Considering a care home for a person with dementia (2024)

• their needs have increased as their dementia has progressed
• their condition has deteriorated after a crisis, such as a hospital admission
• their family or home carer is no longer able to support them
• they require 24-hour supervision

Try to plan ahead and involve the person with dementia – they may not have the mental capacity to make their own decision, but their views should be considered.

These steps can help guide your decision-making.

Consider things like:

• do the staff make you feel welcome?
• do they seem interested in your relative?
• what is the accommodation like?
• are there activities that your relative would enjoy?

Age UKhasaguide to making a checklist.

Find out how many carers are trained in dementia care and at what level, and ask to talk to some of the staff who have dementia care experience.

Also, try to speak to other families who have a relative with dementia in the care home – they can often share valuable insights.

Ask to speak to the staff member who does this and give them as much information about the person as possible so they can help them settle in.

You could do this by compiling a record of their life, called a ‘life story’.

You could also consider arranging a short respite stay in the care home first – this can ease the transition, and if things work out, the person may be content to stay long-term.

These tips may help.

• Think about anything that might cause conflict or distress so you can avoid or minimise it
• Ask if a staff member who has met the person can be available when they arrive – a familiar face may be reassuring
• Explain that the move is a trial, and that you’ll review things after a settling-in period
• Make the person’s room homely, for example with photos, treasured ornaments and a favourite blanket or comforter
• Choose the right moment to leave. Discuss this with the staff so they can help if the situation becomes difficult – leaving while the person is distracted with a meal or activity may make it easier

Some care homes ask families not to visit for the first week or so to enable the person to settle in and prevent them thinking that you have come to take them home. However, for other people, visiting frequently may be the best approach.

Encourage the person to get to know other residents – for example, by spending time in communal areas – and join in activities.

Keep in mind that this is a partnership between your family and the care home. Families are vital in helping staff build a care plan for the person and giving them advice on how to meet their needs.

You may feel you have ‘lost’ the person, let them down or given up on them. You may also feel guilty if you’re relieved about being released from your caring role.

And you might feel lonely and isolated without the person around, and if regular contact with their health and social care professionals has stopped.

These feelings are normal, so it’s important that you have support from family, friends and professionals at this time.

Try to resume activities and clubs that you enjoyed before you were a carer, or try new ones where you can meet new friends.

Keep in mind that although you are no longer the person’s main carer, your relationship with them is just as important – and being relieved of some of your caring responsibilities may make your time together more enjoyable and less stressful.

• First, speak to your relative’s keyworker – often, this is enough to resolve the problem
• If you still have concerns, contact the care home manager and raise the issues with them
• If you are still dissatisfied and the person’s care is funded by your local council, you should contact the council for further advice
• If the person’s care is self-funded, you can escalate the complaint to theLocal Government and Social Care Ombudsman

If you believe there is a safety risk, abuse, harm or neglect, you can raise this with theCare Quality Commission (in England),Care Social Services Inspectorate Wales, Care Inspectorate (in Scotland) or  Regulation Quality Improvement Authority  (in Northern Ireland).

These organisations do not investigate individual complaints, but if there are safeguarding issues, they may refer these to the local council or police for further investigation.

Dementia UK information

• Mental capacity and decision making
• Creating a life story
• Looking after yourself as a carer
• Coping with feelings of guilt
• Advance Care Planning
• Guide to NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) funding

Other resources

• Age UK
• Residents and Relatives Association – for older people needing care and their relatives
• Find your local council
• Carehome.co.uk – care home reviews website
• Which? Financing later-life care