Your Care | Home Care Services Bristol | Home Help Bristol

As the colder months approach, staying warm and comfortable becomes a top priority, especially for older adults. Many turn to electric blankets, fleece bedding, or hot water bottles to keep the chill at bay. However, it's vital to be aware of the potential risks these heating aids can pose, particularly for those with altered temperature sensitivity, incontinence, or certain health conditions like dementia. Here's what you need to know to stay warm safely. Electric Blankets: Use with Care Electric blankets can be a cosy addition to your winter routine, but they require careful use to avoid accidents. Here are key points to consider: Temperature Sensitivity in Older Adults As we age, our skin and nerves may become less effective at sensing temperature changes. This…

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Why Switching to Decaf is a Simple Change that Can Make Life Easier for You or Your Loved Ones with Dementia When it comes to small adjustments with big impacts, switching to decaf drinks is a change that's making waves in healthcare settings, including NHS wards. For elderly individuals, especially those with dementia, this switch offers benefits like improved safety, better sleep, and less anxiety. 1. Supporting Safety and Preventing Falls One of the most significant benefits of decaf is reducing falls. Caffeine can increase bladder activity, leading to more frequent trips to the bathroom. This urgency can lead to rushed movements, increasing the likelihood of slips and falls. The NHS has implemented decaf as the default drink on some of its wards,…

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Introduction: Vitamin B12, a crucial nutrient for maintaining healthy nerve cells and producing DNA and RNA, plays a significant role in the overall health and cognitive functioning of individuals, especially those with dementia. In the realm of dementia care, understanding the implications of Vitamin B12 deficiency is vital, as it can exacerbate symptoms and potentially lead to further cognitive decline. This blog explores how B12 deficiency affects individuals with dementia and the importance of addressing this often-overlooked aspect of care. The Link Between Vitamin B12 and Cognitive Health: Vitamin B12 is essential for cognitive health. It aids in the maintenance of the myelin sheath, the protective coating around nerve fibers, and is crucial for neurotransmitter signaling, which affects brain function. Deficiencies in B12…

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If a person isn't eating enough, it can lead to weight loss and less muscle strength. You'll find they may also feel tired and weak, making them prone to falls. This can make them frailer and less able to recover from infections or viruses. There can be lots of reasons why your loved one isn't eating, such as; ill-fitting dentures, trouble swallowing or not recognising they feel hungry. This may take some detective work to establish before finding a suitable solution. Often the issue is simply your loved one has forgotten the steps involved in preparing food. Recently when talking to a family member about their loved one (whom we have just started supporting), we asked as she lives alone, if they…

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Who is Your Care? We are a family run introduction agency based in South Glos. We have been operating for almost 8 years now and have many happy clients and personal assistants. Your Care was established back in 2014 by Tina Westlake who was frustrated with the outdated care system decided to set up a business to offer a bespoke support service to people who wanted flexible, reliable care provided by people who like her would look after them as if they were a family member and most importantly visits would be provided by the SAME carers each time, ensuring continuity of care. Our mission was (and still is) to make requiring care and support as stress free as possible by establishing…

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When we first met Irene* she was a very independent 90 year old who lived alone in a beautiful bungalow in Downend. Sadly Irene's husband Denis had passed away a few years ago and with no children to offer support and advice Irene relied on her very good friends and neighbours to help her. It was one of her neighbours that first contacted us, Irene was being discharged from hospital following a nasty fall and had lost her confidence in her ability to manage her home, after discussions with Irene a plan was made for daily visits from a team of Your Care's Personal Assistants (PA's) to help her whilst allowing her to remain as independent as possible…

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Refusing to take medication could be a response to being confused or feeling afraid of what they're being asked to do, they might also feel like they don't have any control over their life, which could make them generally angry or resistant. Try some of these tips to see if they help - 1. Create a calm and quiet environment Make sure there aren't any loud sounds like TV or commotion like lots of people around. You could also try playing soft, soothing music. Before you start, take some deep breaths, and do your best to stay calm throughout the process. If you're agitated, frustrated, or angry, it's likely they'll be able to sense it and that can cause them to…

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When looking after someone with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimers or dementia completing the simplest task such as having a bath or shower can be a constant struggle, skyrocketing your stress levels. So here are our 7 top tips to make bath time a more pleasurable experience: 1. Establish a daily routine - Even if your loved one does not require a bath daily its easier to establish a regular bathroom routine at the same time every day. It then becomes part of their normal day, just like eating or sleeping and reduces their overall stress and anxiety making it more likely they will bathe without resistance.2. Use positive reinforcement and don't argue - it's no good trying to tell…

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