People with dementia have the right to personal choice over where, and how, they live; which includes conversations with carers about their home and it meeting their needs when planning ahead.
However, it is an important principle that people with dementia have the right to choose how and where they live. Nobody should feel as though they are not being supported to remain in their own home when they feel that is right for them.
For extra information, evidence and best practice please scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Regional offerings
Dementia Wellbeing Plan for Greater Manchester; Dementia United
Weblink: https://dementia-united.org.uk/dementia-wellbeing-plan/
Dementia United
Weblink: https://dementia-united.org.uk/
Housing for People Living With Dementia in Greater Manchester - From Policy to Practice
Weblink: https://dementia-united.org.uk/housing/
Dementia Carers Expert Reference Group (DCERG)
Email: gmhscp.dementiaunited@nhs.net
National offerings
Age UK
Telephone: Advice line 0800 678 1602 free to call 8am - 7pm 365 days of the year
Weblink: https://www.ageuk.org.uk
Alzheimer’s Society
Telephone: National Dementia Helpline: 0300 222 1122. Open 9.00am. – 5.00pm. Monday to Friday & 10.00am. – 4.00pm. Saturday and Sunday.
Weblink: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/
Carers UK
Telephone: 020 7378 4999
Weblink: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice
Deep
Telephone: The phone number at Innovations in Dementia is 01392 420076; who host DEEP
Weblinks:
https://www.dementiavoices.org.uk/
https://dementiadiaries.org/
Dementia Carers Count
Weblink: https://dementiacarers.org.uk/
Dementia UK
Telephone: 0800 88 6678
Email: direct@dementiauk.org
Weblink: https://www.dementiauk.org/
Lewy Body Society
Telephone: 01942 914000
Weblink: https://www.lewybody.org/
Making Space
Telephone: 01925 571 680
Email: enquiries@makingspace.co.uk
Weblink: https://makingspace.co.uk/
NHS England Dementia
- Developing an access and waiting time standard for dementia, so people with dementia have equal access to diagnosis as for other conditions; setting the national average for an initial assessment
- Achieving and maintaining the dementia diagnosis rate. NHS England agreed a national ambition for diagnosis rates that two thirds of the estimated number of people with dementia in England should have a diagnosis with appropriate post-diagnostic support
- Post diagnostic care and support; as there has been substantial progress on diagnosis, NHS England will focus on improving post-diagnostic support
NHS England have developed a Dementia Well Pathway which outlines standards across all aspects of the Pathway from prevention, diagnosing, supporting, living and dying well.
Weblinks:
The NHS England dementia-well-pathway can be accessed here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mentalhealth/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/03/dementia-well-pathway.pdf
You can access the NHS England dementia programme of work here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/dementia/
Together In Dementia Everyday (TIDE)
Weblink: https://www.tide.uk.net/
Young Dementia UK
Telephone: Dementia UK Telephone: 0800 88 6678
Email: direct@dementiauk.org
Weblink: https://www.dementiauk.org/about-dementia/young-onset-dementia/
Living with Dementia Toolkit - downloadable guide
The Guide is available in English and in Welsh. It introduces the toolkit and the resources available. For the full experience of the toolkit, you need to look at the website. QR codes link you back to the website at various points. There is a 'How to use QR codes' video lower down the page.
This can be downloaded here: https://livingwithdementiatoolkit.org.uk/home/living-with-dementia-toolkit-downloadable-guide/
Evidence
The 2019 report from the All Party Parliamentary Group ‘Hidden No More: Dementia and disability’ recognises the equal right of people with disabilities to live in the community and to facilitate effective and appropriate measures to full inclusion and participation in the community. In practice, this should mean that people with dementia are entitled to live independently in their own homes. They are also entitled to receive good quality, affordable supported housing, adaptations and technology.
The Life Story Network ‘Beyond the Front Door’ project commissioned by the Department of Health aimed to understand the meaning of ‘home’ to people living with dementia, the full report of can be viewed here.
To read the inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People that explored the policy changes needed to help people live aswell as possible with dementia in their own homes, please click here.
The Framework for Enhanced Health in Care Homes: ‘An individual’s quality of life depends partly on having access to a range of housing options that suit their particular health and care needs. Whilst the EHCH contract and guidance is aimed at care homes, the wider EHCH framework could be extended to support people living in extra care housing and in supported living arrangements, or to those who require support in their own home. Depending on the need identified and personal circumstances, these options might include adaptations to their home, assisted living arrangements, or access to a range of residential or nursing homes.’