When working in a care environment, managing the risk of infection is of paramount importance, when the people in care are also dementia patients however, this ups the ante even more so for dementia care professionals and visitors alike.
For many years, researchers have been examining the links between the body’s natural immune system and the progressive symptoms of dementia. Research conducted by specialists in recent months suggests that the inflammation of cells in the brain, caused by the presence of inflammation or infection elsewhere in the body, can in some cases actually contribute to the worsening of a patient’s condition.
At Dementia Care, we are dedicated to providing the highest possible quality of care to our service users and as such, our staff take infection control very seriously.
As a matter of best practice, all of our staff receive rigorous infection prevention training as part of their induction process. As part of this, staff are issued with PPE and are 
encouraged to uphold good personal hygiene, including thorough handwashing at regular intervals throughout the day. We also operate a strict sickness policy and insist that staff remain at home if they are unwell.
Our preventative measures however extend beyond the staff. At our headquarters just outside Newcastle, we operate extensive weekly cleaning schedules as well as a deep cleaning schedule for all of our furnishings, which is supplemented by regular carpet cleaning and the use of antibacterial products throughout the building. Staff ensure that any spills which occur are immediately cleaned up and that any soiled clothing is laundered safely and correctly.
“We take infection prevention very seriously,” said Carol Brown, head of care at Dementia Care.
“Our service users and their families trust and rely on us to provide the best possible care and do everything in our power to ensure that our Centre is a safe, hygienic environment for them to enjoy.
“Our staff are all highly-trained in their respective fields and if any of them detect an early sign of infection with any of our patients, they know to seek professional medical advice immediately.”
Dementia Care provides specialist care, support and advice to people living with dementia, their families and carers. Delivering a range of day services, residential care and support services across the North East, 2018 marks Dementia Care’s 25th anniversary as a registered charity.
