Devonians offered advice on avoiding onset of dementia

EXPERTS at a Devon domiciliary care company are offering people in the county advice on avoiding the onset of dementia this month (June 2019).

Guardian Homecare, which provides home care in Exeter and Torbay, is sharing its tips after Alzheimer’s Research UK revealed one percent of UK adults are unable to name known risk factors for dementia.

Guardian Homecare Manager for Devon, Catherine Porter said: “Risk factors for dementia include heavy drinking, smoking, high blood pressure, depression and diabetes and it is worrying that only 1% of adults realise that these can all lead to the disease. This shows that more education is urgently needed.

“The study by Alzheimer’s Research UK also revealed that only 34% of people believe it’s possible to reduce the risk of the disease. Fifty one percent of people recognise that dementia is a cause of death and 22% incorrectly believe it is an inevitable part of getting older.

“There are currently 850,000 people in the UK suffering from dementia and numbers are predicted to rise to one million by the year 2025 and two million by 2051. Unfortunately, there is no test for dementia and no cure, but there are lots of things people can do to help reduce their risk.”

These include:

Getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Research has found that people with high levels of LDL cholesterol are more likely to have amyloid plaques in the brain, which can lead to the disease.

Aiming for 30 minutes of exercise, five times a week to help reduce the risk of vascular-related dementia.

Giving up smoking. Heavy smoking has been found to double the risk of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, so try quitting for good.

Watching your weight. A British Medical Journal study revealed obesity in middle-age was linked with more than a 70% higher risk of dementia in older age.

Controlling your diet. A Mediterranean diet is recommended. Lots of fruit, vegetables, fish, with low levels of saturated fat and red meat, can help people reduce the risk of developing thinking and memory problems.

Avoiding binge-drinking. Binge-drinking can increase the risk of dementia, so limit your intake.

Checking for diabetes symptoms. Having untreated type two diabetes can double your risk of Alzheimer’s so get them checked.

Catherine added: “While this advice won’t prevent the disease for sure it is always a good idea to do everything you can to help in any way.”

Guardian Homecare delivers personalised home care supporting people wishing to stay living safely and comfortably in their own homes in south Devon.

It currently employs 140 carers and is looking for 100 new honest and kind-hearted individuals to help add to its teams in south Devon.

It says, despite the current culture of change in the fast-paced world of employment, care gives people the chance to create a worthwhile career for themselves that has longevity and security. If people are looking for a job for life with training and career advancement opportunities, then it is one of the few sectors that can offer this, says Guardian Homecare.

Catherine continued: “Although we have a team of nearly 200 carers already in Devon we’re looking currently for more recruits and are keen to hear from people who are honest, committed, reliable and caring.

“We offer new recruits a five-day training induction and a 12-week onboard programme working towards a care certificate. We also offer flexible working hours, both full and part-time, as well as competitive wages and generous holiday allocation.

“It is a great opportunity for people to achieve a recognised qualification and they’ll also be able to have access to exclusive discounts online and in-store from retailers including Tesco, Primark and Argos.”

Guardian Homecare offers training and the opportunity for internal advancement. Anyone who joins the team is creating a career path using the different qualifications they can achieve.

New recruits are given free uniforms, access to national staff discount scheme for many major brands, as well as 28 days paid holiday, paid travel between calls and paid mileage.

Anyone interested in a position should call Guardian Homecare on 01803 853198 or drop in at its Drew Street branch in Brixham, during normal office hours for an informal chat. Alternatively, please visit www.guardianhomecare.org.uk.