Background
Enid was living with dementia and lived alone in her bungalow. She was being cared for mostly by her daughter who worked full time and also by Carers who visited once a day.
Her daughter was concerned that she was spending a lot of time just sitting staring into space or reading the same newspaper over and over again. Sometimes she got confused about where she was and what was happening.
Her daughter was also worried about scam phone calls that were coming through on the house phone, despite having set up the BT Call Protect service on the line. On one occasion she'd arrived to find her mum on the phone getting her credit cards out of her purse.
The problem: Confusion about daily routines
Enid often got confused about what was happening on a particular day.
The solution
To help communicate what was happening on a daily basis, I sourced an A3 size whiteboard which stood on the kitchen table. I filled out what was happening on each day of the week so that Enid could see at a glance what was happening each day. This was also a good way to share information with her Carers.
The outcome
Enid and her Carers were able to see exactly what was planned for each day and who was coming when.
The problem: Lack of daily activities
Enid had lost the ability to occupy herself and often spent her days just staring into space or reading the same newspaper.
The solution
I sourced a large digital photo frame which we positioned where Enid had a good view of it from her favourite seat.
We picked out some old family photos and scanned them into the computer. We combined these with some newer digital photos.
I then arranged the images into a slideshow which played continuously on the photo frame.
One of the Carers suggested jigsaws would be a good hobby for Enid to try. So, I brought along a selection of jigsaws with various-sized pieces for her to try and find the best one for her to manage. We settled on the larger 100-piece size, and then I sourced a selection of jigsaws in this size, with pictures that Enid liked the look of.
I sourced a floor-standing light to give her a better source of light at the table. Jigsawing then became a regular activity for Enid, sometimes supported by her daughter or her Carers. For her next birthday, I also gave her daughter the idea of turning some favourite family photos into 100-piece jigsaws.
The outcome
Looking at the images gave Enid something to focus on. She enjoyed looking at them and they were also a good conversation starter for chats with her Carers. She also enjoyed doing the jigsaws.
Both activities were simple and gave her something to keep herself occupied when she was on her own. They kept her mentally stimulated and were also things she could do with visitors.
The problem: Scam Phonecalls
Enid was receiving scam phone calls to the house phone. She didn’t realise what they were and was susceptible to being scammed.
The solution
I sourced a product called a Call Blocker, which could be set up and loaded with all the phone numbers of people who were allowed to call Enid. Any other callers get a recorded message giving them her daughter's mobile number to call if they need to get through. Or they can get through with a pin number if it has been given to them.
The outcome
Call Blocker removed the risk of scammers being able to get through and speak to Enid.
. . .
This is an example of the practical, tailored support I provide for families, so that older adults can live well at home, and their families have peace of mind that they're ok.
I like to work out what really matters to people, remove barriers, and help people to live the lives they want.
Often the solutions are simple, such as putting images on a digital photo frame or creating a planner that shows everyone what is happening each day. These simple steps have a big impact on the well-being of older adults.
Get in touch to arrange a free chat to find out how I can help. If you’d like to find out the practical ways I’ve helped other clients, head over to the blog page to read other case studies.
[credit for the photo to the Centre for Ageing Better - Age-Positive Image Library]
[client names have been changed to protect anonymity]
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