How to Choose a Good Dementia Care Home in the UK

By CareFinder Team · Published 2026-08-02 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

To choose a good dementia care home, start with a council needs assessment, shortlist homes that can meet your relative's needs now and as dementia progresses, and read each home's latest inspection report. Visit more than once, including at a mealtime, and ask about dementia training, staffing, how distress is handled and how families are involved. Get the fees and contract in writing.

Choosing a dementia care home is easier when you break it into steps: get a needs assessment, build a shortlist of homes that can meet your relative's needs now and later, read the inspection reports, then visit more than once and ask direct questions. The best choice is the home where your relative is likely to be safe, understood and settled, not necessarily the one with the smartest building.

This guide applies across the UK. The Alzheimer's Society booklet on choosing a care home has fuller checklists and is free.

Where do you start?

1. Ask for a needs assessment from the council's adult social care team (the Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland). The NHS describes this as the first step. It sets out what care your relative needs and whether a residential or nursing home is suitable.
2. Work out funding. The council's financial assessment shows whether it will contribute. If the council is paying, ask which homes it uses and whether a top-up may be needed.
3. Ask about NHS Continuing Healthcare if your relative has complex health needs.
4. Decide on location. Being near family who will visit often matters a great deal for someone living with dementia.

How do you build a shortlist?

Look for homes that:

• are registered to care for people living with dementia, and for nursing if needed;
• have a place, or a waiting list you can join;
• accept your relative's funding arrangement;
• can meet needs as dementia progresses, so a further move is less likely.

Then read each home's latest inspection report:

• England: the CQC, which rates homes Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate.
• Scotland: the Care Inspectorate.
• Wales: Care Inspectorate Wales.
• Northern Ireland: the RQIA.

Read the whole report and check the date. A rating can be several years old. Look for what it says about safety, staffing, medicines, and how people living with dementia spend their day.

What should you look for on a visit?

Visit at least twice, including once unannounced if the home allows, and once at a mealtime. Watch more than you listen.

The people

• Do staff speak to residents kindly, at eye level, and use their names?
• Are residents engaged, or sitting in front of a television with nothing to do?
• Is anyone who seems distressed noticed and comforted?
• Do staff seem rushed, or do they have time?

The place

• Is it easy to find your way, with clear signs, good lighting and contrasting colours?
• Is there safe outdoor space residents can actually use?
• Are rooms personal, with photographs and belongings?
• Does it smell clean and feel calm?

The food

• Are people helped to eat and drink where needed?
• Is food appealing, with choices shown, not just described?
• Are snacks and drinks available throughout the day?

What questions should you ask?

• What dementia training do staff receive, and who leads on dementia care?
• How many care staff and nurses are on duty by day and at night?
• How do you find out about a new resident's life story, routines and preferences?
• What do you do when someone becomes distressed or agitated? How do you check for pain or illness?
• How often do residents see a GP, and how are medicines reviewed?
• How do you prevent falls without restricting people unnecessarily?
• What activities happen each day, and how are people who cannot join in included?
• How are families involved, and are there set visiting times?
• What happens if my relative's needs increase? In what circumstances might you ask them to leave?
• How do you handle complaints?

The NHS also suggests checking whether the home can meet cultural, religious and dietary needs.

What should you check before signing?

Consumer law gives families rights when choosing a home. The CMA's guide for residents says homes should tell you upfront about fees, staffing, their latest inspection rating and any important terms. They should also tell you about trial periods and the circumstances in which a resident could be asked to leave. Ask for:

• the weekly fee in writing after the home's assessment;
• what is included, and a price list for extras;
• how and when fees increase;
• a copy of the standard contract to read before you agree.

How can you involve your relative?

Involve your relative as much as they are able. Talk about what matters to them, such as a garden, a pet, their faith or being near a particular person. If they lack capacity to decide, the decision must be made in their best interests, taking account of their wishes, feelings and values. Anyone with lasting power of attorney for health and welfare can make the decision for them.

This is general information. For personal advice, speak to a social worker, the GP or a dementia charity.

Frequently asked questions

How many homes should we visit?

There is no set number, but visiting at least three helps you compare. Return to your favourite before deciding, ideally at a different time of day.

Is an Outstanding rating essential?

No. Many Good-rated homes provide excellent dementia care. Read the report, and check whether any concerns have been dealt with since.

Should my relative visit before moving?

It depends on the person. For some, a visit helps; for others it causes anxiety. The home's manager and your relative's social worker or GP can help you decide.

What if the first home doesn't work out?

You can move, although moves are hard for people living with dementia. Raise concerns with the manager first. If they are not resolved, use the home's complaints procedure and contact the regulator or council.

Can we try a home first?

Some homes offer a trial period or respite stay. Ask how it works, what it costs and what happens at the end.

Key takeaways

• Start with a needs assessment and a clear view of funding.
• Shortlist homes that can meet needs now and as dementia progresses.
• Read the full, dated inspection report for each home.
• Visit more than once, including at a mealtime, and watch how staff and residents interact.
• Ask direct questions about training, staffing, distress and family involvement.
• Get fees, extras and contract terms in writing before you agree.