What is a specialist dementia care home?

In the UK, it is estimated that around 70% of care home residents are living with dementia or memory issues.

With such a high proportion of the care home population living with dementia, it is crucial residential settings can actually deliver the support needed.

What is a specialist dementia care home?

Whilst most care homes cater for people living with dementia, some are equipped to offer care only if you are in the earliest stages of the condition or for non-complex needs.

To bridge this gap, specialist dementia care homes cater specifically to people living with dementia.  These homes have trained staff experienced in dementia care, meaning they can support people throughout all stages of the condition. This ensures residents’ safety and helps to manage symptoms.

Dementia care homes can be residential care homes, nursing homes, or both. They are specially designed to create familiar environments, helping you retain your independence.

The design and environment of specialist dementia care homes

Specialist dementia care homes are often designed to make daily life as comfortable as possible for those who require 24-hour care.

Design features can include:

• Simple building plans making the setting easier to navigate.
• Use of colours on doors, carpets and corridors helping residents to recognise where they are.
• Easy access to all parts of the building and gardens to ensure residents have freedom in a secure environment.

The environment in a dementia care home is designed to maximises independence but also safety. Although easy access is important, proper signage, dementia-friendly furnishings and clearly defined areas help residents be independent and secure.

Sensory gardens, which include features and plants that stimulate the senses through touch, sight, taste and hearing, can greatly benefit people living with dementia. Areas for gardening may be a feature to help residents with physical exercise.

Creating familiar environments

Dementia symptoms can be unpredictable, which means creating familiarity for residents is key. Specialist dementia care homes signal recognition through homely environments and comfortable living spaces. Here residents can spend time with familiar faces and build relationships.

To support familiarity, personal belongings may be placed outside each resident’s bedroom to help them recognise where it is and reduce confusion.

Lighting is also an important part of dementia care as Sundowning is a common occurrence in people living with the condition. Sundowning, also known as ‘late-day confusion’ is used to describe changes in behaviour that usually occur around late afternoon or early evening. At this time, a person with dementia may become confused, agitated, anxious or aggressive.

Controlling the lighting allows a gradual change to help residents understand what time it is and reduce dark areas which may invoke fear and anxiety. For example, making the home darker at night, signals that it is time for bed.

Dementia care and nursing staff

Staff keep your individual experiences, likes and dislikes and family history at the forefront of care to address your spiritual, emotional and physical needs.

Care workers and nurses at specialist dementia care homes hold qualifications in dementia care. They receive ongoing training to keep up to date with best practices and new research.

They have been specially trained to deal with the unpredictable nature of dementia. Staff manage the symptoms of dementia through residential and nursing care. They understand that personal and sensitive communication is key to support meaningful interaction.

Staff encourage residents to retain their identity, while being experts in recognising signs of distress and responding in a calming way.

Care workers and nurses also work closely with the residents’ family and friends to understand their life stories, allowing staff to provide the best possible care.

Understanding a resident’s past can greatly help with reminiscing and day-to-day communication. People living with different types of dementia may remember things from decades ago but struggle to recall recent memories.

Care homes with separate dementia care units

Some care homes have separate dementia units on-site rather than fully specialising in dementia care. These units are also known as EMI units, (Elderly Mentally Infirm). The term is no longer as widely used and many care homes will instead use the terms ‘specialist dementia care unit’ or simply ‘dementia care unit’.

An EMI unit in a care home is a separate section, floor or wing attached to the care home which accommodates residents with advanced Alzheimer’s or dementia who have behavioural, emotional or other health problems relating to their dementia.

People who stay in EMI units have likely had dementia for some time and are in the later stages of the disease, causing them to be especially frail and experience more severe symptoms. 

EMI units will have specially trained staff, such as mental health nurses, on duty 24-hours a day to provide necessary care and support. The nurses will be highly skilled in dementia care. They have great knowledge about the different types of dementia and the effects they have on people’s health.

This means the nurses have the expertise to recognise changes in health and behaviour and provide care and medication accordingly.

Care homes with an EMI unit may also have a residential unit and a nursing unit. This structure allows residents to move between the different sections as their needs change.

How to find the right dementia care home

Finding a care home that is right for you or a loved one can be difficult, particularly for people with dementia as they may not understand why they have to move away from home.

Although a care home says it specialises in dementia care, it is best to visit and ask questions to ensure it is suitable. For example:

• How many carers have been trained in dementia care?
• What level of qualification do they have, and do they hold certificates?

A good idea is to speak to other residents and their families at the home and read reviews online.

Things to look out for includes:

• Is the care home well lit?
• Does the home’s design allow for easy access throughout?
• Does it have a sensory garden with free-flow access?
• Can you personalise the bedroom to create a familiar environment?

If the care home has an EMI unit on-site, it is a good idea to ask to see it.

For a detailed guide on choosing a suitable care home for someone with dementia, follow the link below.

How to choose a care home for someone with dementia

If you care for someone with dementia at home, it can be difficult to know when to let go and accept that they need greater care. Read our guide to when a person living with dementia should move into a care home.

When should someone with dementia move into a care home?