#OakTress Support Services

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Daily Care and Dementia

Daily care is a crucial part of any homecare programme. Managing any change in routine can cause stress, particularly for people with dementia.

Accurate and regularly updated daily care notes provide a record of any changes to the individual’s condition, medication or incidents. This helps to ensure a high level of service is consistently delivered.

The importance of a routine

Having a daily routine can give people control over their day. It helps them feel safe and secure, especially during times of change in their lives. Having a consistent routine can help to reduce stress levels and prevent depression by providing structure and reducing feelings of confusion.

In disability home care Australia settings, routines offer consistency and security to young children. Knowing what to expect each day, whether it’s time for lunch, a nap or when their loved one will return from work, gives them confidence and comfort.

However, for older adults with social or economic hardship the impact of life chaos may challenge their ability to develop consistent daily routines. This is because individuals who experience financial insecurity, housing instability and violence often have pressing and unavoidable responsibilities that need to be prioritised over self-management routines. The resulting unpredictability of daily life may also be a significant mediator of the relationship between SEP and poor health outcomes (Desmond, 2012).

The benefits for the individual

Having regular routines can help to ease the stress of everyday life. This is especially important for individuals who may be living with a long term condition or illness such as dementia which can cause symptoms of confusion and distress.

A daily care routine can help to manage simple tasks like showering, dressing and eating which may become more difficult with age or a disability care. It can also help with household chores such as shopping and meal preparation and managing errands including appointments, helping to alleviate the strain on individuals.

Maintaining a daily care routine can also assist in reducing the risk of falls, pressure sores and accidents that may happen at home. Caregivers or professionals can offer support and advice to ensure that an individual has a comfortable and safe home environment. This includes ensuring a clean and tidy living space and managing laundry, maintaining a safe and well-functioning home, as well as taking on household maintenance and cleaning tasks that are too strenuous or timeconsuming for individuals to undertake themselves.

The benefits for the Carer

When it comes to daily care, open communication is key. This not only helps your loved ones to feel included in their care routine but also makes the experience less stressful for you as a Carer.

Caring can be a very isolating role so it’s important that you take the time to do things you enjoy and get support for yourself too. Our online community and Maggie’s centres across the country are as much spaces for Carers to be supported as they are for people living with cancer.

If you are a Carer it’s worth checking whether you may be entitled to benefits like Carer’s Allowance and the State Pension. You can do this easily with our online entitlement calculator from Turn2us.

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The Benefits of Community Participation

Community participation involves people working together with one another and with others outside the community to solve problems. The process can have many benefits.

Our systematic review found that community participation can lead to positive outcomes for health interventions in high and middle income countries. This is especially true when community members feel that their input has been taken into account in a final decision or outcome.

Benefits

Many community members are often hesitant to get involved in their local groups, expressing concerns such as “I don’t have enough time”. However, it is important to emphasize that there are both tangible and intangible benefits to be gained from this engagement.

Community participation is fundamental to the democratisation of society, giving citizens the right to participate in decision-making processes and ensuring that their views are heard. In fact, studies show that projects involving community participation achieve 30% more success than those without it.

Furthermore, community involvement also provides a sense of belonging and purpose for individuals. It can help them build confidence and self-esteem, increase their knowledge and skills and develop a sense of personal growth and happiness. This is especially the case for those who are empowered in a leadership role. Moreover, it can encourage healthier lifestyles and provide opportunities for networking that promote better health outcomes.

Finding the right opportunities

Community participation includes a range of activities that individuals can participate in to support their local communities. This can include volunteering, attending community events, or joining clubs and organisations. It can also involve giving back to the community through donations or sponsorships.

The most basic form of community engagement focuses on straightforward exchanges between an organization and members of the community. It can include things like surveys or feedback forms, and it typically has clear measurable outcomes.

When promoting community participation opportunities, it’s important to make sure they are relevant to the community. Otherwise, members will lose interest. For example, a survey that asks about a city’s comprehensive plan may not be as valuable for residents if the project isn’t going to impact their immediate area or their daily lives. Make it easy for people to find ways to get involved by targeting communications with specific geographic areas and ensuring that communication materials are accessible.

Balancing your involvement with other commitments

Many people engage in community disability support activities as a way to fulfill personal goals and to feel more connected to others. It is important to balance community participation with other commitments, such as work and family, in order to prevent burnout. Communicating openly with family and friends about community involvement can help people find a balance that works for them.

Encourage community participation by recognizing members who contribute frequently and in meaningful ways. This can be done by sharing success stories and testimonials on your communication channels, or by providing badges and other forms of recognition. Incentives, such as monetary rewards for participating in community studies, are also an effective strategy.

Make it easy for members to share their feedback by creating dedicated channels, or by including a feedback section on the community platform. Continuous feedback allows you to refine community strategies, services, and content to meet growing needs. It can also spark new ideas that may have been overlooked.

Getting started

Community participation is a key component in building sustainability and resilience. Traditional top-down development approaches can exacerbate existing inequalities, and often have disproportionately negative impacts on marginalized communities. In contrast, community participation focuses on ensuring inclusive decision-making processes, addressing power imbalances, and empowering individuals and communities to take action for change.

It’s important to offer multiple channels for engagement, so that members can choose the option that best fits their needs, preferences, and abilities. Provide online forums, social media, meetings, workshops, and events to allow people to participate in ways that best suit them.

Also, be sure to communicate clearly with your stakeholders, avoiding technical jargon and explaining any complex concepts in simple terms. This will help ensure that everyone understands what is happening, and what they can influence. This will also increase their trust and confidence in your organization. If necessary, use translators to communicate with community members who speak a different language. This may take more time, but it will make them feel like you truly value their input.