The coronavirus pandemic is having a huge impact on everyone’s daily lives but this is especially true for people living with dementia, who may lack awareness and find it difficult to understand instructions about self-isolation, social distancing or handwashing or to report symptoms of the virus due to confusion or communication difficulties.

Midian Care staff are fully trained in dementia care and are aware how important it is to take the time to explain to our service users, this information, with simple and accessible words and to stay alert to any symptoms they may present.

It is proven that a person living with dementia, who catches coronavirus is at a higher risk of severe illness than a person with no underlying health conditions. The risk of severe symptoms rises with age and long-term health conditions such as heart or blood vessel disease and diabetes.

At Midian Care we understand that for people living with dementia, their carers and their families, this pandemic may cause some disruption and additional distress to their normal lives.

Family members or carers may feel worried, scared or helpless and frustrated, may also feel low, worried, anxious, or be concerned about their health or that of those close to them.

We all know that everyone reacts differently to events and changes in their lives and feel and behaviour varies between different people depending of the situation.

Some family members, especially those isolated, those who may have pre-existing mental health problems, may need extra support in order for them to take care of their loves one as well as their mind and body.

Midian Care is committed to provide support and assistance for people living with dementia and their families, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that our staff have access to reliable information and follow good practice in order to protect our service users, their family, the NHS and our community.

One of our main priorities is that our service users are maintaining relationships with their loves ones because we know that not being able to comprehend what a global pandemic is, someone living with dementia, doesn’t understand why they’re suddenly alone with no friends or family visiting them and often they may feel abandoned.

We encourage and support our service users to stay connected with their love ones via Facetime, Skype, or Zoom for a video-chat and we offer assistance for those wanting to get online.

This is a difficult time for everyone and we believe that being able to see and chat to their friends and family, telling them how they are feeling and the things they are doing helps to improve their quality of life.

Experiencing all this disruption to their routine can be very upsetting and our staff are adapting and creating new routines as encouraging them to develop new skills such as gardening, knitting, cooking, exercises, game of cards, or meaningful activities such as reading, learning a new dance style or singing.