A Dementia Support Plan Example for Home Care

A dementia support plan example can make a difficult question feel more manageable: what does good support at home actually look like? The answer is never a generic checklist. It is a practical, living record of what helps one person feel safe, understood and in control of their day.

For someone living with dementia, familiar surroundings can be deeply reassuring. A well-considered plan helps families and care professionals provide consistent support without taking over unnecessarily. It should reflect the person behind the diagnosis: their usual routines, preferences, abilities, relationships and wishes for how they want to live.

What is a dementia support plan?

A dementia support plan sets out the agreed support a person needs to remain well and as independent as possible. It guides everyone involved in their care, including family members, visiting care professionals and other health or social care services.

It is not simply a list of tasks such as preparing meals or prompting medication. Those tasks matter, but the plan should also explain how to offer help in a way that protects dignity. For example, a person may need support choosing clothes, yet still want to make the final choice themselves. They may become anxious with rushed instructions but respond well when one familiar care professional gives calm, simple prompts.

The best plans are written with the person wherever possible, and with those who know them well. They should be reviewed regularly because dementia can affect people differently and needs may change over time.

Dementia support plan example for home care

The following example shows the level of detail that can be helpful. It is fictional, and should be adapted to the individual rather than copied word for word.

About the person

Margaret is 82 and lives in her own home. She has Alzheimer’s disease and is most settled when her daily routine remains familiar. Margaret enjoys gardening programmes, listening to music from the 1950s and a cup of tea in her blue mug. She values her appearance and likes to be dressed before breakfast. Her daughter, Helen, visits twice a week and is her main family contact.

Margaret can hold a friendly conversation and make many day-to-day choices. However, she may forget whether she has eaten, become confused about the time of day and feel worried if she cannot find familiar items. She sometimes finds it difficult to follow several instructions at once.

The aim of support is to help Margaret remain safely at home, maintain her routines and continue doing the things she enjoys. Support should be offered patiently, without rushing or correcting her unnecessarily.

Morning routine and personal care

A care professional visits each morning at 8.30am. They should greet Margaret by name, explain who they are and briefly say why they have come. As Margaret is more confident in the morning, this is a good time to involve her in choices about clothing, washing and breakfast.

Margaret prefers a wash at the basin rather than a shower. Lay out two suitable outfits and ask which she would like to wear. Give one instruction at a time, such as, “Your cardigan is here when you are ready.” She may need a reminder to brush her teeth and use her walking frame when moving around the bedroom and bathroom.

The care professional should encourage Margaret to do what she can safely manage, while staying nearby to reduce the risk of falls. Privacy is important to her. Knock before entering rooms, close doors and curtains during personal care, and always ask permission before providing hands-on assistance.

Food, drink and medication

Margaret needs a simple breakfast and a light lunch prepared. She enjoys porridge, toast and tea in the morning. She should be offered regular drinks, as she does not always recognise when she is thirsty. Place drinks where she can see them and offer them gently rather than asking broad questions that may feel overwhelming.

Medication is stored in its original packaging in the kitchen cupboard. The care professional provides medication support as set out in the agreed medication record, following the provider’s procedures. They should check whether Margaret has taken the medication before offering a prompt, and record any refusal, concern or missed dose promptly.

Margaret has no known food allergies. If she appears unable to chew or swallow comfortably, coughs repeatedly during meals, or refuses food and drink for a prolonged period, this should be reported according to the agreed escalation process. Changes in appetite, weight or hydration can be significant and should not be dismissed as simply part of dementia.

Communication and emotional wellbeing

Margaret responds best to a calm, warm approach. Speak slowly, use short sentences and allow time for her to answer. Avoid testing her memory or challenging her if she says something inaccurate. If she asks repeatedly where her husband is, although he died several years ago, it may be kinder to acknowledge the feeling behind the question: “You seem to be missing him today. Would you like to look at your photographs together?”

If Margaret becomes distressed, reduce noise and activity around her. Sit at her level, offer reassurance and use familiar topics such as her garden or favourite music. Her blue photograph album is kept on the bookshelf and often helps start a comforting conversation.

Margaret enjoys a short walk in the garden when the weather is suitable. The care professional should encourage this only if she is wearing appropriate footwear, has her walking frame and appears steady. If a walk is not practical, watering indoor plants or listening to music can provide a meaningful alternative.

Safety at home

Margaret has previously left the gas hob on after making tea. Her family has arranged safety measures in the kitchen, and care professionals should check that appliances are off before leaving. They should also make sure her walking frame is within reach, clear obvious trip hazards and check that the front door is secure.

However, safety should be balanced with independence. Removing every choice or restricting access to all familiar activities can increase frustration and reduce confidence. The right approach depends on the level of risk, Margaret’s understanding at that time and what measures are already in place to support her safely.

Any unexplained bruising, sudden change in mobility, new confusion, signs of illness, a fall or a concern about home safety must be recorded and reported without delay. In an emergency, staff should seek urgent help and then inform the nominated family contact in line with the care plan.

Family communication and review

Helen would like a brief update after each visit through the agreed care record, with a phone call for any urgent concern. Updates should be factual and respectful, covering matters such as meals eaten, mood, medication support and any change from Margaret’s usual presentation.

The plan should be reviewed at least when Margaret’s needs change, after an incident, following a hospital stay, or when the family or care team identifies that the current routine is no longer working. Reviews are an opportunity to ask not only, “What help is needed?” but also, “What still matters most to Margaret?”

What makes a plan genuinely person-centred?

A useful dementia support plan gives practical instructions, but it also captures the small details that create comfort. Knowing that someone prefers their tea weak, becomes unsettled by a closed bedroom door or enjoys hearing about the local weather can transform a care visit from a task-focused appointment into meaningful support.

It should identify abilities as well as needs. A person may no longer be able to manage a full meal independently, but may still enjoy peeling vegetables, setting the table or choosing what to cook. Preserving these roles can support confidence and a sense of purpose.

Consistency also matters. Familiar faces, reliable visit times and clear communication between everyone involved can reduce anxiety. In home care, this continuity can help a person remain connected to the rhythms, memories and relationships of the place they know best.

How families can use this example

Use this dementia support plan example as a prompt for conversations with your relative, their GP or other professionals involved in their care. Start with daily life rather than diagnosis: what happens on a good day, what tends to cause distress, what support is already working, and what feels difficult or unsafe?

Write down changes as they happen. A pattern of missed meals, increased confusion in the evening or reluctance to wash may point to a need for a different approach, more support or a health review. The person’s wishes should remain central, while family members and care professionals share information responsibly and act when risks increase.

For families in Chichester, Selsey and Wittering, personalised home care can provide practical help alongside the reassurance of regular observation and compassionate companionship. Avoston’s approach is built around understanding the individual first, so support fits their life rather than asking them to fit a service.

A good plan leaves room for the person’s voice, even when communication becomes harder. The most valuable question to return to is often the simplest: what would help this person feel more like themselves at home today?