Dementia Care at Home

✍️ Paurav Joshi, Director, Ekvarta Ltd 📅 Last updated: May 2026 🖨️ Print this guide

🔑 Key Facts — Dementia

Around 900,000 people in the UK have dementia — a number rising each year
Dementia is not a normal part of ageing — it is a disease affecting the brain
Alzheimer's disease accounts for around 60–70% of cases
Most people with dementia live at home — only a minority live in care homes
The right home care can significantly delay the need for residential care

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is a syndrome — a set of symptoms caused by diseases affecting the brain. It progressively impairs memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language and judgement. Consciousness is not impaired.

It is caused by a variety of diseases, most commonly Alzheimer's disease, which damages and kills brain cells. Dementia is not inevitable with age, but it does become more common with age — around 1 in 14 people over 65 have some form of dementia.

Types of Dementia

Alzheimer's Disease (60–70% of cases)

The most common type. Caused by plaques and tangles in the brain. Starts with memory loss and progresses gradually.

Vascular Dementia

Caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often following a stroke. Symptoms can appear suddenly and progress in steps.

Lewy Body Dementia

Caused by protein deposits (Lewy bodies) in brain cells. Often involves hallucinations, movement difficulties and sleep problems.

Frontotemporal Dementia

Affects the frontal and temporal lobes. More likely to affect behaviour and personality first, rather than memory.

Symptoms by Stage

Dementia progresses through stages, though the pace and exact pattern vary widely between individuals.

Early Stage

• Memory lapses for recent events
• Difficulty with complex tasks
• Occasional confusion
• Repeating questions
• Mood changes

Middle Stage

• Greater memory loss
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Problems with daily tasks
• Wandering
• Sleep disturbance

Later Stage

• Severe memory impairment
• Need help with all daily tasks
• Difficulty swallowing
• Limited mobility
• Increased vulnerability

Daily Living Tips for Dementia Care at Home

Routine Is Everything

People with dementia find comfort in predictable routine. Try to keep mealtimes, bedtime and activities at the same time each day. Even familiar music, smells or activities from their past can be calming.

Simplify the Environment

Remove clutter — confusion increases in cluttered spaces
Use contrasting colours to help identify items (white plates on a dark table, for example)
Label drawers and cupboards with pictures as well as words
Consider door alarms if the person tends to wander
Good lighting everywhere, especially at night

Mealtimes

Serve food they already know and enjoy
Use simple, recognisable utensils
Sit with them at mealtimes — don't rush
Watch for swallowing difficulties, especially in later stages

Communicating with Someone Who Has Dementia

Get their attention first — use their name, make eye contact
Speak slowly and clearly — short sentences, simple language
Ask one question at a time — yes/no questions are easier
Don't correct or contradict — if they believe something false, gentle redirection is better than argument
Use body language — a smile, a gentle touch, a calm expression
Don't talk about them as if they're not there — they can often understand more than they can express

How Home Care Helps with Dementia

Professional home care can support a person with dementia to stay in familiar surroundings for longer. Ekvarta carers can:

Provide consistent, familiar faces — routine and continuity matter hugely
Give structured visits at consistent times to reinforce the day's routine
Prepare meals and ensure the person is eating well
Remind the person to take medication
Provide companionship and cognitive engagement — conversation, music, simple activities
Give family carers a regular, reliable break (respite)
Alert families to any changes in the person's condition

Note: Ekvarta provides non-personal care. For personal care needs (bathing, dressing), we can help you find a CQC-registered provider.

Support for Family Carers

Caring for someone with dementia is one of the most demanding roles there is. Carer burnout is common — and serious. You cannot pour from an empty cup.

Key sources of support:

Alzheimer's Society Dementia Connect: 0333 150 3456
Dementia UK Admiral Nurse Helpline: 0800 888 6678 (free)
Carers UK Helpline: 0808 808 7777
Ask your GP for a Carer's Assessment from the council — you are entitled to support too

Missing Person Risk

Wandering is a significant risk for people with dementia, particularly in the middle stages. See our guide on what to do if someone goes missing and the Herbert Protocol — a form that helps police respond quickly when a person with dementia goes missing.

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