Is there enough proper accommodation for Young dementia suffers

[Greenearth]

Hi I am new to this site but my wife and I for sometime have wanted to create an environment where young dementia suffers can come and live, work, and be cared for. We are just at the beginning of the journey and am looking for any help anyone can give me. I am looking to create a suitable home for approximately 25 people to live in and work from. The main area of work we would be trying to develop is teaching people to grow plants and vegetables, developing gardens, etc. The reason for the work plans is to also make the home self sustainable. I am presently involved in research and development of new growing techniques which I think will be good for young dementia people.
On a professional side I am needing to know what type of staff I need and the amount of staff needed to look after 25 young dementia suffers.
Any help anyone can give is very much appreciated.

 

[Jo1958]

Greenearth, hello
There isn't enough done for early onset suffers, you are quite right there and your idea sounds very positive and should be able to help many people.

I can't help on the staffing ratios as I suspect it will depend on what the residents are capable of doing and what they need help and support with. The main problem with care for early onset seems to be what happens when they get older and their needs change, I'm sure you are both on a long learning curve!

I wish you both lots of luck with this project and look forward to hearing how your plans are coming along.
With best wishes from Jo

 

[danny]

Hi Greenearth. When you say young,what sort of age are you thinking of.

Are you thinking more on the lines of people with learning disabilities with dementia.

The reason I am asking is that most younger people with dementia usually live with their spouse and probably would only be considering residential care/live in when their care needs are too much for relatives to cope with.

You then are entering the world of nursing/EMI care with registration with the CQC etc.

Your project sounds perfect for day care/ activities and may be short breaks etc.

The staffing needs for 25 people with dementia would very much have to be assessed on an individual needs basis. At the very least you are looking at one staff to four people.Some people would probably need one to one even.

Good luck.

 

[TinaT]

I think if sufferers were still at the stage where they could go out to work, then they would probably still be living in their own home environment.

Perhaps a day care centre which is early onset, dementia friendly and involves many activities such as rambling groups, darts, bowles, games, tea dances; the whole gamut of interests which early onset sufferers would enjoy, etc., etc.

The problem is unless a sufferer is at the critical and severe stage of the disease where many activities would just not be possible, there would be no local government financial help and I wonder if there could be resonable charging for daily rates that ordinary people could afford.

I would have loved to be able to continue working whilst my husband was in the early stages and I could be assured that he was well cared for in a good, dementia friendly environment.

xxTinaT

 

[lillibet]

Hi

I think my immediate response is that 25 residents is actually a rather large number. It means that you are going to 1) have to attract customers from quite a geographical spread and 2) have a substantial number of staff who would need to have some specialist skills to work with the target group. I think 1) will be difficult for the reasons other people have already mentioned about still being in situ with family and 2) because I don't think there exists much of a body of expertise to tap into.
It's a good idea though and I think a modified version would be very worthwhile. I think you need to use the resources of the internet to do a serious market appraisal of this idea.
Good luck, if you want any more advice get back to me

 

[donkey]

there is only one specielist centre for my husband to go too for early onset, and like others have said its usally used when the client can no longer stay at home. there are 3 floors with 12 patients on each floor and there are qualified nurses and carers. my husband can no longer do anything fotr him self or participate in any activities. this is probably why they are called specialist centres. but what you are trying too achive is good but perhaps more of the day centre approach would be more benificial for a starter xx

 

[Greenearth]

Greenearth, hello
There isn't enough done for early onset suffers, you are quite right there and your idea sounds very positive and should be able to help many people.

I can't help on the staffing ratios as I suspect it will depend on what the residents are capable of doing and what they need help and support with. The main problem with care for early onset seems to be what happens when they get older and their needs change, I'm sure you are both on a long learning curve!

I wish you both lots of luck with this project and look forward to hearing how your plans are coming along.
With best wishes from Jo

Thanks Jo
I will update my progress.

 

[Greenearth]

Hi Greenearth. When you say young,what sort of age are you thinking of.

Are you thinking more on the lines of people with learning disabilities with dementia.

The reason I am asking is that most younger people with dementia usually live with their spouse and probably would only be considering residential care/live in when their care needs are too much for relatives to cope with.

You then are entering the world of nursing/EMI care with registration with the CQC etc.
Your project sounds perfect for day care/ activities and may be short breaks etc.

The staffing needs for 25 people with dementia would very much have to be assessed on an individual needs basis. At the very least you are looking at one staff to four people.Some people would probably need one to one even.

Good luck.

Hi Danny
I cant put an age on it. Our research will identify the biggest need and we will adapt to suit the need. I appreciate all comments and will update our progress. This will be a long journey.

 

[Greenearth]

I think if sufferers were still at the stage where they could go out to work, then they would probably still be living in their own home environment.

Perhaps a day care centre which is early onset, dementia friendly and involves many activities such as rambling groups, darts, bowles, games, tea dances; the whole gamut of interests which early onset sufferers would enjoy, etc., etc.

The problem is unless a sufferer is at the critical and severe stage of the disease where many activities would just not be possible, there would be no local government financial help and I wonder if there could be resonable charging for daily rates that ordinary people could afford.

I would have loved to be able to continue working whilst my husband was in the early stages and I could be assured that he was well cared for in a good, dementia friendly environment.

xxTinaT

Hi Tina

Thank you for your message. The important factor here is making it affordable and I know this is where all good intentions fall down. That is why we need to make it a working environment where it is self sustainable. With this in mind we are looking at Income streams that are guaranteed. To give you an example if we installed a 50kw photo voltaic solar system at a cost of approximately £175,000.00. Over 25 years it would bring back approximately £650,000.00. We are looking at long term revenue streams.
Your words "I could be assured he was well cared for in a good, dementia friendly environment". is what we want to do.

 

[Greenearth]

I think my immediate response is that 25 residents is actually a rather large number. It means that you are going to 1) have to attract customers from quite a geographical spread and 2) have a substantial number of staff who would need to have some specialist skills to work with the target group. I think 1) will be difficult for the reasons other people have already mentioned about still being in situ with family and 2) because I don't think there exists much of a body of expertise to tap into.
It's a good idea though and I think a modified version would be very worthwhile. I think you need to use the resources of the internet to do a serious market appraisal of this idea.
Good luck, if you want any more advice get back to me

Hi
We do agree the internet is a very important area to learn more and this is why we have joined this group to learn what are the real needs. We do appreciate any comments that you make and as we learn more we will inform everyone and look for feed back so that we can do a proper job.

 

[Greenearth]

there is only one specielist centre for my husband to go too for early onset, and like others have said its usally used when the client can no longer stay at home. there are 3 floors with 12 patients on each floor and there are qualified nurses and carers. my husband can no longer do anything fotr him self or participate in any activities. this is probably why they are called specialist centres. but what you are trying too achive is good but perhaps more of the day centre approach would be more benificial for a starter xx

Hi
We appreciate what you are saying and we will update our progress. As we learn more we no doubt will have to adapt our original plans.