Most people start by telephoning us. During this phone call you will be able to describe the needs of the potential resident and their current situation. We will discuss the options available, e.g. does the person really need to come into the home or can they stay at home with more care? Do they need permanent care or respite care? How will their care be funded? What financial help is available? At the end of the phone call the caller can decide if they want to look around Wardington House. If they do then we arrange a suitable time for a visit to the home. 

The best times for a visit are 11.00 am in the morning or 2.30 pm in the afternoon. You should allow about one and a half hours for your visit. During this time we will have learned more about the potential resident and you will have learned more about the home and met some of our residents and staff.

After the visit you may decide you want us to provide care for the person. If you do, then our Matron will arrange to assess the person no matter where they are in the country. The assessment is done in a very low key way. Matron is not in uniform and is mainly judging someone’s level of dementia and mobility. This can be done over a cup of tea and a chat. 

Most dementias are progressive so we know that the person’s behaviour will change over time. We are usually able to look after people till the end of their lives, whatever the future may hold. 

After our assessment we will make a plan with the family about admission. 

We encourage people to bring their own personal effects, pictures, and bits of furniture – for example a favorite table or bookcase. We can provide a plan of the chosen room.

Dementia has several possible causes. The two common diseases are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. A person can have both types of dementia at the same time. There are other causes of dementia too, which are more rare. 

When considering the future, it is best to think of dementia in stages and where the person might be – at the beginning, middle or advanced stages. The future depends on the underlying condition and the person’s susceptibility as well as their general physical health. This is one of the reasons why holistic care is essential. 

In the early stages, it is advisable to see a doctor to have an assessment and routine tests to check for reversible causes of dementia. This may help with understanding the type of dementia and its cause. The doctor may refer to a specialist who may undertake a further assessment. 

During the middle stages, a person’s behaviour may change and their health may decline. Sometimes it  is an event that precipitates the need for more care and support. For example there could be a crisis arising from a fall, an infection, or perhaps wandering outside and getting lost, or being unsafe at home. It is at these times that the person with dementia may need more care and support. 

Investigations may show conditions which need treatment. There are various types of support and treatment which specialists can recommend. The diagnosis will help to inform the likely trajectory of the progression of the type of dementia which is present. 

How does dementia affect a person?

Dementia can affect several aspects of a person’s life including their ability to think, remember and understand things, as well as changes in their speech, behaviour, mood, continence and sleep. Dementia is generally a progressive condition and the effects vary with the underlying condition causing the dementia and the person’s individual susceptibility. 

Alzheimer’s disease 

This type of dementia affects the brain slowly. Usually the changes are almost imperceptible. Two brain scans a-year apart will often reveal the disease progression. 

Alzheimer’s disease mostly affects memory and cognition. So a person might notice they have forgotten recent events from the day before, or even on the same day. A person with Alzheimer’s disease might forget key people and places in their lives and be unable to manage their personal affairs.  

Rates of progression of Alzheimer’s disease depend to a certain extent upon the age of the person at the onset of the disease and their individual susceptibility. A typical age of onset of Alzheimer’s disease is around 85 years. With late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, life expectancy is not usually affected.  Whereas, early-onset disease, that begins during a person’s 50’s or 60’s, will shorten life. 

Someone caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease who sees the person on a regular basis may hardly notice the gradual development of the illness. The Alzheimer’s Society website is a good resource for further information: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/:  

Vascular dementia 

In vascular dementia, the blood supply to certain parts of the brain becomes blocked, leading to damage in one or more particular areas of the brain. The damage may be caused by complete blockage to a blood vessel and then this is called an infarct. Often small blood vessels are affected first. 

In vascular dementia, a person may experience sudden changes in their dementia, which can be as short as a week apart or many years apart. The development of vascular dementia is a bit like going down steps, except that you do not know how far apart the steps are or how deep they will be. In vascular dementia, the parts of the brain that are affected will vary. So the impact on the person will vary in extent, from person-to-person and from time-to-time.  

Effects of dementia

Sometimes there is generalised brain impairment and at other times, more specific areas of the brain are affected as well or separately. Parts of the brain have different functions. So damage to a particular part of the brain leads to impairments associated with the functions of that part of the brain. 

Frontal lobes of the brain

These areas control decision-making and moderate a person’s behaviour. Damage to the frontal lobes might lead someone to be indecisive, to be confused, and disinhibited. Perhaps the person may not recognise social cues, and act inappropriately; for example saying or doing things that might upset someone else. The person might use language that is rude or insulting. They may dress inappropriately and be irritable or moody. The person may have difficulty following instructions and in paying attention as well as difficulty with concentrating.

Fronto-temporal lobes.  When these areas of the brain are  damaged, a person’s speech may become muddled and their behaviour may change. They may start to see things that are not there in reality, or believe that others are against them. They might believe that another person has stolen an item that is precious to them, or think of events that never happened. The person may lose the ability to read.  Dementia UK has a very helpful website: https://www.dementiauk.org/

Parietal lobes: These areas of the brain control spatial awareness and movements. A person with parietal lobe damage may get lost in familiar places, have difficulty sequencing processes such as getting dressed, or laying the table with cutlery. They may lose coordination and have difficulty with activities that they previously used to do easily. 

Can Wardington House cope with people with advanced dementia?

Before admission, Matron at Wardington House will undertake an assessment of any potential resident. Nearly everyone will be accepted and will continue to live at Wardington House until the end of their days.  The staff are experienced in helping residents with many kinds of difficulties. In this accepting environment along with the specialist skills of the staff, residents tend to relax and enjoy life at Wardington House. 

Staffing levels

Our staff are the cornerstone of our care. The home looks after around 45 residents and employs about 100 staff. Many of our staff are part time. They have a choice of 36 different shift patterns on any single day. Most of our staff are female and this gives them the flexibility to combine work with their family life. Staff stay with us for an average of ten years. The home uses no agency staff. 

The home’s Matron or Assistant Matron, both Registered Nurses are on duty throughout the day. One of them is on call at night. 

Mornings: The mornings are the busiest time in the home. Two Registered Nurses are on duty from 7.00 am. There will be ten Nursing Assistants, our Laundry staff, Kitchen staff, and Domestic staff and Administrative staff, and Facilities staff. Our Activities Organisers work from 10.00 am till 3.00 pm every day. In total there are around 28 people working in the home in the mornings.  

Afternoons: The afternoon shift of two Registered Nurses starts at 1.00 pm, but the morning shift of Registered Nurses does not leave till 3.00 pm. This gives the nurses time for a thorough handover and time to do their care planning and other tasks. 

There are eight Nursing Assistants in the afternoon.

Evenings/Nights:  We have a Registered Nurse who starts at 8.30 pm and who works till the morning. She will have six twilight shift Nursing Assistants who will work till around 11.00pm. After that we have four Nursing Assistants and our night nurse on duty. 

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