What is Dementia Action Week?

Dementia Action Week is a national event that encourages people to take action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. This year’s initiative (17th – 23rd May) is coined by Alzheimer’s Society’s slogan “Cure The Care System” – a call to action to counter the challenges laid out by the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Typically, people up-and-down the country are encouraged to ‘join the conversation’ by hosting events that fundraise valuable funds for Alzheimer’s Society’s leading research and support; but this year’s campaign strives to spread awareness across distance with a hope of building greater understanding around dementia, culminating in earlier diagnoses to essentially have “more time to come to terms with a person’s future symptoms”.

How is B&M Care Observing DAW 2021?

As a frontrunner within the dementia care sector, advice, support and awareness is at the centre of our enhanced dementia blueprint. Through community events and resources, to signposting and in-person conversations, B&M Care understands the importance of sharing information and breaking down the stigmas associated with dementia.

One such way of instilling awareness to a wider audience is through our Rose Model of Dementia Care – a unique model of care that advocates best practice across all levels of our homes. Endorsed in everything that we do – from care and home-level operations, to enquiries, assessments, and simply being a ‘dementia hub’ within each of our respective communities – to us, our Rose Model of Dementia Care is essentially what good dementia care should look like.

In-line with the observance of DAW 2021, we take the opportunity to outline each of our model’s six key principles – or petals – and how they are applied to day-to-day practice.

Individuality

In The Home

Looking at the ‘whole person’, instead of their physical or cognitive capacity, is how we, as a provider, place value on an individual’s identity and unique qualities. Before an admission takes place, our homes work collaboratively with families to better understand their loved one, building a holistic care plan that truly reflects the individual, as well as their personal history, culture, and social interests. Once in the home, staff are then able to use this care plan to tailor care and engagement specifically to the person, impressing a truly unique and personalised service.

Outside Of The Home

When engaging with both prospective clients and members of the surrounding community, B&M Care offers a ‘listening ear’, and based on this information, provides advice, support and even signposting to best meet an individual’s needs. Scenarios that facilitate this type of interaction can be in-person, over the phone or via email, or as part of one of our community events.

Empowering

In The Home

For us to empower is to act in a person’s best interests, encouraging autonomy, independence and an opportunity to make day-to-day decisions. Empowering instils positive wellbeing: from achieving something new to instilling a renewed sense of purpose - impressing enablement has proven to cultivate positive cognition.

Outside Of The Home

In-line with the individuality section above, once advice or support has been given, B&M Care empowers that person to act upon or make decisions in the best interests of their loved one – because after-all, they know them better than anyone else.

Engagement

In The Home

Often referred to as engagement, activities within a care home setting describes the purposeful occupation that looks at enhancing an individual as a ‘whole person’ – this means improvements to three key areas of their day-to-day life:

• Health
  
• Wellbeing
• Independence

Engagement can vary in frequency and type, as well as the way it is delivered, and in-line with an individual’s care plan, and knowing as much about them as possible, much of a home’s engagement is focused on the cultural and social interests of those who live there.

Outside Of The Home

Building awareness around dementia is effective when a person is engaged, and none more so than through our typical calendar of events. Beyond the pandemic, typical engagements have – and will once again – include: Second Wind Dreams® Virtual Dementia Tour®, B&M Care’s signature ‘Living Well with Dementia Seminar’, Care Fees Surgeries, coffee mornings, and drop-in advice sessions.

Flourishing

In The Home

Maintaining an individual’s identity and confidence is key to any care home setting flourishing a person’s quality of life. Adapting a service to reflect an individual’s ‘whole person’ attributes, whilst offering them as much control over their life as possible, is a key principle to our dementia blueprint where that person is at the centre of what we do.

Outside Of The Home

Simply put, B&M Care flourishes friendship and awareness in each of our respective communities through our group-wide ‘open door policy’. What this means – and pandemic aside – is that each of our homes welcomes walk-in visitors to offer ‘sit down respite’, flourish relations, and provide support and advice.

Compassion

In the Home

Compassionate care is presented when dignity, respect and a sense of self-worth is impressed on an individual. Compassion is an essential attribute underpinned by staff across all levels of a home. For us, being compassionate involves recognising and responding to an individual with empathy, acknowledging their feelings, and above all, taking the time to tend to their physical and emotional needs.

Outside Of The Home

In-line with the above, every conversation we have aims to support and educate; once again acknowledging a person's feelings, emotions, and the uniqueness of their situation.

Wellbeing

In The Home

In light of the pandemic, wellbeing has never been more important. Wellbeing for us is looking at how an individual’s biographical, biological, psychological and social background can be used to engage the person in meaningful occupation that is relevant to them. With regards to our staff, B&M Care has officiated a number of initiatives to positively support them.

These include:

• Staff Wellbeing Support Line: a dedicated service that offers a ‘listening ear’ from one of our wellbeing support team who can provide guidance, direction, and signposting to third-party services.
  
  
• Wellbeing Roadshow: a unique programme that aims to visit each of our 26 care homes to offer in-person advice and support to staff. Characterised by a drop-in session, staff are invited to discuss concerns (either personal or work-specific), talk about their experiences throughout the pandemic, or take away on-hand resources that signpost positive wellbeing.
  

Outside Of The Home

Similar to that of the engagement section above, B&M Care supports our communities’ wellbeing through a number of different events with an aim of sharing best practice that supports an indvidual’s wellbeing, for example a person who is caring for their loved one at home. In addition, B&M Care has published a guide that provides insight into what good dementia care looks like. Whether the person is in the process of looking at a care home for a loved one, or simply looking for tips and specialist know-how around supporting their loved one live better at home, this guide is readily-available to anyone seeking guidance around dementia.