5 of the best DEMENTIA AIDS
WHICH products for dementia patients are worth buying? We asked Mary Jordan, an independent dementia care trainer and author of The Essential Carer’s Guide To Dementia, to recommend five . . .
DAY CLOCK £49.99, unforgettable.org
AS BRAIN function declines with dementia, patients can struggle with the time and date, and may confuse day and night. So, normal clocks and calendars are too complex. But this day clock simplifies matters on a large screen with, for example: ‘Now it’s Thursday morning’.
ZERREAU TOWEL OFF SHAMPOO FOAM £3.99 for 70ml, selected Sainsbury’s stores and superdrug.com
THE reflective surfaces and noises in bathrooms can make hair-washing frightening for someone with dementia. But this shampoo, a wet foam you massage through the roots of dry hair, then rub off with a towel, can be used while the patient sits in bed or on a chair.
PHILIPS 23W SPIRAL DAYLIGHT BULB £5, John Lewis and lighting shops
DEMENTIA combined with less daylight can reduce levels of the feelgood brain chemical, serotonin. This makes our body clock slip out of kilter, and can trigger mood swings and depression.
Research in care homes has found bulbs which mimic natural daylight in rooms we spend most of our time in can help to realign body clocks and increase serotonin. Don’t use them in the bedroom, however, as you need a relaxing, non-stimulating environment there.
MELAMINE DEMENTIA FRIENDLY BOWL £5.99, dementiasigns.co.uk
THIS bowl in bright blue or citrus looks and feels like ceramic crockery but is lightweight and doesn’t break easily. Up to 70 per cent of dementia patients have problems interpreting colour and can’t see foods such as white rice or mashed potato easily on a white plate, for instance. This bowl’s broad brim is also easier to hold.
SWANN 351-MD2 DOOR AND WINDOW ALARM £12.99, Maplin stores
PATIENTS with dementia can get confused, or have energy to spare, and may decide to pop out for a walk when you least expect it. A simple wireless alarm attached to your doors and windows can alert you if they try to leave the house. Battery operated, these are easy to install and have a nice loud siren to give a warning to any carer.