Dementia care homes: what to look for and what to ask

By · Published 2026-06-30 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

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A good dementia care home has staff trained in dementia care who know each resident's history, routines and triggers, and who have time to prevent distress rather than react to it. Check the latest inspection report, visit more than once at different times of day, and ask about staffing, handling distress, medicine reviews, family involvement and which needs would mean a move.

A good dementia care home is one where staff know the person, not just the diagnosis: they are trained in dementia care, have time to be patient, and use what they know about each resident to prevent distress rather than react to it. Check the latest inspection report, visit more than once at different times of day, and ask specific questions about staffing, distress, medicines and what happens if needs increase.

What is a dementia care home?

"Dementia care home" is a description, not a separate legal category. In England, the Care Quality Commission registers homes as care homes with or without nursing, and records which groups of people they support, including people living with dementia. So a home that says it offers dementia care may be:

The NHS guide to dementia and care homes says both types of home should have staff trained in dementia care. Which type your relative needs depends on their health needs, not only on the dementia.

How do you check a home's quality before visiting?

Start with the regulator's latest report. In England, the Care Quality Commission rates homes Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate, and publishes the report online. In Scotland homes are inspected by the Care Inspectorate, in Wales by Care Inspectorate Wales, and in Northern Ireland by the RQIA.

When reading a report, look beyond the overall rating:

What should you look for on a visit?

A brochure rarely shows what matters most. Go at a mealtime and again in the evening or at a weekend if you can.

How staff and residents interact

The environment

Daily life

What questions should you ask?

Take a list and write down the answers. Useful questions include:

  1. What dementia training do staff have, and how is it kept up to date?
  2. How many care staff (and nurses, if a nursing home) are on duty by day and at night?
  3. How will you learn about my relative's life, routines and preferences before they move in?
  4. How do you support someone who becomes distressed or agitated? What do you try before medicines?
  5. How are antipsychotic or sedating medicines reviewed, and will you tell us if they are started?
  6. Which needs would mean my relative has to move? Can you manage falls, continence problems, swallowing difficulties and end-of-life care?
  7. How do you arrange GP, dentist, optician, hearing and chiropody visits?
  8. How often are care plans reviewed, and how will the family be involved?
  9. What are the visiting arrangements, and can we join in at mealtimes?
  10. What exactly is included in the fee, and what costs extra?

The Alzheimer's Society booklet on choosing a care home has fuller checklists you can print and take with you.

How is dementia care paid for?

Dementia care is often more expensive than general residential care because of the staffing involved. Fees vary widely, so ask each home for a written breakdown.

This is general information, not financial or legal advice. For decisions about property, savings or large payments, speak to the council, a solicitor or a regulated financial adviser who specialises in later-life care.

If your relative can still make decisions, encourage them to make lasting powers of attorney. There are two types in England and Wales, one for health and welfare and one for property and financial affairs. The person must have mental capacity when they make them, and they must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before use, as GOV.UK's lasting power of attorney guidance explains. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own power of attorney systems.

If your relative can no longer decide where to live, the decision must be made in their best interests under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (in England and Wales), involving them as far as possible. A home may need to apply for authorisation if the care arrangements amount to a deprivation of liberty. Where there is no attorney and decisions about money are needed, someone may have to apply to the Court of Protection to be a deputy, which takes longer.

How can you help your relative settle in?

Frequently asked questions

Does my relative need a nursing home because they have dementia?

Not necessarily. Many people with dementia are well supported in a residential home. A nursing home is needed when there are health needs that require a registered nurse, such as complex wounds, unstable conditions or nursing care towards the end of life.

How can I tell if staff are really trained in dementia care?

Ask what training staff receive, who delivers it and how often it is refreshed. Then watch: good training shows in how staff speak to residents, how they handle distress and whether they know people's life stories.

Will the council pay for a dementia care home?

Possibly. It depends on the council's needs assessment and a means test. In England, people with capital above the upper limit usually pay the full fee themselves, while those with less may receive help. The NHS may pay in full if your relative is eligible for Continuing Healthcare.

Can a person with dementia be moved into a care home against their wishes?

If they have the mental capacity to decide where to live, their decision must be respected. If they lack capacity for that decision, it must be made in their best interests, and any deprivation of liberty must be legally authorised. Seek advice from the council or a solicitor if there is disagreement.

What if the home says it can no longer meet my relative's needs?

Ask for a reassessment and a written explanation. The home should work with you, the council and health professionals to find a suitable place, and check your contract for the notice it must give.

Key takeaways