Dementia and care homes
A person living with dementia will need more help as time goes on. This may mean that moving into a care home can give them the support they need to stay safe and well. Making this decision can be hard and emotional for the person and their families.
Deciding to move into a care home
There can be many positive aspects to moving into a care home.
These include:
- 24-hour support from care staff
- knowing that the person with dementia is in a safe place
- social activities with other residents
Sometimes the person themselves can make the decision. But the person with dementia often lacks the ability to decide (mental capacity).
Try to talk to the person with dementia about their preferences regarding care in a home, even if they lack the capacity to decide what care home is best for them.
Getting an assessment
The first step towards choosing a care home is to get a new needs assessment from social services.
If the assessment suggests a care home would be the best option, the next step is a financial assessment (means test).
The financial assessment will show if the Health and Social Care )HSC) Trust will pay towards the cost of a care home.
In most cases, the person with dementia will be expected to pay towards the cost.
Social services can also provide a list of care homes that should meet the needs identified during the assessment.
The different types of care homes
There are two main types of care home:
- residential care homes
- nursing homes
Some care homes offer both residential and nursing care places.
Care homes can be run by private companies, voluntary or charitable organisations, or sometimes by HSC Trusts.
Both types of care home should have staff trained in dementia care.
Tips on choosing a care home
One of the most important things to check when choosing a care home is the most recent Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) report.
You can get these from the RQIA or the homes.
When visiting a care home, spend time looking around and talk to the manager and other staff and residents.
It's useful to take a friend or relative with you as you can compare notes after your visit.
It's a good idea to make your own checklist before visiting care homes. These tips may help.
Things to consider include:
- location
- facilities
- staff
- residents
Further advice on finding the right home for you is available at:
Paying for a care home
Who pays for care will depend on individual circumstances.
Your HSC Trust will work out how much you need to pay.
Further information is available at:
Help and support
You can find further information on dementia and support services available at the link below: