Getting a helping hand to remain independent with dementia – and what to look for when choosing a care home

Victoria Lyons, specialist dementia nurse at Dementia UK, says ensuring access to support can be crucial for the person with dementia and their carers.

‘To access this you need to organize a ‘care needs assessment’.

‘Anyone whose dementia affects their daily life, safety or independence is entitled to this assessment and it does exactly that, identifying what the needs are and what support that person will need to meet those needs.

‘This can be organized by the person themselves, their doctor or a relative. ‘This involves contacting local authorities who will then ask someone from social services to visit the person with dementia at home,’ he adds.

A financial evaluation will be made after the care needs are assessed. This will include forms regarding the person’s financial situation.

If a person diagnosed with dementia has more than £23,250 in savings (the house is not assessed, just what is in the bank), they will not be able to receive any financial help for their care needs regardless.

It will take four to six weeks for a decision to be made but delays may occur so try to arrange the assessment as soon as possible.

Victoria Lyons adds: ‘Ensure this is reviewed at least every 12 months, sooner if there is a significant change in the person’s condition.’

Dementia is Britain’s biggest killer, with around 944,000 people living with the disease in the UK.

If you are a carer and look after someone with dementia for at least 35 hours a week and they receive benefits such as care allowance [AA] or personal independence payment [PIP] – A carer assessment is also available for carer’s allowance. This is currently £83.80 per week.’

To qualify you need to earn less than £196 a week after tax. Again, the local authority needs to be contacted, who will arrange for a social worker to visit the home.

‘Sometimes it’s a good idea to have someone else there to share insights you might not share about what your caring role involves and how it actually affects you,’ says Victoria Lyons.

Another option is NHS continuing care (CHC).

Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you note your symptoms before talking to your doctor.

‘If they have complex health and care needs, the CHC includes the full cost of home carer visits or care home and is not means tested,’ says Lauren Pates of the Alzheimer’s Society.

Eligibility is not based on diagnosis and is not defined in law. The basic requirement is that the majority of the person’s care be focused on meeting their health needs: someone may be highly dependent on care and support, but do not require significant care to remain healthy.

About 80 percent of applications are rejected in 2024, so the case needs to be strong.

Good evidence can increase the chances of success; so include relevant care notes, medical reports, and consider keeping a diary of needs and interventions.

Applications need to be made through your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) but social enterprise Beacon can offer independent advice on how to get started.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The disease can cause anxiety, confusion, and short-term memory loss

Visit beaconchc.co.uk or call 0345 548 0300.

Beacon is funded by NHS England so there is no need to pay for up to 90 minutes of advice, although other services may charge a fee.

Decisions on CHC must be made within 28 days of the initial assessment, although unfortunately delays are still common.

‘If a person is not eligible for CHC, they may be eligible for funded nursing care instead,’ says Lauren Pates.

‘But this only applies if they need nursing home care.

‘This is a small contribution just to cover the cost of care (currently £254.06 per week in the UK).

‘The remainder of the care fees will be subject to the means-tested social care system.’

For help and support with all aspects of dementia visit alzheimers.org.uk

What should be considered when choosing a nursing home?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about 70 percent of people in nursing homes have dementia; However, it is certain that not all patients will end up with dementia.

In fact, some people and their caregivers prefer to stay at home with extra support provided. This means they continue to live in a place where they feel familiar and safe (see main piece above).

However, if you are caring for nursing homes, there are things you or your loved ones need to consider. First, check what the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the independent regulator of health and social care in England – says about the home, go to cqc.org.uk.

Here Jo James, a dementia nurse at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, offers her tips on finding a suitable care home for someone with dementia.

In an ideal world, the person moving into a care home would have a role to play in the decisions, so everyone can be reassured that this is a home they would be happy to move into.

• Dementia specialist care homes are available (you can specify a dementia specialist care home when searching on the CQC website). These tend to be designed with features such as door and carpet colors to help residents know where they are, and simple building layouts to make movement easier. Specialist care homes may claim that staff are trained in dementia, but as there is no legal requirement for this, you should ask exactly what this training is and how often it is updated.
• Check whether the care home has access to special equipment such as a crane or standing supports. In the later stages of dementia, some people develop mobility problems (which damage the areas of the brain responsible for coordinating body movements), so it’s important to know if a home can accommodate this problem.
• Families’ involvement in the life of a person with dementia is vital; so ask how often visiting is possible. Can you also attend events? Can nursing home residents be let out? If you want full accessibility, what are the policies on this?
• A range of healthcare support is vital in dementia; so make sure you know what the care home you choose offers. Learn about therapies such as speech and language therapy, art therapy or music therapy.
• If it’s not a specialist dementia care home, is it a dementia-friendly environment? Are there clear signs on the site? Is the layout simple and easy to navigate? This can be crucial in relieving stress and anxiety for some patients, which can further contribute to cognitive decline.
• Are people living in nursing homes living well? For example, are they taken on trips to local attractions, libraries, walks, or local nature spots? These types of activities can help people with dementia stay active and healthy.
• Dementia is a life-limiting disease, so you need to consider whether the care home you choose is the place where you or your loved one would want to die. What is access to palliative care services? See what they do to manage pain and relieve symptoms. Also check to see if they provide emotional or spiritual comfort when the time comes.