Introducing Our New Dementia Community – MacBride

The Fleet Care Home are delighted to share that our new dementia community "MacBride" is opening in our luxury care home in Dartmouth. Offering a level of care and support for those with Dementia that cannot be matched.

What is Dementia Care?

Dementia care and support in a care home is focused on helping residents maintain their independence and individuality, fostering social engagement, and nurturing relationships within the community.

Care homes support residents with dementia by offering a range of activities and therapies specifically designed to aid those experiencing memory loss. Care teams collaborate closely with families and loved ones to gain a comprehensive understanding of each resident's life, enabling them to provide the most effective support for the resident's happiness, comfort, and long-term wellbeing.

The response and behaviour of an individual living with dementia are influenced by their personality, past experiences, the social and emotional support they receive, their environment, and their understanding of their diagnosis. By creating a person-centred, individualised care plan, care homes aim to understand the resident's perspective, coping strategies, and triggers to minimise any distress associated with dementia.

MacBride Dementia Community

Our new Dementia Community at The Fleet offers specialised care and support for individuals with dementia who need a higher level of care than what is typically available in residential or mixed nursing communities. This dedicated community is staffed by a skilled multi-disciplinary team of carers, nurses, and activity coordinators, all working together under the leadership of our Unit Lead, Sarah Pinhorne. The environment is specifically designed for those with moderate dementia, providing high-quality care and engaging daily activities tailored to their needs.

Located on the third floor, the MacBride Dementia Community features 15 en-suite bedrooms, along with an exclusive dining and activity space. These areas are thoughtfully designed to be stimulating and supportive for residents with mild to moderate dementia.

Who Can MacBride Support?

The MacBride Community is specifically designed for individuals at Stage 3 to Stage 5 of cognitive decline. We focus on creating a nurturing environment where residents can feel safe, supported, and engaged. Discover how we can support you:

Stage 3: Mild Cognitive Decline

• Support Offered: Residents at this stage may experience occasional memory lapses, difficulty organising tasks, and increased forgetfulness. We provide reassurance, reminders, and the use of technology to help manage these challenges.
• Specialised Care: Our care team is skilled in offering gentle encouragement and support to help residents maintain their daily routines and independence as much as possible.

Stage 4: Moderate Cognitive Decline

• Support Offered: As cognitive decline progresses, residents may struggle with more complex tasks, show signs of social withdrawal, and experience emotional distress. Our team offers talking therapies, non-invasive medication management, and emotional support to help residents cope.
• Specialised Care: We provide structured activities and a calming environment to reduce confusion and anxiety, ensuring that each resident feels safe and understood.

Stage 5: Moderately Severe Cognitive Decline

• Support Offered: Residents at this stage may have pronounced memory loss, difficulty recognising familiar faces or places, and exhibit confusion or disorientation. Our team is equipped to handle these challenges with patience, reassurance, and personalised care plans.
• Specialised Care: We use a combination of talking therapies, non-invasive medications, and consistent routines to manage symptoms, while maintaining a focus on each resident’s dignity and comfort.

Challenges We Can Address

At MacBride, we understand the complexities of dementia and are committed to addressing a wide range of symptoms:

• Memory Loss: We provide consistent support and structured activities to help manage forgetfulness and confusion.
• Wandering: Our secure environment and attentive staff ensure that residents who wander are safe and cared for.
• Emotional Distress: Our approach includes talking therapies and calming activities to help ease anxiety and frustration.
• Disorientation: We offer specialised care for residents experiencing disorientation, particularly in the late afternoon and evening, with a focus on creating a soothing environment.

Sensory Engagement

At MacBride, we are thrilled to offer a digital interactive table, a versatile and invaluable piece of technology that enhances the lives of our residents. Fully portable, it can be used in communal areas for social interaction or as a personalised resource in an individual’s room.

The table connects to the internet and offers access to thousands of applications, making it adaptable to a wide range of hobbies and interests. Residents can enjoy activities such as jigsaw puzzles, card games, music quizzes, or even watch films from their past on apps like YouTube. With camera and microphone connectivity, the table also enables video calls, helping residents stay connected with loved ones.

This interactive table significantly enriches daily life within our care home, providing sensory engagement and cognitive stimulation. Whether used independently or with assistance from our dedicated team, it is available to residents at any time of day.

Care at The Fleet

At The Fleet Care Home, we support our residents by providing an inviting and warm environment for all who enter our wonderful care home; our residents feel a part of a family here. We offer advice, support and knowledge to those under our care and by building strong, long-lasting relationships we get to gain a better understanding of each of our residents’ needs, making sure we can support them and make them the happiest version of themselves. Supporting with dementia, residential, nursing and respite care.

Embracing a personalised approach, our care home in Dartmouth fosters strong connections, enabling us to create personalised care plans for all of our residents whilst administering medication if needed.

We’re strong about encouraging our residents to make the most out of their days and getting rid of any stress or worries they may have by supporting each other. Life shouldn't stop in a care home and we're here to ensure each day is exciting and different.

We always make sure our residents feel valued and cared for, ensuring a happy and healthy environment here at The Fleet Care Home. If you would like to find out more about how we can meet your care requirements and support your loved one, then we welcome you to book a tour or get in contact with our friendly team.