Sometimes I receive beautiful messages from people who have experienced dementia within the family and who share a passion for care improvement. This month, I’d like to tell you about a lovely lady called Andrea, who lives in Shropshire and works there as a healthcare assistant.
Andrea says: “Something I am passionate about is providing the right care for people with dementia, as their care needs are a lot more complex and individual”.
Andrea’s own much-loved father was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2017. Living only five minutes from his daughter, he would come to her house daily; he’d sit and watch her paint, which was therapeutic for him. Sometimes he visited a few times during the day.
Losing his routine during the lockdown of early 2020, his dementia escalated and he sadly died in hospital in June that year. Some time afterwards, Andrea started noticing butterflies – then she had a dream that she’d painted a butterfly, so the next day she did paint one. Here’s one of her beautiful butterfly paintings.
Andrea says: “I have gained a lot of experience in my role and have met so many lovely people along the way. I really appreciate the work the Butterfly Scheme do, they are an invaluable organisation, not only for the patients they care for but a huge support for their caregivers”.
Carers like Andrea make an enormous difference to people living with dementia and it’s crucial that whilst caring for the person with the diagnosis, we also support the person who cares for them. The Butterfly Scheme has always regarded kinship carers as valued team members, if they wish to remain involved whilst the person they usually care for is in hospital. I’ve always maintained that if we don’t get the care right for all three parties involved – the person living with dementia, their usual carer and for the hospital – it won’t be right for any one of them.
It’s wonderful to receive messages like Andrea’s and I’m certain that she’s continuing to make a huge difference in many people’s lives. Thank you to all who share her passion for dementia care.