Understanding Dementia Care Plans - What to Include and Why They Matter

Dementia care plans are very helpful to the person living with dementia, their family members, and anyone providing care to them. Having a dementia care plan in place shapes the care required and outlines the person’s daily routine, hobbies, and interests, meaning you can spend more valuable time with your loved one, rather than worrying about the care they’re receiving.

This article outlines what a dementia care plan is, their purpose and the benefits they provide, how they’re created, what they should include, how to make alterations and what advance care plans include.

In this article:

1. What is a dementia care plan?
2. What’s the purpose of a dementia care plan and what are their benefits?
3. How is a dementia care plan created?
4. What should a dementia care plan include?
5. Making changes to a dementia care plan
6. Advance care plans

What is a Dementia Care Plan?

A dementia care plan is a more specific version of a regular care plan for somebody living with dementia. A care plan lays out the care and support somebody needs (such as personal care or a specialist form of care like nursing care or palliative care).

Dementia is progressive, so someone’s needs will likely change over time, which is why dementia care plans are regularly reviewed and adjusted as required.

Dementia care plans include the specific dementia care needed by the person, where they should receive that care (such as through home care or in a care home), and other important details like their daily routine, to ensure they can continue leading a fulfilling lifestyle.

Dementia care plans give carers and other healthcare professionals a clear roadmap of how to provide care by following the person’s wishes and needs.

What’s the Purpose of a Dementia Care Plan and What Are Their Benefits?

• They allow dementia care to be more personalised and tailored to individual requirements. This ensures needs are always met to the standards and wishes of the person receiving care, including any religious or cultural preferences

• Care is more consistent and services are better coordinated, as everyone involved will be following the same guidelines, giving your loved one some much-needed stability

• They make it easier for dementia symptoms and behaviour to be managed

• They outline how to navigate certain situations, such as emergencies, medical or medication issues and how to deal with challenging behaviour

• They take the pressure off of carers, as it gives them a clear indication of what support to provide. There may also be extra support for caregivers, such as access to resources and help, including specialist training

• They use risk management to keep your loved one safe at home, such as removing potential hazards and ensuring medication is managed correctly

• Reviews can be easily made as care needs change, meaning care will always be up-to-date

• Legal and financial planning can also be included when considering long-term planning, giving peace of mind that your loved one’s needs will be respected

How is a Dementia Care Plan Created?

A dementia care plan is created after your loved one has undergone a care needs assessment. You can apply for a care needs assessment by social services through your local council.

After this assessment, a team of health and social care professionals creates a care plan, usually in collaboration with the person receiving care and their family members or other close friends.

Whatever care and support are needed are written up as a care plan (or, in this case, a dementia care plan).

What Should a Dementia Care Plan Include?

Care and support needed

• What type of dementia care is needed, such as personal care or nursing care

• The personal care needed, such as help with getting dressed and undressed, getting in and out of bed, washing and using the bathroom

• Any other specialist care needed, such as PEG feeding, wound dressing and stoma care

• What medication is needed, when it needs to be taken and what dosage is needed

• How to manage challenging behaviour, such as identifying triggers and using calming techniques

• Where care will be given, such as through home care or in a care home, along with who will provide care (such as a carer or a different healthcare professional)

Funding and home adaptations

• Whether they qualify for local authority funding (determined by a financial assessment) and if so, how much their personal budget or direct payments are worth

• Any adaptations needed to keep them safe when living at home, along with potential hazards to be removed like loose wires. What’s more, it’s essential that the setting is one they feel happy and fulfilled in

Daily life

• An example of what a daily routine would typically look like, including when they wake up, go to sleep, eat meals, and what else they do during the day

• Mealtimes (breakfast, lunch and dinner). People living with dementia often find mealtimes tough, due to food tasting different and eating being difficult. That’s why a dementia care plan should lay out what can and can’t be eaten and what nutrition is needed

• Any hobbies they enjoy doing, such as arts & crafts or playing an instrument. More creative hobbies and interests can often trigger happy memories, much like reminiscence therapy

• Similarly, any social activities they enjoy taking part in. People living with dementia often become socially isolated, so continuing to see family and friends is an important way of combatting this

• Extra cognitive activities to keep the brain stimulated, such as jigsaws, crosswords and other puzzles

• Exercises to stay active, as remaining active where possible is really important to mental and physical wellbeing for people living with dementia. This could include gentle walking, chair yoga or even gardening

• The person’s personality, to help carers understand what they were like pre-dementia. This will make it easier for a carer to know how to act around the person, and how to react to any sudden mood or behavioural changes

Making Changes To a Dementia Care Plan

A dementia care plan should be periodically reviewed to make any necessary changes, such as if the person’s needs have increased.

How often a care plan should be reviewed depends on the person’s needs. For example, if they only require a small amount of personal care, it may only need reviewing every few months. However, someone living with dementia, particularly middle or late-stage dementia with rapidly progressing symptoms, should probably have their care plan reviewed every month or so.

Regular reviews and changes ensure the most up-to-date care and support are given.

Advance Care Plans

An advance care plan is also important for someone living with dementia. An advance care plan records your loved one’s wishes for the future, including:

• What medical treatments they’d like to receive
• How they’d like end-of-life care to be given
• Who they’d like to be cared for by
• Who they’d like to make decisions on their behalf, should they lose the mental capacity to do so (through a lasting power of attorney)
• Information about their will
• Information about their funeral

Lottie matches care seekers with the best dementia care homes for their needs. You can also request a free list of dementia care homes from our care experts, who will share homes matching your budget and location.