Dementia Care
Seeing the person, not just the diagnosis
What is Dementia Care?
Dementia care provides specialist support for people living with conditions that affect memory, thinking, communication and everyday life. While the term ‘dementia care’ is commonly used, this type of support is for those living with a range of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, vascular dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment.
At Westcott Care, we believe that a diagnosis should never define a person, and that the best residential dementia care home is the one that sees the person behind the condition: their routines, favourite music, life story and the things that continue to bring them comfort, confidence and joy. Through specialist support, familiar surroundings and meaningful relationships, we help people live as fully and independently as possible while receiving the care they need.
Who may benefit from Dementia Care?
No two people experience dementia or cognitive decline in the same way. Some need occasional support and reassurance, while others benefit from more specialist care as their condition progresses. If any of the situations below sound familiar, dementia care may be worth exploring.
Someone Living With Alzheimer's Disease
Specialist dementia care can provide reassurance, routine and personalised support while helping individuals maintain their independence and quality of life for as long as possible within a care home for dementia patients.
Someone Living With Parkinson's Disease
As Parkinson's progresses, some people experience changes in memory, cognition and everyday life that can benefit from support within a specialist dementia care home.
Someone Living With Huntington's Disease
Dementia care can help support the complex physical, cognitive and emotional challenges that may arise as Huntington's disease develops.
Someone Experiencing Confusion, Anxiety Or Changes In Behaviour
Specialist dementia teams understand how cognitive conditions can affect emotions, communication and behaviour, and can provide support tailored to the individual's needs.
Someone Experiencing Increasing Memory Loss
Frequent forgetfulness, confusion or difficulty managing everyday tasks such as taking medication and drinking regularly may indicate a need for additional support and a more structured environment.
Someone Who Is No Longer Safe Living Alone
If memory difficulties or cognitive changes are affecting confidence, safety or wellbeing at home, specialist care can provide reassurance for both the individual and their family.
Someone Whose Family Is Supporting Them More As Their Needs Change
As dementia progresses, there may come a time when specialist support can provide the consistency, reassurance and understanding that both the individual and their family need. It allows loved ones to spend more time sharing meaningful moments together, knowing expert care is always close at hand.
Someone Who Would Benefit From Familiar Routines And Specialist Support
For many people, having a consistent routine, familiar faces and a supportive environment can help reduce anxiety and create a greater sense of comfort and wellbeing.
Finding the right support for the person you love
When you’re supporting someone living with dementia or another neurodegenerative condition, it’s not always easy to know what kind of care they need, or when they might benefit from additional support. Our team is here to listen, understand your circumstances and help you explore the options available, whether you’re beginning to research ‘how to find a care home for dementia,’ comparing different dementia care homes, or simply looking for guidance on what support might be right for your loved one.
1
Start with a conversation
Tell us about the person behind the diagnosis, their routines, preferences and the challenges they’re currently facing. We’ll help you understand what support may be available and whether dementia care could be the right fit.
2
Spend time in one of our homes
Visit a Westcott home, meet our residents and team members, and experience the warm, supportive environment for yourself. Seeing daily life in person often provides the reassurance families are looking for, and can help you understand what to look for in a dementia care home.
3
Meet the people behind the care
Get to know our specialist teams, ask questions and learn how we tailor support around each individual’s needs, abilities and life story. It’s also an opportunity to ask questions and learn how to choose a care home for dementia that truly reflects your loved one’s needs, personality and preferences.
4
Make the transition when the time feels right
If you decide dementia care is the right next step, we’ll support both you and your loved one through the process, helping it feel as comfortable, familiar and reassuring as possible.
Care starts with knowing the person
Every Westcott home is different, but they all share the same belief: great care begins with understanding the individual. Discover how our person-centred approach helps people maintain their independence, continue enjoying the things that make them who they are, and live life with comfort, confidence and purpose.
REVIEWS
Reassurance from families who understand
Supporting someone you love through dementia can bring difficult decisions.These are the experiences of families who found a Westcott home where their loved one is known for who they are, not just the condition they live with.
“Everyone has been so caring and kind to my father with his dementia, and nothing was too much trouble – it is evident the staff all really care about their patients. Cartmel Grange has the feeling of a big family home!!”
Karen F
Family member
“My wife has been a resident of Cartmel Grange Nursing Home for almost five years and now in the advanced stages of vascular dementia. During this time I have visited her regularly and been able to witness the professionalism and care all the staff have provided in their given duties, those who care for my wife and her personal needs have done so with dignity, patience, compassion and the attention to the little things that matter have been done with care and understanding. I therefore would have no hesitation in recommending to others.”
Thomas D
Family member
“Right from the start, the staff were wonderful. My mum has complex needs and is quite demanding but they are very kind and patient with her, bringing out the best in her character. She has already made significant improvements in both her physical and mental health over only three weeks and I am certain this is down to the care they have given her.
Dementia and mental health problems rob us of our parents before their time, but I have had better and more lovely conversations with my mum over the last three weeks than in the whole of the last three years. I know this is down to the staff making Mum feel as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.
It’s extremely hard to work in any care home no matter what your role and it is very evident that all the staff I have met are hardworking and dedicated.”
Katherine G
Family member
Compassion backed by recognised quality
The feeling you get when you walk into a care home matters. So does the confidence that comes from knowing care is delivered to recognised standards. Independent regulators and professional organisations help ensure our commitment to compassionate, person-centred dementia care is matched by the quality of support we provide every day.
Here to help you make sense of dementia care
When someone you love is living with dementia, knowing what support they need, and when they might need it, isn’t always clear. Our Care Navigation team is here to listen, understand your situation and help you make sense of the options available. Together, we’ll help you find the right support, at the right time, for the person you care about.
Understanding dementia can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re supporting someone you love. Our guides, articles and resources are here to help you make sense of neurodegenerative conditions, explore care options and find practical advice for the challenges and decisions that may lie ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a dementia care home?
A dementia care home is a care home that provides specialist support for people living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions that affect memory, thinking, communication and everyday life. Alongside help with personal care and daily routines, dementia care homes offer trained teams, supportive environments and personalised approaches designed to help residents feel safe, understood and valued.
At Westcott, we believe a dementia care home should do more than meet practical needs. It should help people maintain their identity, continue enjoying meaningful relationships and live as fully as possible, with support tailored to the person, not just their diagnosis.
What does dementia care cover?
Dementia care provides specialist support for people living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions that affect memory, thinking, communication and everyday life. This can include help with personal care, medication, meals, daily routines, mobility, wellbeing and social activities, alongside emotional support and opportunities to maintain independence wherever possible.
Are dementia care staff specially trained?
Yes. Dementia care requires specialist knowledge and understanding, which is why teams receive training to help them support people living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions. At Westcott, our focus is not only on understanding the condition itself, but also on understanding the individual behind it.
Are care homes offering dementia care adapted to care for neurodegenerative conditions?
Many are, including Westcott. Dementia-friendly environments are designed to promote safety, comfort and independence while reducing confusion and anxiety. This may include clear signage, accessible layouts, familiar routines and thoughtfully designed communal spaces that help residents feel secure and supported.
Is dementia care the same as nursing care?
Not necessarily. Dementia care focuses on supporting people living with dementia or other neurodegenerative conditions, while nursing care provides additional medical support from qualified nurses. Some people receiving dementia care may also require nursing care, depending on their individual needs and circumstances.
Is dementia care the same as end-of-life care?
No. Dementia care is designed to support people at all stages of living with dementia or other neurodegenerative conditions, helping them maintain comfort, wellbeing and quality of life. End-of-life care (also known as palliative care) is specialist support provided when someone is approaching the final stages of life.
Is dementia care only for elderly patients?
No. While dementia is more common in older adults, some people develop dementia or other neurodegenerative conditions at a younger age. Dementia care is based on an individual’s needs, not their age.
When should someone with dementia go into a care home?
One of the most common questions families ask is ‘when should someone with dementia go into a care home?’ And there’s no single answer, as every person’s situation is different. Families often begin exploring dementia care when living safely at home becomes more difficult, care needs increase, routines become harder to maintain or caring responsibilities start to place significant pressure on loved ones. The right time is when additional support would improve the person’s quality of life and wellbeing.
Is dementia care offered in all care homes?
No. Some care homes provide general residential support, while others offer specialist dementia care delivered by trained teams and tailored environments. If dementia care is something you’re considering, it’s important to ask what specialist support is available and how it is delivered.
How do you settle a person with dementia into a care home?
Families often ask ‘how to settle a dementia patient into a care home,’ particularly when the move feels overwhelming or emotional. A gradual and person-centred approach is important. Familiar belongings, established routines, favourite photographs, treasured keepsakes and music, and regular communication with family can all help someone feel more comfortable and settled. At Westcott, we take the time to get to know each resident as an individual, helping them feel safe, understood and at home.
What are some common words, phrases and terminology I may hear when researching dementia care, and what do they mean?
The world of dementia care can sometimes feel full of unfamiliar terminology, especially if you’re exploring support for the first time. Here are some of the words and phrases you’re likely to come across:
Dementia Care: Specialist support for people living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions that affect memory, thinking, communication and everyday life.
Alzheimer’s Disease: The most common form of dementia, affecting memory, thinking and behaviour over time.
Neurodegenerative Condition: A condition that causes progressive changes to the brain or nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease.
EMI (Elderly Mentally Infirm): An older care sector term sometimes used to describe specialist care for older people living with dementia or significant cognitive impairment. While some care homes and professionals still use the term, many providers now prefer more person-centred language such as dementia care.
Dementia-Friendly Environment: A home or setting designed to help reduce confusion, promote independence and support wellbeing through thoughtful layouts, clear signage and familiar surroundings.
Person-Centred Care: Care that focuses on the individual, their life story, preferences, routines and relationships, rather than solely on their diagnosis or symptoms.
Care Assessment: A conversation or formal assessment used to understand a person’s care needs and determine what support may be appropriate.
Care Plan: A personalised document that outlines how an individual’s care, support and wellbeing needs will be met.
Residential Dementia Care: Specialist dementia support provided within a residential care home environment, offering day-to-day care, companionship and reassurance.
Nursing Dementia Care: Dementia care provided alongside qualified nursing support for people with more complex medical or healthcare needs.
Respite Care: A short-term stay in a care home, providing professional support while someone recovers from illness, following a hospital stay, or when additional help is needed, giving both individuals and their families peace of mind.
Care Navigation: Guidance and support that helps individuals and families understand their options, explore different types of care and find the right support for their circumstances.