1 in 3 people born in the UK this year will develop dementia in their lifetime. There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK. Research shows that this will increase to over one million by 2025 and over two million by 2050.

Why is dementia so high in the UK, this is due to people living longer. Due to medical advances, more people than ever are surviving heart disease, strokes, and many cancers. Age is the biggest risk factor for dementia and so as we are living longer the number of people developing dementia is increasing.

If your spouse/civil partner or loved one is unable to live independently and is unable to take care of themselves anymore, moving into a residential setting will give them the benefit of 24-hour care and support. A person with dementia will need more care and support as their condition progresses. There may come a time when they will need to move into full-time or residential care. Choosing the right care home or nursing home for a loved one is one of the most difficult and emotional things you might ever have to do.

What should I consider when I look for a care home?

  • Make sure the home provides the level of care you or a loved one could need in the future.
  • Check if the home currently has vacancies
  • Read the home’s brochure or website before your visit

What questions should I ask when looking for a care home?

  • Do you provide bedding
  • Is there a telephone in the room
  • Is there a television in the room
  • Is there storage space
  • 24-hour support from staff
  • Social activities with other residents
  • Knowing that the person with dementia is in a safe place

Deciding to move into a care home

Sometimes the person themselves can make the decision, but the person with dementia often lacks the ability to decide and therefore lacks mental capacity. If you or someone else has a Lasting Power of Attorney, then you can make the decisions for the person with dementia, as long as it is in their best interests.

Paying for a care home

Who pays for care will depend on the individual’s circumstances. If you are entitled to local council funding, the council will set a personal budget.   This will set out the overall cost of a care home and what the council will contribute towards the costs and what you will have to pay. If the person with dementia is not eligible for council funding then they will have to pay the full cost of the care home.

Planning ahead for your future needs

You may sometimes think about what will happen if you/spouse/civil partner or loved one become seriously ill. Would they know:

  • The type of care you would like to receive or where you would like to die
  • If you would want to be admitted to hospital or resuscitated
  • If you would want to refuse any types of treatment

If Fisher Jones Greenwood can assist you with the planning of your future in assisting you with application(s) for Lasting Powers of Attorney, then please contact us on 01206 700113 or email [email protected] to arrange an appointment.