How home care may help lower the risk of dementia
Our home care support team helps many of our clients who are living with dementia remain in the comfort of their own home
With ongoing research into the causes of dementia, there is new evidence that doing simple everyday tasks can prevent the likelihood of developing some types of dementia. Continuing to do the things that make up your daily and weekly routine, being social and connected to your community, and taking good care of yourself results in significantly less risk of developing dementia.
A study in the UK tracked the activity of 500,000 people over 11 years. It found that:
- People who regularly did their household chores had a 21 percent lower risk of developing the disease.
- It also found those who exercised regularly had a 35 percent lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who didn’t.
- Daily visits with family and friends lowered the risk of dementia by 15 percent, compared with people who were less socially engaged.
- Another study linked to this one found that eating highly processed foods was associated with a 25 percent higher risk of developing dementia.
In summary, by being proactive, and maintaining social and community contact, doing physical exercise, housework and normal daily tasks, you’ll be able to continue to live at home as you get older, with good health, safety and independence.
It’s normal to have some memory changes and some cognitive decline with age, but there are many things that you can do to be proactive and maintain your confidence and ability. If you are concerned that you don’t have the strength to do the things you used to, that you are finding changes in your health, your mood, the way you move, your balance, or in carrying out your household chores, or if you’re noticing that you’re losing confidence in getting out and about, you may benefit from home care support.
One of the great benefits of home care support is that it can be designed to provide as little or as much support as you choose, to help you maintain your independence and live at home with peace of mind for longer
Four levels of home care packages
Home care packages are government funded through My Aged Care and there are four different levels available depending on how much support you need. One of the first things that happens when you apply for a home care package is an ACAT Assessment. An ACAT Assessment is arranged at your home with a member of the local assessment team, who will sit with you and discuss what help and services you would like at home.
To help you understand the different levels of support available and how these can be used, read about how home care helped Doreen, George, Jean and Michael to stay at home with much more ease and peace of mind.
Level 1 Basic Care
Doreen, 67 “If it wasn’t for St Louis, I wouldn’t be in my own home”.
Level 2 Low Care
George, 82 I really like the lads group and it brings back memories of times with my friends”.
Level 3 Intermediate Care
Jean, 86 “Thank you for helping look after Jean when she returned from hospital – it was a weight off my shoulders.”
Level 4 High Care
Michael, 74 “ I don’t know how I would have coped without your understanding of dementia care”.
Start the home care application process today – give us a call to find out more about your options
It is often said, “Working on prevention is better than finding a cure”. Having a home care package in place to support you will give you access to exercise programs to maintain strength, movement, and mobility and prevent the risk of frailty developing. It will help you get out and about visiting friends, family or taking your shopping and to appointments.
You can continue to live in your home, comfortably and with peace of mind with as much or as little support as you choose, with a government-funded home care package or with private home care services.
Please call our Adelaide home care team on 8332 0950 or our Victor Harbor home care team on 8552 1481 to discover more about your home care options, or to begin your home care package application process.
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