Debunking the Myth: Is Home-Based Dementia Care Really Possible?

Introduction

The dilemma of choosing between home-based and facility-based dementia care is a question many families face.

The pervasive idea has long been that the complexities of dementia inevitably lead to facility-based care, such as skilled nursing homes or memory care facilities. 

Today, we're delving into this emotionally-charged topic, exploring the insights shared by Lizette Cloete, an occupational therapist with a mission to debunk this myth.

A Personal Odyssey: The Origins of Understanding Abandonment

Lizette’s journey began in a deeply personal place. At the age of 12, she was sent to a boarding school, a separation that was both confusing and emotionally wrenching. The sense of abandonment and betrayal that young Lizette felt forms the foundation for her current mission: keeping dementia patients cared for at home. 

She observed similar emotions of fear and abandonment among her patients during her stint at a skilled nursing facility, inspiring her to advocate for home-based care solutions.

Emotional Consequences: The Unseen Costs of Facility-Based Care

If you have ever visited a loved one in a skilled nursing facility, assisted living center, or any other type of long-term care setting, you might relate to Lizette's observations. In such institutional environments, it's common to see dementia patients struggling with feelings of abandonment and fear. 

For many, the distress stems from not understanding why they can't be in the comfort of their homes. This emotional aspect is often overlooked when families and medical professionals weigh the pros and cons of facility-based care.

Challenging the Status Quo: The Medical Model's Flaws

The medical model—which is what most healthcare providers operate under—has generally led families to believe that dementia eventually requires facility-based care. Therapists, doctors, and nurses are trained in this model, and it shapes their medical opinions. 

However, Lizette argues that the medical model's emphasis on facility-based care is rooted in tradition rather than research-backed evidence. The medical community, she insists, needs to embrace a more holistic view that incorporates the benefits of home-based care for dementia patients.

Home-Based Care: A Closer Look at the Benefits

Lizette strongly believes that keeping dementia patients at home is not just feasible but also vastly beneficial for their emotional well-being. According to her, the concept of skilled nursing facilities as the only option for dementia patients is misleading. 

In fact, it's a relatively modern construct, having only been prominent for about a hundred years. Before then, family and community-based models of care were the norms. She encourages us to reconsider our approach, emphasizing the importance of emotional well-being in addition to physical health.

The Critical Role of Planning: How to Make Home-Based Care Work

For families considering home-based dementia care, proactive planning is essential. Often, families postpone this crucial planning stage until they're in the middle of a crisis. 

This delay can lead to hasty decisions that don’t serve the best interests of the patient or the caregivers. Lizette stresses that with the right plan and resources, home-based care can be a viable, even preferable, option.

Join the Movement: Take the Pledge for Home-Based Care

At the core of Lizette’s message is a challenge to the status quo and a call to action. Anyone committed to keeping their loved ones with dementia at home is invited to take a pledge to do so. This collective commitment can be the beginning of a paradigm shift from facility-based to home-based care. 

 Lizette encourages families to become proactive, not just reactive, in how they manage dementia care, and she offers to partner with those willing to join her mission.

Conclusion: Time to Change the Narrative

Lizette's clarion call is for a reconsideration of long-held beliefs about dementia care. Home-based care, contrary to popular belief and medical norms, is not just a romantic notion but a feasible and emotionally healthier option. It’s time for families, caregivers, and medical professionals to seriously consider the possibilities and benefits of caring for dementia patients at home.

As we anticipate the next installment in this educational series, let's contemplate the profound impact that our choices could have on our loved ones' lives. With adequate planning, resources, and commitment, home-based care is not just a possibility, but a solution deserving of serious consideration. Until then, may you find the courage and resources to consider this critical alternative in dementia care.

Stay tuned for our upcoming posts, where we will delve deeper into the specifics of planning and executing a successful home-based dementia care strategy.

Let me know in the comments below if you have questions about dementia that you need answered.

If you would like more information on how to help a parent living with dementia, join our next free workshop here.

Read More:

Forgetful or Memory Deficit: Unpacking the Real Difference and How It Relates to Dementia

Driving with Dementia: A Guide for Families

Disclaimer: These blogs, videos and any work done by Lizette Cloete OT, as a Member of Think Different Dementia, LLC, is given only as educational content and consulting work. This does not create an Occupational Therapist-Patient Relationship. The educational content and consulting work performed should not be considered medical treatment as an Occupational Therapist. The consulting work does not take the place of medical work normally performed by a licensed Occupational Therapist. Please consult a licensed Occupational Therapist for medical advice.

“Think Different” Dementia’s owner, Lizette Cloete, OTR/L graduated as an Occupational Therapist from the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 1992. She and her husband emigrated to the USA in 1993, and currently reside in South Carolina. They have 2 daughters and one son-in-love, 4 cats, one dog and 16 chickens.

Lizette has almost 30 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist in a variety of settings, the latest being in the home health environment. Among her many accomplishments, she served on the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association’s Board of Directors from 2008-2014. She enjoys teaching on the topic of dementia, most recently presenting at a national conference on the topic “Dementia Made Simple”