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Category: Dementia

Your Home, Your Care, Your Way

Southcare Homes: the first to pilot Digital Dementia Care in the UK

Southcare Homes Group is proud to be the first UK care home group to partner with Brain+. Brain+ is a leader in digital therapeutics for dementia care. This partnership introduces a new tool called Ayla into our dementia care program. Ayla is an advanced platform specifically designed to support the preparation and delivery of a leading treatment of dementia known as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST). Firstly, though, what is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy or CST?

What is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)?

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy is the most well-researched, non-pharmacological treatment for those with mild to moderate dementia care. It involves structured group sessions that are specially designed for people with dementia. As a result, they help those involved to express their views, learn new things and work with others. Group members will engage in a range of activities in a relaxed environment to stimulate thinking, memory and to connect with others. These activities include, for example:

  • Singing songs
  • Listening to music
  • Taking part in practical activities such as baking
  • Playing word games
  • Discussing current news stories

Research has shown that these sessions can improve cognition, quality of life, and communication. Implementing this form of treatment in care homes however comes with its own set of challenges. The staff and resources available to run these sessions, for instance, are limited. That’s where Brain+ and digital dementia care come in.

Understanding Digital Dementia Care

Brain+ are global pioneers of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and digital dementia care, and they believe in empowering both residents and caregivers to make dementia care better. They have therefore developed Ayla – your CST Assistant to help trained facilitators bring innovative dementia care solutions to residents.

A new digital dementia care tool – Ayla

Ayla provides:

  • Clinically validated CST sessions that replicate products recommended by NICE and WHO
  • Integrated modes of therapy. This includes sensory stimulation, reminiscence and music therapy
  • Measurable outcomes and evidence generation. This allows us to gauge the impact of sessions and share the results with residents’ family members and regulatory bodies.
  • Enhanced awareness and training that enables care homes to broaden the pool of qualified facilitators and enhance awareness.

Who are Southcare Homes Group?

At Southcare Homes Group, we strive to continually enhance not only our high-quality care but our residents’ experiences and partnership only reinforces our efforts. Two of our homes, Lime Tree House in Ringmer and Grasmere Rest Home in Sutton, will be pioneering Ayla with residents. Staff will receive professional CST accreditation, and this will equip them with the expertise to deliver personalised cognitive therapy.

A resident smiling with the home manager in funny wigs

“We are delighted to partner with Brain+ to introduce Ayla – Your CST Assistant into our care homes. Dementia care is at the heart of what we do, and we are always looking for innovative ways to improve the lives of our residents. The opportunity to integrate digital CST and provide our staff with specialised training ensures that we continue to lead the way in delivering exceptional dementia support.”

 – Karim Nanji, Managing Director, Southcare Homes Group

“This partnership with Southcare Homes is a defining moment for Brain+ in the UK, as it validates the potential of Ayla – Your CST Assistant in transforming dementia. The whole ethos of the home is to go above and beyond in giving the best possible care to its residents. You can really see the passion and desire to do things differently from the leadership to the wonderful care managers. We are thrilled to work with such a forward-thinking care provider, and we look forward to expanding our impact in the UK.”

– Devika Wood, CCO, Brain+

04/04/2025 / by Amber

How to Help Those with Dementia on Bonfire Night

5 Tips to Help Those with Dementia on Bonfire Night

November ushers in the autumn layers, warm drinks and firelit nights. Fireworks too. While the sound of booms, pops and whizzes are exciting for most of us, for some with dementia it can be a cause of distress. Here are some tips to help bring relief while fireworks are going off on bonfire night.

1. Stay calm 

By keeping calm when another is in distress, you can provide an emotional anchor and not exacerbate the situation. Try to think about how they are feeling right now. Striving to show empathy and put yourself in their situation may help you react in a more understanding manner, no matter how they address you. Take time to consider how you will answer them.  

2. Use gentle body language and a soothing tone 

Linked with keeping calm is also doing your best to create a calm atmosphere. Your tone of voice can make a difference. Speaking with a soothing, gentle tone at a steady pace can help dissipate distress in someone that has dementia. Rapid, jerking movements can denote aggression so do your best to use soft, slow movements around them.

3. Create a relaxing environment

Remove anything nearby that could worsen the level of distress experienced. For instance, anything that makes sudden loud noises, overly bright lights – anything that could harass the senses could cause further distress. Minimise surrounding distractions where possible.

4. Understand the person and their needs

Knowing much about the person with dementia will help you to understand how best to help them. Once you’re aware of their personality, their background and history, it may give you an indication of what situations and stimuli may be triggering for them. Once you know what makes them tick or are aware of the underlying causes of their distress, you can be better informed to provide support and relief.  

5. Provide opportunities for meaningful engagement

It’s not enough just to create a relaxing environment. The sounds of fireworks are likely to permeate. So, keep them occupied in an activity that is meaningful and one they find enjoyable. Reassure them with your presence, words and active engagement. Validating their feelings helps shift their focus away from the noise and may help calm the person down. 

Resident holding a sparkler in garden
A previous Bonfire Night at Highbury House, Rottingdean. A dear resident enjoying the fun of sparklers!

There are great benefits to either hosting or attending a bonfire night celebration for residents. And the above tips can be used in any distressing situation. We wish you all the best with bonfire season and hope as many as possible can enjoy it.

21/10/2024 / by Amber

Have family in care? Ensure they have a Power of Attorney.

Do you have a family member in a care or nursing home? Do you want to be included in decisions involving their medical care and finances? There may come a time when you’ll need to be a Power of Attorney to do so. But, what is a power of attorney? Why is it important for our elderly relatives to have one? And how can you, a family member or friend, help them with this? Read on for plain and simple answers to these important questions and more.

Please note, the following does not constitute legal advice but is simply a guide to help.

What is a Power of Attorney?

DEFINITION: It’s a document that allows you to be included in important decisions involving the medical care and finances of your family member. It is a document that they, or a family member, can create on GOV.UK.

Knowing the lingo

Before we get cracking, there’s always some legal lingo that can be confusing. So here are the keywords associated with power of attorneys laid out in plain English.

  • There are two types of Power of Attorney:
    • Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA): this ended in 2007 so you don’t have to worry about this one. If you already have one, that’s fine – any made before 2007 are still valid.
    • Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA): replaced the EPA in 2007. The LPA is the one we’re talking about in this article.
  • Donor: the person who needs to appoint someone to make decisions for them. For the purpose of this article, this is your elderly family member. (But in reality, the donor can be anyone over 18 and that has mental capacity.)
  • Attorney: the person given the legal power to make decisions on behalf of the donor. This is you – the relatives or friends of the elderly individual.

Why set up a Power of Attorney?

So now we know what an LPA is, why have one? An LPA is enacted when a person loses mental capacity. This means they can no longer make decisions for themselves, their care or finances. An example of this is when someone develops dementia. This is, sadly, all too common when it comes to our parents, grandparents, or elderly relatives. It can be the reason they go into care or something that develops while they’re there.

(Of course, it’s not the only thing that causes one to lack mental capacity. The NHS lists some examples here. A qualified professional or doctor can assess someone’s mental capacity.)

What if my family member has just been diagnosed with dementia?

It’s ok – this doesn’t mean that they lack mental capacity just yet. But time is running out to set up an LPA, so get this done as quickly as possible.

What if I don’t set one up?

If you don’t set up an LPA for your loved one and they lose their mental capacity, you will not be able to legally represent them. Then, the only way to act on their behalf is to go through a lengthy and expensive process which involves going to court to become a deputy. So get this sorted while you can! An LPA is the easiest way to ensure you will be involved in managing their affairs if they ever lose mental capacity.

So now we’ve looked at the importance of setting up an LPA for them while they still have mental capacity. Now we’ll explore what an LPA can allow you to do for your relative.

What does being an LPA allow me to do for my relative?

The donor can appoint one or two separate people as their LPAs. One can manage financial matters & property, and another can make medical and care-related decisions for them. But one person can also manage both. If two are chosen, the donor can decide whether they make decisions jointly or whether they can make decisions without the other being involved. The attorney(s) must always act in the best interests of the donor. Find out exactly what decisions LPAs can make on behalf of the donor on the GOV.UK website, here.

How much does an LPA cost?

It costs £82 for a donor to register one person as an LPA. Visit the government website to see if you are eligible for a reduction.

FAQs

Will an LPA take away my relative’s freedom to choose?

No, they will still have their independence as long as they have mental capacity. The LPA doesn’t have to be put into effect immediately. It’s good to reassure your loved one; they’re not losing control. The LPA just gives them peace of mind, knowing their wishes can be carried out in the future. It will be brought into effect when they lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.

Can an LPA only be enacted once the donor lacks mental capacity?

No, an LPA can be enacted while someone still has mental capacity. For instance, they may be able to handle their care but might get a little confused when it comes to managing their finances. If they have already appointed someone as an LPA over their finances, they can call on this person to make financial decisions for them.

How can we help you?

At Southcare, we want to make things as easy as possible – for our residents and their relatives. And we’ve seen how hard it is when relatives don’t have a say in their loved one’s care or finances. When it comes to their care and future plans, it is good to have the family involved. So we cannot urge you enough to ensure you have a Lasting Power of Attorney set up for your relatives, whether they’re in a home or not. If you need to set up a Power of Attorney for your loved one, do so here on the GOV.UK website. Or get in touch with your home manager for more information.

23/09/2019 / by Amber

Seeing Dementia Differently

Understanding and changing the way you see dementia can go a long way towards making the moments shared with your loved ones rewarding and enjoyable. With a positive attitude, a trusty sense of humour and a read of this article, you can start doing just that.

When a person develops dementia, the first feelings to arise are often anxiety, emotional pain and fear. Fear that relatives will not be recognised by their loved ones. It is no doubt an emotionally traumatic experience but focusing on this fear and pain will not make dementia go away. As heart-breaking as it may be, the sooner we come to terms with the fact that dementia is here to stay, the better. Fighting it doesn’t make it any easier to cope with, but understanding dementia and changing the way you see it, will. In doing so, relatives and their loved ones can enjoy rewarding moments together despite dementia.

Be in the moment
Another way that dementia is often described is as ‘being in the moment’. For those with dementia, the only reality that exists is the one they are in. Correcting them about dates and people often causes further confusion and disorientation. Dementia is a journey involving a lot of time travel. But that doesn’t mean loved ones have to stay behind. In a sense, dementia could be likened to the DeLorean out of Back to the Future. Those with dementia are already in the car, but relatives can always jump in the passenger seat. A good way to ease stress on both sides is to explore reality with them. Wherever, or rather whenever, the individual is in time, that is the only time that’s relevant. If they’re somewhere in the 30s, be with them in the 30’s. Ask them what is it like there, who they’re with.

Relatives can also learn to be in the moment. It can be stressful worrying about what the future holds for a loved one with dementia. But shifting the focus away from stress and anxiety, and focusing on the present can allow quality time to be spent with them now.

How to reply to “I want to go home”…
Don’t panic. Ask them a question. You could tell them that where they are now is their home. Or you could ask them where home is. It could be where they grew up or their first home as an adult. Ask more questions. Who do they live with? Difficulty often arises in trying to fight dementia, in desperately trying to keep loved ones in the now. Why not simply walk down memory lane with them?

Listen to body language
Conversations don’t always have to be verbal. We can all say a lot without opening our mouths and the same applies to those with dementia. They can tell others how they feel in multiple ways. Does their body language express pain, happiness, or are they uncomfortable? These little things mean the most. Relatives will also need to pay attention to their own body language and ensure this matches their tone of voice and what they are saying.

Consider the senses
Sensory activities are very important when it comes to engaging with dementia sufferers. Two senses to concentrate on are touch and sound. Keep in mind the emotional assurance that comes with simply holding someone’s hand. Sound and music can be very effective in creating a soothing and calm atmosphere. They can also trigger memories and allow for moments of reminiscence and clarity.

20/08/2019 / by Amber