allow the family and friends to offer more support and visit more easily as there are no hospital restrictions.

The Nurse/Carers that Carinyo Care provides will be qualified which will be essential in post-operative nursing care. When the time comes that your loved one will need to undergo an operation, you won’t need to worry about changing or getting an additional Nurse/Carer. The existing Nurse/Carer that we provided will be able to monitor, assess and identify complications that may need immediate action and liaise with the multidisciplinary team. We aim to reinstate your loved one to their prior physical and mental state during this post-operative care.

Hospital DischargeDischarge from the hospital is the point at which the patient leaves the hospital and either returns home or is transferred to another facility such as one for rehabilitation or a nursing home. It should also identify the medication and other special discharge instructions which are then given to the patient and family to take home.

When the NHS considers that the patient’s condition has been “stabilised”, they then should be able to confirm what level of care is required and where it is best provided. At this point, the patient is considered ready for Hospital Discharge either to their own home or a suitable facility for intermediate care, assessment, or rehabilitation.

Ideally, returning to the comfort and familiarity of your own home is the best place to continue recovery. Carinyo Care can help on this matter.

The discharge process is carried out by the NHS and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and then explained to the patient and their family before discharge. This is a very complicated, confusing, and often extremely intimidating matter so for more detailed information on the Hospital Discharge Process, click here.

Personal hygiene is important for maintaining both physical and mental health. The way we dress and present ourselves can be an important part of our identity. There will come a time that one’s ability to go over this routine deteriorates and will require help or assistance from someone else.

For most people, washing and dressing is a very private activity. It is important that your loved one feels safe and secure when they are having a bath or shower and their privacy and dignity are always maintained as they perform this daily task.

They can be fully independent with washing and dressing and may need minimal assistance such as preparing their clothes, or they might have conditions that make this too complex for them to carry out independently. One may have difficulty with perception and understanding the purpose and sequence of the task, or the objects around them which make washing and dressing confusing or distressing and unsafe. Having a live-in Nurse/Carer will be a safer option for your loved one in this kind of situation.

Helping someone with washing and bathing

• Explain what you are about to do
• Create a safe environment ensuring the floor is not slippery and clutter-free
• Prepare the bathroom
• Ensure that any bathing aid is working correctly, and you know how to operate it
• The water is comfortably warm. Older people particularly feel the cold, so bear this in mind when adjusting the temperature
• The door is unlocked. You or the person you care for may want privacy, but other people may need access in an emergency
• The person you care for may feel isolated if you leave them alone. The best thing to do is to bring clothes and towels with you, so you don’t have to leave the bathroom if they don’t want you to.
• They may feel self-conscious when undressed in front of others. Be sensitive to the situation and approach it in the way you think is best.
• Protect your safety and the ones you are looking after

Personal care activities, including washing, bathing, and dressing can be a source of anxiety for people with life-limiting conditions and their Nurse/Carers.

Needing help with something so personal can be difficult to accept, and the person you care for may feel self-conscious or embarrassed. Supporting a person to wash, bathe and dress can be emotionally and physically challenging. Even if you’ve been close to the person for many years, looking after your loved one can be a big step. It is common to need extra emotional and practical support at this stage.

Carinyo Care can offer that professional support by assiduously selecting skilled Nurse/Carers who can provide your loved ones with their needs, whilst always maintaining safety, privacy, and dignity.

We are all aware of the benefits of keeping our minds and bodies active. Our CNCs will routinely, where possible, encourage physical exercise both in and out of the home. They will also join in with such things as keeping the mind active by playing games from scrabble to crosswords and other forms of “brain teasers” as well as discussing topical events. Activities also include, again where possible, taking clients out shopping, walking pets and visiting local parks and other places of interest including outings to museums, the cinema and theatre.

Nighttime care, or overnight care, is care given to a loved one throughout the night. It is often needed when older people experience a break in their sleeping patterns. It may be caused by an underlying condition such as Dementia being confused about the time of day or night, and incontinence, and may also be caused by the natural changes to one’s circadian rhythm as we all grow older.

This often involves help using the bathroom, preventing wandering caused by dementia, and keeping a loved one settled during the night when they might otherwise get confused and may hurt themselves. Constant changes in your loved one’s sleeping pattern may aggravate degenerative conditions and will have a damaging impact on their general well-being if not supervised or assisted.

As everyone’s sleeping pattern is different, we must assess your loved one’s general underlying condition, preferred lifestyle, and activities of daily living and then base the plan and goal of care on that finding. This is how Carinyo Care personalised our care which best suits your loved one’s needs and wishes. We will also carefully assess your loved one’s needs, conditions, and preferences and use them as the basis for selecting the most suitable Nurse/Carer for them.

Aspects of Nighttime Care:

• Safety measures such as the house being securely locked
• Nighttime activities for the elderly
• Bedside snacks and drinks are available
• Monitor their food and drink intake during the evening
• Be aware if they have taken sleeping pills that may cause disorientation
• Adult incontinence pads and waterproofing their mattress if required
• Washing and Toileting assistance
• Placing motion sensor lights in their bedroom and passageway if applicable
• Ensure their paths are clutter-free
• Medication prompting or administration
• Communicate with their family and the multidisciplinary team
• General safety

Sleeping night care

If your loved one has a live-in Nurse/Carer who performs their tasks during the day, they are expected to sleep during night hours. The Nurse/Carer will sleep in their own room but will get up and be available to help your loved one if they need assistance during the night but would not expect to get up more than twice. If your loved one needs more frequent attention than this, the shift would be classed as a “waking night”.

Waking night care

In this care option, the Nurse/Carer will not need a bed, as they will not be sleeping and will stay with your loved one to look after them. They will work around 10-12 hours, although shorter/longer hours may be arranged. If your loved one needs assistance several times during the night, this could be the best option for them. This can be preferred if they require special care during the night such as positional changes to manage or prevent pressure sores, any medications that require to be given round the clock, incontinence management, and other special nursing needs.