Not All Care Homes Are the Same for Dementia
While most care homes will accept residents with mild dementia, the quality of specialist dementia care varies enormously. A home that’s excellent for someone with physical frailty may be completely wrong for someone with moderate to advanced dementia. Understanding what good dementia care looks like will help you make the right choice.
What to Look for in the Environment
The physical environment matters far more for someone with dementia than for other residents. Good dementia care homes will have:
- Clear signage: Picture-based signs on doors (a picture of a toilet on the bathroom door, for example) rather than just text
- Colour contrast: Different colours for door frames, handrails, and toilet seats to help residents navigate independently
- Memory corridors or stations: Displays that prompt conversation and reminiscence
- Secure outdoor space: A garden or courtyard where residents can walk freely without risk of leaving the premises
- Good lighting: Dementia can affect depth perception, so well-lit spaces without confusing shadows are important
- Familiar domestic feel: Kitchenettes, living rooms, and dining areas that feel like home rather than a hospital
Staff Training and Approach
The most important factor is the staff. Ask about:
- Dementia-specific training: What training do all staff receive? Look for recognised programmes, not just a one-off session.
- Staff-to-resident ratios: Dementia units should have higher ratios than standard residential care. Ask what the ratio is during the day and at night.
- Person-centred care: Do staff know each resident’s life history, preferences, and routines? Ask to see a care plan.
- How they handle distress: Ask how staff respond when a resident is agitated, confused, or distressed. The answer should focus on reassurance and redirection, not sedation or restriction.
- Staff continuity: Familiar faces are crucial for someone with dementia. High staff turnover is a red flag.
Activities and Stimulation
Meaningful activity is vital for people with dementia — not just to pass the time, but to maintain cognitive function, reduce agitation, and preserve dignity. Look for:
- Sensory activities (aromatherapy, textured materials, music)
- Reminiscence sessions using old photographs, music, and objects
- Simple, adapted physical activities (seated exercises, gentle walks in the garden)
- One-to-one engagement, not just group activities
- Activities adapted to different stages of dementia
Ask to see the activities schedule, but also observe during your visit — are residents engaged, or are they sitting passively in front of a television?
Questions to Ask During Your Visit
- What dementia training do your staff receive, and how often is it refreshed?
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day and at night?
- How do you handle residents who become agitated or distressed?
- Can residents move freely around the unit, or are there locked areas?
- How do you involve families in care planning?
- What happens if my parent’s dementia progresses — will they need to move?
- Do you use any physical restraints or antipsychotic medication as a first response?
- Can my parent bring familiar items from home?
EMI Units Explained
You might see the term “EMI” — Elderly Mentally Infirm. This refers to specialist units designed for people with more advanced dementia or challenging behaviours. EMI units typically have higher staffing, more secure environments, and staff with additional training. They’re often more expensive, but provide a level of care that general dementia units cannot.
Trust Your Instincts
When you visit, pay attention to the atmosphere. Do staff seem to genuinely know and care about the residents? Is there warmth, or does it feel institutional? Are residents being spoken to with respect, or being talked about as if they’re not there?
Your gut feeling during a visit is worth as much as any CQC report. If something feels wrong, it probably is.
Compare specialist dementia care homes in your area using CareFinder.