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Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Supporting Individuals with Dementia Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that individuals living with dementia receive high-quality, person-centred care that upholds their dignity, promotes independence, and enhances their well-being. This policy is written to meet the Fundamental Standards set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (as amended) and associated CQC guidance, and is monitored using CQC’s Single Assessment Framework (the five key questions and quality statements).

This policy aims to:

• Provide a structured, compassionate, and safe environment for individuals living with dementia.
• Ensure that care is tailored to each individual’s needs, preferences, and abilities in accordance with Regulation 9 (Person-Centred Care)​.
• Support families and carers by involving them in care planning and decision-making.
• Train staff to deliver specialised dementia care, ensuring they understand the progressive nature of dementia and apply evidence-based practices.
• Uphold dignity and respect by ensuring individuals retain their rights, autonomy, and self-esteem, as required under Regulation 10 (Dignity and Respect)​.

This policy must be read alongside our arrangements for consent and mental capacity (Mental Capacity Act 2005), deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS), safeguarding adults, medicines management, complaints, and duty of candour, because people living with dementia may require additional protections to ensure care remains lawful, least-restrictive and person-centred.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All staff members, including care workers, nurses, activity coordinators, and support staff.
• People we support who have a diagnosis of dementia or exhibit dementia-related symptoms.
• Family members, advocates, and legal representatives involved in care decisions.
• External professionals, including GPs, mental health teams, and dementia specialists.
• Regulatory bodies, such as CQC, to demonstrate compliance with dementia care standards.

3. Principles of Dementia Care at {{org_field_name}}

Our dementia care is built upon person-centred care, dignity, and respect. We ensure that:

1. Person-Centred Approach

• Care is tailored to meet the individual’s physical, emotional, and social needs.
• We involve family members, advocates, and healthcare professionals in care planning.
• Care plans are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the individual’s condition.
• Staff use validation therapy instead of challenging reality, ensuring communication respects the individual’s perceptions and feelings.

2. Safe and Supportive Environment

• Environmental adaptations are made to promote safety and ease of movement, including clear signage, good lighting, and dementia-friendly furniture.
• Memory aids such as photographs, clocks, and visual cues are used to support orientation and independence.
• Secure but non-restrictive environments prevent wandering while allowing freedom of movement in a safe, supervised manner.

3. Effective Communication Strategies

• Staff are trained to use clear, calm, and reassuring communication with individuals living with dementia.
• Non-verbal communication such as facial expressions, body language, and touch is encouraged when appropriate.
• Alternative communication methods, including pictures, symbols, and assistive technology, are available to aid understanding.

4. Managing Behaviour That Challenges

• Triggers for distress or anxiety are identified, and proactive strategies are implemented.
• Staff use de-escalation techniques, including distraction, reminiscence therapy, and music therapy, instead of restrictive practices.
• Care teams adopt a flexible, compassionate approach to managing agitation, aggression, or resistance to care.

5. Consent, Mental Capacity and Least-Restrictive Practice

We will obtain valid consent before providing care and treatment. Where a person may lack capacity for a specific decision, we will follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 principles, complete a decision-specific capacity assessment, and (where required) make and record a best-interests decision involving the person and those lawfully acting on their behalf.

Where restrictions are necessary to prevent harm (for example, locked doors, close supervision, limitations on leaving the home), we will ensure restrictions are the least restrictive option, proportionate, time-limited, and reviewed. If restrictions amount to a deprivation of liberty, we will ensure the person is protected by the appropriate legal authorisation and safeguards (currently DoLS), and we will work with families/representatives and the local authority to maintain lawful practice.

Note: Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) have been subject to delay and are not in force at the time of this policy; our practice will be updated in line with national implementation requirements when introduced.

6. Nutrition and Hydration

• Individuals living with dementia may experience challenges with eating and drinking due to cognitive decline. We ensure:
  • Regular nutritional assessments and monitoring of hydration levels.
  • Finger foods and modified diets are provided when required.
  • Encouragement and supervision during mealtimes to ensure adequate intake, in line with Regulation 14 (Meeting Nutritional and Hydration Needs)​.

7. Supporting Independence and Daily Activities

• Encouragement of personal choices, such as selecting clothing or choosing meals, to maintain dignity and autonomy.
• Memory-stimulating activities, including gardening, music therapy, arts and crafts, and reminiscence sessions.
• Individual and group activities tailored to each person’s interests and abilities.

8. Family and Carer Involvement

• Open-door policy for families to discuss concerns and be involved in care planning.
• Dementia support groups for family members, providing guidance, emotional support, and education.
• Visiting and accompanying will be facilitated in line with Regulation 9A, meaning people can receive visits from those they want to see, are not discouraged from taking visits outside the care home, and can be accompanied to relevant healthcare appointments where they want support (subject only to proportionate individual risk assessment and lawful restrictions).

9. End-of-Life Care for Individuals with Dementia

• Advance care planning in line with wishes, religious beliefs, and legal requirements.
• Coordination with palliative care teams to ensure comfort and dignity in the final stages.
• Emotional support for families and staff, ensuring a compassionate and respectful approach.

4. Staff Training and Development

To ensure excellence in dementia care, {{org_field_name}} provides:

• Mandatory dementia care training for all staff, covering:
  • Understanding dementia and cognitive decline.
  • Effective communication strategies.
  • Person-centred care principles.
  • Challenging behaviour management.
  • End-of-life care for dementia.
• In addition, dementia-care training must include:
  • Consent and mental capacity (including best-interests decision-making and recording) in line with Regulation 11.
  • Safeguarding adults and recognising/responding to abuse and improper treatment in line with Regulation 13.
  • Duty of candour and notifiable safety incidents in line with Regulation 20.
  • Recording and information governance expectations to support effective oversight and learning.
• Regular refresher training and continuous professional development.
• Specialist dementia champions within the team to support best practices.

5. Medication Management

• Medication is only prescribed when necessary and regularly reviewed to prevent overuse of antipsychotics.
• Non-pharmacological interventions are prioritised before medication is considered.
• Medication administration follows the Safe Care and Treatment Policy (CH11) and Regulation 12 (Safe Care and Treatment)​.

6. Responsibilities of Staff

All staff at {{org_field_name}} must:

• Deliver care with empathy, patience, and respect.
• Adapt care to each individual’s abilities and needs.
• Follow CQC standards and best practices in dementia care.
• Maintain clear and accurate care records to document changes and interventions.

Staff must also report and record any safeguarding concerns, allegations, unexplained injuries, missing person incidents, medication errors, or patterns of distress/escalation in line with our safeguarding and incident reporting procedures. Where a notifiable safety incident occurs, staff must escalate immediately so the Registered Manager can meet the duty of candour requirements (open, timely apology and written follow-up where required).

7. Monitoring and Compliance

To ensure that our dementia care remains high quality and fully compliant with CQC requirements and Regulation 17 (Good governance), we operate effective governance systems. This includes planned audits and checks that are baselined against the Fundamental Standards (Regulations 4–20A), review the quality and safety of dementia care (including people’s lived experience), identify themes/risks, and evidence improvement actions with clear ownership, timescales and follow-up.

We will:

• Review dementia care plans regularly and after any significant change, ensuring risks, preferences and agreed strategies remain current and effective, and that updates are clearly recorded.
• Complete monthly dementia governance checks/audits, including (as a minimum) review of medicines use and PRN rationale, incidents/accidents (including falls and behaviour-related incidents), safeguarding concerns, restrictive practices, training compliance/supervision, complaints/compliments, and learning actions.
• Capture and act on feedback from people we support, families/representatives and staff, and use this to inform service improvement and staff development.
• Maintain accurate and accessible records, ensuring CQC inspectors (and other authorised professionals) can access up-to-date policies, care plans, risk assessments, capacity/best-interests documentation (where applicable), incident logs, audit findings and improvement plans.

8. Related Policies

This policy should be read in conjunction with:

• Person-Centred Care Policy (CH07)
• Dignity and Respect Policy (CH08)
• Safe Care and Treatment Policy (CH11)
• Meeting Nutritional and Hydration Needs Policy (CH12)
• Receiving and Acting on Complaints Policy (CH14)
• End-of-Life and Palliative Care Policy (CH38)
• Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Policy (CH39)

9. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if:

• Legislation or CQC guidance is updated.
• New best practices in dementia care emerge.
• Family, staff, or service user feedback highlights areas for improvement.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
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