Dementia Doulas

Quality Care

Dementia Care Cheltenham

Here at Dementia Doulas Ltd, we provide respite care services to clients with Dementia, with the aim to support the whole family. We are very different from traditional carers as we are not a care agency. Instead, our mission is to provide friendship, stimulation and safety for our clients to ensure they have the best possible quality of life while living at home. We give the family the opportunity to rest and recharge while knowing and trusting their loved one is safe and happy with our Doula. For Dementia care in Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Bishop’s Cleeve and the surrounding areas, get in touch with us today.

Founder Mary Merheim was nominated for Best Newcomer at Care and Support West Awards 2020.

Home Care

Our Doulas provide home care and companionship for clients with various types of Dementia. We can tailor our services to your loved one’s individual needs and capabilities, and work around your schedule to provide support whenever it is needed.

Alzheimer’s Care

We offer Alzheimer’s care across our local area, and we can assist our clients throughout their daily routines, whether this involves helping them at mealtimes or taking them out for a day trip.

Respite Services

Our respite services give family members well-earned breaks during their normal day to day responsibilities. The aim of our Doulas is to ‘share the care’ as our focus is the wellbeing of our clients 'as well as their families'.

24 Hour Support

If you are looking for 24 hour support, our team are here to help. Your Doula will be able to stay in your home overnight to check on the client while you can relax and catch up on some sleep.
How can we help you during the COVID 19 pandemic?

“Care of the vulnerable” is a keyworker role that will continue throughout this crisis.

Dementia Doulas Ltd understands your anxieties at this time. We work with you to find exactly the type of care you are comfortable with. Because our Doulas do not have multiple clients you can rest assured that we will keep transmission possibilities to a minimum. If you wish we have masks with Perspex windows, gloves, aprons and can even bring changes of clothes with us. If you prefer a more relaxed approach we can work with you to achieve this through detailed risk assessments.

We help you and your loved ones live your best lives and constantly monitor governmental and local guidelines. We aim to keep our clients at home for as long as possible if that is your wish.

ALSO……

Because of the fear of infection and local ‘lockdowns’ preventing you from visiting your loved one in a Care Home, we have also created a new service for our most vulnerable clients:

Alongside our usual ‘one Doula per family’ service, we also are able to offer up to 24 hour care contracts to keep your loved ones out of Care Homes for even longer/forever. We work around any Care Package that may be in place and provide you with the confidence that your relative is looked after on a 1:1 basis constantly. Within this service we keep the team as small as possible for consistency and safety.

Becoming a Doula

Are you caring, compassionate and reliable? Do you think you have what it takes to be a companion for someone with Dementia? If so, get in touch with us to find out about joining our team.

Mature female in elderly care facility gets help from hospital personnel nurse. Close up of aged wrinkled hands of senior woman. Grand mother everyday life.

When is it appropriate to use Dementia Doulas Ltd?

  • When a loved one needs additional support with their daily activities, for example: cooking/preparing food, making and receiving phone calls, shopping/using money, visiting friends, going for a walk or decision making.
  • When a spouse has died or gone into hospital/care. Memory problems, loneliness and confusion surface when a companion is no longer there 24 hours a day. Some people need our support to get through the days, to keep in touch with family and friends and to face the future in the short or long term.
  • When a family care giver needs a break. Everyone deserves a break from time to time. If you are looking after someone with Dementia, this is even more necessary to ensure you don’t lose yourself. This can be anything from a few, regular hours a week to trips away to be with other family or even to escape alone! To have hours/days to look forward to is so important.
  • After a medical episode. After any spell in hospital it is often tricky to re-establish a home routine. We can provide 24 hour care initially then decrease our hours if it becomes appropriate. Sometimes discharge from hospital or care home is entirely dependent on there being full time support in the home.
  • At the end of life. For some of our Doulas, their expertise and passion is in supporting the family in the final weeks, days or hours of a loved one’s life. We can provide practical help with maintaining a vigil or running errands as well as giving mindful, emotional support. The experience of having a Doula can make this difficult time a lot less traumatic for all involved and even become a beautiful, peaceful passing.

What our customers are saying

“I'm one of the 'sandwich generation' wanting to do the best for my two young children and my Dad who was diagnosed with Dementia at 62.  Since Mary joined the family last year, I've had absolute trust and confidence that my Dad is safe, happy and living his life to the max, despite the frustrating confusion and mental challenges that he faces daily.  Mary has helped Dad to remain at living at home for longer than we would have achieved without her.  I now hope more families can benefit from professional care that is well thought out to the whole family needs."
Georgina, Nailsworth
“Mary was a great support to our family during the final weeks of our Uncle’s life. Her professional and sympathetic approach was much appreciated at a very difficult time. She helped to ensure that he was eating and drinking even though he had very little appetite. Importantly she was great company for him, holding interesting conversations and helping him read his Christmas cards."
Jennifer, Winchcombe
“THANK YOU for all you have done for my family over the last few months. We would never have been able to bring Dad home without your support and you made all the difference. Thank you especially for all you did in the last fortnight. I can only imagine how important you have been to Mum and Claire. I hope I will see you soon to thank you in person.”
Gillian, Evesham

Contact Dementia Doulas Ltd

If you need Dementia care in Cheltenham and Gloucestershire, give us a call today to discuss your requirements with the team.