Dementia care is the practical, emotional and health-related support that helps someone living with dementia manage everyday life and stay as well as possible. It can include help at home, support in the community or care in a residential setting.
The right support will depend on the person, their needs and how they want to live. If you are exploring care for yourself, your partner or a family member after a dementia diagnosis, this guide explains what good dementia care involves, the different options available and where to start with arranging and funding care in England, Scotland and Wales.
What does dementia care involve?
Dementia is an umbrella term for conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. You can find out more in our guide to the types of dementia.
As dementia changes, the support someone needs can change too. It may include:
- Practical help with washing, dressing, meals, household tasks and getting out and about.
- Medication support, including prompts or administration where this has been assessed and agreed in the care plan.
- Emotional support, such as reassurance during periods of confusion or distress and familiar company.
- Health monitoring, including noticing changes in appetite, sleep, mobility, pain or mood and involving the GP when something changes.
- Safety, by making the home and daily routines safer while still allowing the person to make choices.
- Social connection, helping them continue hobbies, friendships, family relationships and other interests.
- Support for family carers, including information, practical help and time to take a break.
These different areas should come together in an individual care plan, agreed with the person wherever possible and reviewed as their needs change.
The principles of good dementia care
Good dementia care is about more than completing tasks. The way support is provided can have just as much effect on someone’s day as the practical help itself.
The NICE dementia guideline (NG97) places person-centred care at the heart of its recommendations.
Person-centred care
Person-centred care starts with getting to know the person rather than focusing only on their diagnosis. Their history, work, faith, tastes, relationships and interests can all help shape their care.
For someone who has always enjoyed gardening, watering a few pots may be far more meaningful than completing a word puzzle. The activity matters because it means something to them.
Dementia care mapping is one method used to look at care from the person’s point of view.
Dignity and respect
Dignity means continuing to treat someone as an adult and involving them in their own care.
That can mean using their preferred name, asking before helping, offering genuine choices and protecting their privacy during personal care. It also means speaking to the person rather than talking about them as though they are not there.
Routine and familiarity
A familiar routine can make the day easier to follow. Regular times for meals, rest and activities can provide a useful rhythm without making the day rigid.
Familiar objects, places and people can also provide reassurance. Our free dementia activity planner can help families plan activities around the person’s interests and usual routine.
Safety and independence
Keeping someone safe does not have to mean taking away everything they enjoy doing.
The aim is to reduce the risks that matter while allowing the person to remain as independent as possible. That might mean improving lighting, making routes around the home easier to navigate or staying nearby while they make a cup of tea or spend time in the garden.
Our dementia home safety checklist covers some practical changes that can help.
Clear, patient communication
Dementia can affect how someone finds words, follows a conversation or understands what is being said.
Short sentences, one question at a time and a calm tone can make conversations easier. Give the person time to respond rather than filling every silence, and try not to correct or quiz them when they are struggling to remember something.
Our guide to things to never say to a person with Alzheimer’s explains more.
Meaningful activity and connection
People need things to look forward to at every stage of dementia. That could be listening to music they loved when they were younger, talking to a grandchild, looking through old photographs or visiting a familiar café.
Activities work best when they reflect the person’s interests and what they can comfortably do at that point in their life. Our indoor activity ideas offer some ideas families can adapt.
Dementia care options
The type of support someone needs can change over time, and families often use more than one option. What works will depend on their care needs, home, relationships and preferences.
| Option | What it is | May suit | Things to consider |
| Home care visits | A carer calls at set times | Help at key points in the day | Gaps between visits; who will visit |
| Live-in care | A carer lives in, supporting the person through the day | More frequent support at home, subject to assessment | Spare room; cost; breaks, cover and night needs |
| Day centres and day services | Activity and company for part of the day | Company; regular time off for carers | Transport; limited places; new settings can unsettle |
| Respite care | Temporary care at home or in a care home | Any family carer, planned or in an emergency | Continuity for the person; booking ahead; cost |
| Residential care homes | 24-hour personal care in a shared setting | A preferred shared setting, or needs hard to meet at home | Leaving a familiar home; staff dementia training |
| Nursing homes | Care homes with registered nurses on duty | Assessed nursing needs | Check fees, nursing provision and dementia expertise |
Home care visits
Home care visits, also known as domiciliary care, provide support at agreed times during the day. This can work well when someone needs help with particular tasks, such as getting washed and dressed, preparing meals or taking medication.
As dementia progresses, however, longer periods between visits can become more difficult to manage. Someone may need reassurance or supervision at times when a carer is not there.
Live-in care
Live-in care means a carer lives in the person’s home and provides one-to-one support throughout the day. This can include personal care, meals, companionship and practical help.
Staying in familiar surroundings can be particularly important for someone with dementia. A consistent carer can also get to know their routines, communication style and preferences over time. See what live-in dementia care involves.
Live-in carers are not usually registered nurses. If the person has nursing needs, ask what clinical oversight the provider offers and how any specialist tasks are managed.
A live-in carer also needs proper rest and sleep. If someone needs frequent or prolonged support during the night, additional staffing or waking-night care may be needed. Find out more about how Independent People provides dementia live-in care.
Day centres and day services
Day centres can provide activities, meals and company for several hours, while giving a family carer some regular time away from their caring responsibilities.
A new environment can take some getting used to, particularly for someone with dementia. If possible, ask whether a trial visit is available before committing to regular attendance.
Respite care
Respite care gives a family carer a temporary break. It might involve a short stay in a care home, a live-in carer providing support for an agreed period or regular day care.
Planning respite in advance can give everyone time to get used to the arrangement. Our guide to respite care for families of people living with dementia explains more.
Residential care homes
A residential care home provides accommodation, meals and 24-hour personal care in a shared setting.
Some people enjoy having other residents around and taking part in organised activities. For others, leaving their own home can be a difficult change. Our comparison of care homes and live-in care looks at the differences between the two.
Nursing homes
A nursing home is a care home with registered nurses on duty. A dementia diagnosis does not automatically mean someone needs nursing care. That depends on their wider health needs and the level of clinical support they require.
Some people can receive nursing support at home alongside their everyday care. For others, a nursing home may provide a more suitable level of staffing and clinical support.
Our guide looks in more detail at whether someone with dementia needs nursing care.
Specialist dementia support
There are also specialist services that can support people with dementia and their families:
- Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses supported by Dementia UK. The free Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline is available on 0800 888 6678 and can also advise about local Admiral Nurse services.
- Memory services can assess, diagnose and provide follow-up support, usually following a GP referral.
- Local dementia support groups, carers’ centres and dementia cafés can provide advice, social contact and a chance to meet other people in similar situations.
How dementia care changes over time
The support someone needs can change as dementia progresses. In the earlier stages, they may only need occasional help, such as reminders about appointments or support with finances.
Later, they may need more regular help with washing, dressing, eating, moving around or managing the home. Some people also need support during the night.
There is no set timetable for these changes. Our guides to the stages of dementia and how quickly dementia can progress explain more.
A sudden change in confusion should not simply be assumed to be dementia progressing. NHS advice recommends going to A&E or calling 999 if someone becomes suddenly confused.
The type of dementia can also affect the support someone needs. Alzheimer’s care may focus heavily on memory, communication and routine, while caring for someone with Lewy body dementia can involve fluctuating alertness, hallucinations and movement difficulties.
How to choose the right dementia care
If you are starting to look at care, these steps can help you work out what is needed.
- Start with a needs assessment. In England, this is provided by the council’s adult social care team. In Scotland, the equivalent is through social work. The assessment is free and anyone can request one. It is usually the first step towards publicly funded support. See our guide to what a care needs assessment involves.
- Ask for a carer’s assessment too. In Scotland, this is known as an adult carer support plan. It looks at the needs of the person providing care, not just the person receiving it.
- Keep the person involved. Support them to make their own decisions wherever possible. If they cannot make a particular decision, the relevant legal process should be followed, with their wishes, preferences and values taken into account.
- Think about everyday life. Consider safety, routines, friends and neighbours, pets and whether a partner also needs support.
- Check the regulator’s report. In England this is the Care Quality Commission (CQC), while Scotland has the Care Inspectorate and Wales has Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
- Ask providers questions. Find out how they assess needs, review care plans, train carers, manage changes and deal with concerns.
- Consider legal arrangements early. While someone can make the relevant decisions, it may be worth putting legal arrangements in place. In England and Wales, lasting powers of attorney can cover health and welfare or property and financial affairs. Scotland has continuing and welfare powers of attorney. See our guide to power of attorney and live-in care.
Paying for dementia care
The cost of dementia care depends on the support someone needs, their financial circumstances and where they live.
The main ways care may be funded include:
- Self-funding, where the person or their family pays the provider directly.
- Council support, following a needs assessment and, where applicable, a financial assessment. The amount someone contributes depends on their circumstances and the rules where they live. In Scotland, assessed personal care is free through the council, although other parts of a care package or care-home stay may be charged.
- NHS Continuing Healthcare, which can fund an assessed package of care in England and Wales for someone with a primary health need. This can be provided at home or in a care home. Eligibility is based on assessed needs rather than a diagnosis of dementia alone. Scotland has different arrangements. NHS-funded nursing care is separate and applies to care homes.
- Disability benefits, including Attendance Allowance for people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care or supervision. In Scotland, Pension Age Disability Payment applies instead. Personal Independence Payment and Adult Disability Payment in Scotland may be available to eligible adults who are under State Pension age when they first claim. A diagnosis alone does not establish eligibility.
- Direct payments, where the council provides a budget that allows the person to arrange their own care.
See our guides to funding your care, NHS funding for care at home and live-in dementia care costs.
Dementia live-in care with Independent People Live-in Care
Independent People Live-in Care provides fully managed dementia live-in care for people who want to remain at home.
Care starts with an assessment of the person’s needs, routines and preferences. Carers are matched according to the experience and skills needed for the care plan, as well as personality, communication and household fit. The care plan is reviewed as needs change.
The person receiving care remains involved in decisions about their day, while the wider team manages the practical side of the arrangement. Where health needs are more complex, nurse-led oversight from registered nurses can also form part of an appropriate care package.
Independent People Live-In Care’s managed service in England is registered with the Care Quality Commission and is rated Good overall and in all five key questions. The latest report was published on 16 December 2024.
You do not need to have everything worked out before getting in touch. Call Independent People Live-in Care on 0800 471 4741 to talk through the support you are considering, enquire online or download our dementia care brochure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between dementia care and general care?
The practical tasks can overlap, but dementia care adapts how support is provided to changes in memory, understanding, communication and everyday abilities. It also takes account of the person’s individual routines, preferences and emotional needs, and of the family around them.
Can someone with dementia be cared for at home?
Often, yes. Many people continue to live at home with support that grows from occasional visits to live-in care. What matters is whether the home, care plan and people involved can meet the person’s needs safely; see how long a person with dementia can live at home.
When does someone with dementia need a nursing home or care home?
There is no fixed point; it depends on the person’s needs, safety and wishes, and what the family can sustain. Needing nursing care does not automatically mean a nursing home, as some nursing support can be provided at home. See our guide on whether someone with dementia needs nursing care.
What is an Admiral Nurse?
An Admiral Nurse is a registered nurse specialising in dementia, supported by the charity Dementia UK, who offers families practical and emotional support. Call the free Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678. Independent People Live-in Care does not provide Admiral Nurses.
Who pays for dementia care?
It depends on needs, finances and where the person lives: self-funding, council support after a financial assessment or, in England and Wales, NHS Continuing Healthcare for a primary health need. Scotland has different arrangements. Start with a needs assessment and see our guide to funding your care.