Dementia Action Week 2025: Shining a Light on Live-in Care Support

Every May, Dementia Action Week gives us an opportunity to shine a light on the challenges faced by those who are living with a dementia diagnosis. 

This year’s theme emphasises the importance of early diagnosis and the symptoms to look out for.

For us, dementia care at home is not just a home care service; it’s a commitment to improving the lives of both our home care clients and their families. We’ve supported many clients through Live-in Care who are living with dementia, so we’ve seen firsthand just how complex and emotional the journey can be. That’s why we truly believe home care can be a lifeline - it offers comfort, consistency, and support when it’s needed most.

Access Care Explains: What Is Dementia?

It’s important to understand the core of what dementia is. Dementia is not a single disease but it is an umbrella term that is used to describe a range of conditions that affect the brain. These conditions have an impact on a person’s cognitive functions such as memory, thinking, and reasoning, making everyday tasks increasingly challenging.

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, followed by vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia. Each type presents with unique symptoms, which can be as varied as memory loss, confusion, difficulty communicating, personality changes, and impaired judgment.

Living with dementia fundamentally changes a person's world, but with the right support system in place for them and their families, they can continue to live fulfilling, dignified lives in familiar surroundings.

How Live-In Care Helps Those Living with Dementia

For clients living with dementia, familiarity and routine are key to restoring a sense of stability and safety. Home care provides them with personalised support within the comfort of their own home. Here’s how it works and why it can make such a profound difference:

1. Personalised, One-on-One Attention

Unlike in residential care homes where staff have to divide their time among numerous residents, a live-in carer’s sole focus is on their Live-in Care client that they support. This means their care is entirely tailored – from understanding specific routines to managing unique symptoms. Whether it’s assisting with meal preparation, encouraging hydration, or creating a calming bedtime routine, a home carer ensures every interaction meets their Live-in Care client’s needs.

2. Preserving Independence at Home

Being able to stay at home is a massive comfort for many people who are living with dementia. Familiar surroundings not only help to reduce confusion but also preserve cherished memories that are tied to their environment. Live-in carers help maintain a sense of independence by supporting their Live-in Care clients in continuing their day-to-day activities, whether that’s making tea in their favourite kitchen or tending to the garden.

3. Stimulating Cognitive and Emotional Well-being

Getting involved in activities and keeping the mind stimulated is essential for slowing cognitive decline and boosting emotional health. Live-in carers encourage memory-stimulating activities like puzzles, reminiscence therapy, or even simple conversations over photo albums. This also helps to build emotional connection, reducing feelings of isolation or anxiety that many people with dementia experience.

4. Providing Expertise and Patience

Live-in carers are trained to recognise the behaviours that are often associated with dementia. Beyond assisting their Live-in Care client with their physical needs, they use their expertise to manage challenges like feelings of agitation or confusion. What’s more, they offer the patience and understanding that family members sometimes find hard to provide when emotions run high.

5. Supporting the Family

It can be overwhelming for loved ones to manage in-home dementia care single-handedly. A live-in carer not only eases this responsibility but partners with families to provide consistency. Home carers often act as a bridge between health professionals, family members, and the Live-in Care client, ensuring everyone is informed and supported.

Creating a Memory Box for Your Loved One

As it's Dementia Action Week, we thought it would be the perfect time to share a meaningful activity that many of our home care clients have really enjoyed: creating a memory box. It’s a simple but powerful way to spark memories, encourage conversation, and bring them comfort. Whether it’s for a loved one or someone you support through home care, a memory box can be a really great way to stimulate the brain. Here’s how to put one together:

Steps to Build a Meaningful Memory Box

1. Choose a Suitable Container 

Choose a sturdy box that's easy to open and large enough to hold various items. It could be a decorative keepsake box or something as simple as an old shoe box.

2. Fill it with Treasured Items 

Include objects that hold sentimental or nostalgic value to your loved one or Live-in Care client. Think along the lines of photographs, old letters, postcards, trinkets, or even a favourite scarf.

3. Appeal to the Senses 

Incorporate items that engage different senses, like a lavender sachet (smell), an old record (sound), or a textured ornament (touch). Engaging the senses can spark powerful memories and emotions.

4. Tailor to Interests and Memories 

If your Live-in Care client or loved one enjoyed gardening, include seed packets or pictures of flowers they used to grow. For someone with a love of travel, slips from postcards or travel souvenirs can evoke pleasant memories.

5. Use it Together 

A home carer could use the memory box as part of their regular routine with their Live-in Care client. Sitting together to explore its contents can prompt storytelling, strengthen bonds, and offer emotional comfort.

A Brighter Path Forward

Living with dementia is undeniably challenging, but compassionate, professional Live-in Care can empower those with the condition to maintain their dignity, joy, and connection. 

Home care is not just about meeting medical or physical needs of a Live-in Care client,  it’s about enriching their everyday life, nurturing their emotional well-being, and celebrating the person behind the diagnosis.

Access Care has always prioritised supporting Live-in Care clients and families through tailored Live-in Care solutions. If you’re ready to explore how home care could work for your loved one, feel free to get in touch with us today on 0330 401 0023.