Dementia Care
Approximately 1 in 14 people over the age of 65 in the UK have dementia, and over 70% of care home residents live with some form of dementia or cognitive impairment. Delivering high-quality, person-centred dementia care is one of the most important aspects of care work. This section provides the essential knowledge and practical tools every care worker needs.
About Dementia Care
Dementia is not a single disease — it is an umbrella term for a range of conditions that affect the brain, causing progressive decline in memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement. The most common types are Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia.
The Care Handbook provides guidance rooted in best practice and UK regulatory frameworks, including the CQC's key question “Is the service Caring?” and NICE Guideline NG97 on dementia assessment, management, and support. Person-centred care is at the heart of everything we do in dementia support — seeing the person first, not the condition.
Key legislation & guidance:Mental Capacity Act 2005, NICE NG97 (Dementia: Assessment, Management and Support), CQC Regulation 9 (Person-Centred Care), and the Alzheimer's Society best practice framework.
In This Section
Types & Stages of Dementia
Understand the main types of dementia, their symptoms, proportions, and how dementia progresses through early, middle, and late stages.
Person-Centred Care
The principles of person-centred dementia care — valuing the individual, seeing the whole person, and delivering care aligned with NICE NG97.
Communication Techniques
Practical do's and don'ts for communicating with people living with dementia — verbal, non-verbal, and active listening approaches.
Distressed Behaviour & PBS
Understanding distressed behaviour through Positive Behavioural Support (PBS), de-escalation strategies, and when to use ABC charts.
Getting to Know Me Template
Interactive, printable life story template — capture personal history, preferences, routines, and communication needs to deliver truly individualised care.
ABC Behaviour Chart
Interactive, printable ABC (Antecedent–Behaviour–Consequence) chart to record, analyse, and understand distressed behaviour patterns.
Authoritative Resources
Important Notice
Care Handbook is a guidance resource only. It does not replace your organisation's policies, formal training, or current CQC standards. Always follow your employer's specific procedures and consult your line manager or the relevant professional body if you are unsure. The information here is based on current CQC frameworks and UK legislation but may not reflect the very latest updates. Always verify with cqc.org.uk and alzheimers.org.uk for the most current guidance.