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Preston’s new dementia service with a focus on community
A brand new one-of-a-kind dementia care service has been launched in Preston.
The state-of-the-art specialist care home unit will provide therapeutic care for local people who live with dementia. The service is called Specialist Dementia Care Community (SDCC) and has already opened at HC-One’s Meadow Bank Care Home.
It has been described as ‘revolutionary’, promising to transform the lives of people with dementia and complex care needs. The home, which has opened just in time for Dementia Action Week, will care up for 20 people at a time.
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Focusing on community, it also looks at the welfare and wellbeing of those who are emotionally distressed by their dementia and therefore require specialist care and support. The pioneering therapeutic model of care has been developed by the home’s expert team, including a world-leading dementia expert.
Additionally, the team includes Assistant Psychologists, Specialist Dementia Care Leads and Dementia-trained Wellbeing and Activity Leaders. Care staff across Preston will also be given the opportunity to progress their careers in specialist roles, with the unit creating new jobs and enhanced training.
Support is geared towards reducing distress for those with dementia in every aspect of their life in the home. Recently refurbished, the home includes a realistic cinema room, home-like lounge and dining areas.
It also features a vintage tea parlour, so residents can live in a place that feels familiar and can do location specific activities to avoid confusion. Meadow Bank has introduced some trailblazing measure to reduce stress and confusion, including:
- Assistant Psychologists – they will support the team by analysing behaviour, recommending things for them to do and care plans to put in place
- Interior design – the decor will help residents, as it is evidenced to reduce distress and ensures that living environments feel homely and less clinical
- Enhanced admission process – this is led by the Home Manager and a Dementia Specialist
- Flexible and tailored support – ensuring that residents, when they can, will be supported to move back to more traditional care settings or leave residential care altogether
Julie Rennie, the daughter of one of the first residents at the Meadow Bank Specialist Dementia Care Community, said: “I’ve noticed recently that my Dad is doing more… He gets involved with Karaoke and doing jobs around the home – the staff keep me updated as to how he is and what he is doing. I’m really happy that he has put a bit of weight on and is doing well. I can’t thank staff enough.”
Evidence shows that these approaches have helped to reduce distressing incident, which can sometimes lead to hospitalisation and being prescribed medication. This means that not only do residents get increased support, but it also relieves the stress off the NHS and social care services.
Tracey Yates, Area Director at HC-One, said: “We are proud to bring this bold new service to Preston, which engages with our Residents as individuals rather than as their dementia diagnosis. This is a really revolutionary moment in dementia care.
“By offering specialist care in a homely and therapeutic environment, we are excited to support those living in our Specialist Dementia Care Community to live calm and fulfilling lives.”
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