Surrey Homes | SH110 | March 2024 | Kitchen & Bathroom Supplement inside
The lifestyle magazine for Surrey - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes
The lifestyle magazine for Surrey - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes
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Mum & I<br />
Clara Hebblethwaite shares her very<br />
personal experience of supporting her<br />
mum through vascular dementia<br />
After four turbulent years of mum<br />
living alone in London with vascular<br />
dementia, we made the decision to<br />
move her into our local Woodchurch village<br />
care home at the beginning of last year.<br />
Mum had been diagnosed in 2019, and,<br />
as the condition took hold, we came to<br />
realise that the move was essential, despite<br />
our hearts being torn. She, the glamorous<br />
diplomat’s wife, the life and soul, who had<br />
led an independent and colourful life all over<br />
the world, reduced to wandering the corridors<br />
in a state of confusion. Her distress is ours<br />
as she goes down the plug hole, her strength<br />
of character determined not to let go.<br />
It has been so important for me to seek<br />
out any possible nuggets of joy within this<br />
storm and to support others where I can. I<br />
have felt a strong urge to be part of her ever<br />
changing and scary reality, like a mother<br />
would their child. I’ve come to accept that<br />
mum is now on a secure wing and that,<br />
however painful it is to see her in this way,<br />
life must continue and we can feel productive<br />
and positive by bringing life to her.<br />
It has been interesting to see that, rather<br />
than looking back, she feels way more<br />
comforted by happy experiences in the<br />
present. The now is so important. The<br />
feelings generated by the imprint of all those<br />
she comes into contact with are real.<br />
We’ve got very lovely visitors such as<br />
Karen, a reflexologist, and Donna, a care<br />
home entertainer, who come in to give<br />
mum reassurance, fun and distraction via<br />
hands-on comfort, engaged listening or<br />
good time dancing. Mum and I have also<br />
done lots of planting outside the care home<br />
entrance which we’ve loved, and bringing a<br />
little bit of hope and colour to those carers<br />
and visitors coming and going feels right.<br />
One of the highlights in terms of<br />
understanding dementia has been thanks to<br />
the Virtual Dementia Experience that we<br />
organised in the New Year. Having fundraised<br />
over £1,300 we were able to secure a Virtual<br />
Dementia Bus to come to her care home and<br />
provide 32 of us with valuable training on the<br />
dementia experience. The group included 20<br />
carers, 2 managers, 3 GP admin staff, 1 trainee<br />
paramedic and 6 family members. I wanted to<br />
increase <strong>inside</strong>r knowledge for those involved in<br />
the day-to-day care of those with dementia and<br />
we were given an intense 7 minute experience<br />
of how it feels to have dementia, followed by<br />
digestion of these feelings and training. It was<br />
frightening to feel, even for a short time, how<br />
mum does every minute of the day and then<br />
insightful discovering why dementia sufferers<br />
do certain things or react in certain ways.<br />
We know so little about this terrifying<br />
‘mind death’ and, as a family, over the last<br />
few years have felt like we’re stabbing around<br />
in the dark trying to figure out the best way<br />
forward. The plan now is to use some of<br />
this learning to train others, not only family<br />
members in mum’s care home but also staff in<br />
other care homes, so that they can adjust their<br />
approach to those they look after accordingly.<br />
Dementia is the grimmest of grim and it<br />
cruelly affects so many. It’s a one way ticket<br />
and those who have it are incredibly brave. I<br />
am hopeful that an increase in understanding<br />
and empathy will help many to find ways to<br />
create nuggets of joy for all those involved.<br />
Sources of support: Autumna: Directory of<br />
Care <strong>Homes</strong>, Home Care, Live-in Care &<br />
Retirement Living, plus advice on finding care,<br />
paying for care and funding. Farley Dwek<br />
Solicitors: specialists in Continuing Healthcare<br />
Assessments. Woodchurch Post Office Coffee<br />
Shop: relatives of those with dementia meet first<br />
Monday of the month, 10-11am. All welcome.<br />
Outstanding care within an independent Home<br />
Maintaining the highest<br />
professional standards within<br />
a quiet, comfortable ‘Home<br />
from Home’ environment<br />
Outs<br />
an in<br />
Mainta<br />
standa<br />
‘Home<br />
• 24 hour expert Nursing Care<br />
by qualifi ed nurses<br />
• Long stay or respite care for seniors<br />
• Excellent home cooked menu<br />
• Varied range of activities<br />
• Comfortable and friendly atmosphere<br />
• Personal service with family-run values<br />
For further information call today on 01737 240563<br />
or 242647 or visit www.wray-common.co.uk<br />
Wray Common Road I Reigate I <strong>Surrey</strong> I RH2 0ND<br />
24 hour<br />
Long st<br />
Excellen<br />
Varied r<br />
Comfor<br />
Persona<br />
For further information call today on<br />
01737 240563 or 242647 or visit<br />
www.wray-common.co.uk<br />
Wray Common Road I Reigate<br />
<strong>Surrey</strong> I RH2 0ND<br />
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