Dementia Care
Corner Lodge are specialists in dementia care and recognise a person with dementia is, first and foremost, a person – unique and with a rich history of experiences, abilities, skills, knowledge, preferences, desires and personality. 'Advance care planning’ (ACP) is the term used to describe the conversation between people, their families and carers and those looking after them about their future wishes and priorities for care. Advance Care planning is key means of improving care for people nearing the end of life and of enabling better planning and provision of care, to help them live well and die with dignity in the place and the manner of their choosing. It enables people to discuss and record their future health and care wishes and also to appoint someone as an advocate or surrogate, thus making the likelihood of these wishes being known and respected at the end of life. The main goal is to clarify peoples’ wishes, needs and preferences and deliver care to meet these needs.
The term “dementia” is an umbrella terms used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specific diseases and conditions (i.e..: Alzheimer's Disease, Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, .Frontotemporal Dementia, Posterior Cortical Atrophy, Primary Progressive Aphasia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Hodgkin's Dementia, and Parkinson's Dementia).
Different types of dementia can affect people differently, and everyone will experience symptoms in their own way.
However, there are some common early symptoms that may appear some time before a diagnosis of dementia. These include:
- memory loss
- difficulty concentrating
- finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- being confused about time and place
- mood changes
- These symptoms are often mild and may get worse only very gradually. It's often termed "mild cognitive impairment" (MCI) as the symptoms are not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia.
You might not notice these symptoms if you have them, and family and friends may not notice or take them seriously for some time. In some people, these symptoms will remain the same and not worsen. But some people with MCI will go on to develop dementia.
Dementia is not a natural part of ageing. This is why it's important to talk to a GP sooner rather than later if you or someone you care for are worried about memory problems or other symptoms.
Gold Standards Framework Accredited
The Gold Standards Framework (GSF) is a registered charity that has been the UK’s leading training provider for generalist frontline staff in caring for people in the last years of life for over 25 years. GSF is a practical and evidence-based end of life care service improvement programme.
Corner Lodge shares their aim is to enable a ‘gold standard’ of care for everyone, with any condition, in any setting, given by any care provider, at any time in a person’s last years of life.
We want to ensure our residents live well before they die and die well in the place and manner of their choosing. Our vision is to ensure that every person caring for those in their final years of life is trained and accredited to GSF standards to deliver gold standard care.
We believe our residents benefit from GSF by adopting the practice of more proactive, personalised, well-coordinated care. We have seen a significant impact with a reduction in unplanned hospital admissions and deaths, enabling more to live and die where they choose.
We wish to be able to provide the best care possible for all patients and their families, but to do this we need to know more about what is important to them and what are their needs and preferences for the future.
The aim of any discussion about thinking ahead, often called an Advance Care Planning Discussion, is to develop a better understanding of the priorities, needs and preferences and those of their families. This information supports the planning and provision of care and enables better planning to meet future needs.
Corner Lodge was awarded Gold Standards Framework Gold Accreditation in April 2020 and awarded Platinum Accreditation in 2023.
Personal Centred Approach
Corner Lodge care for residents living with dementia as individuals. By responding to the individual and supporting what they can do with a personalised care plan, we look for opportunities to build on their strengths and abilities to find ways to compensate for losses brought about by dementia. Our approach to dementia care respects the uniqueness of each person rather than focusing on the diagnosis of dementia.
Dementia Innovations
Health care is ever evolving, with new innovations & thinking in how to care for Dementia residents the best.
We have adopted a can do attitude for our ethos and using Dementia Care Matters, an acclaimed philosophy at the forefront of dementia care, we have a focus on our residents emotional needs combined with innovative ideas.
“ The management team are motivated and committed to providing a service that is person centred and promotes the residents well being”, quote from 2018 CQC report.
See some of the lovely stories in Media:
Clacton care home boss calls on community groups for collaborations | Clacton and Frinton Gazette
Essex village embraces Christmas spirit with celebration | Clacton and Frinton Gazette
Clacton and Jaywick care home residents celebrate Halloween | Clacton and Frinton Gazette
Our Dementia Pledge
Corner Lodge Express
The idea was to convert a little used lounge on the ground floor to an immersive reminiscence activity area by the construction of a train carriage (with video & windows), station platform, and a station garden seating area. We were featured on BBC Look East & BBC Radio Essex for this innovative idea.
In the past, we had small displays and artwork of life, advertising, news items that the Residents would remember from their childhood and as adults with a family of their own. This resulted in quick comments or brief conversations, fleeting moments in the Residents day. The Corner Lodge Express and Station is a complete package. The video shown is of scenery and generic cities that someone would see as a train was in route to a destination. We are currently looking for additional videos of other journeys (e.g.: Paris and other European cities, London area, etc).