stage: 4

Faster decline in a nursing home — separating the evidence from the fear

The evidence is nuanced. Some studies have suggested that people with dementia admitted to care homes show faster functional decline, but this is often because admission tends to happen at a point of crisis. The care home setting itself is not necessarily the cause of the decline. High-quality nursing homes with person-centred dementia care, therapeutic activities, good nutrition, and well-trained consistent staff can slow decline and maintain quality of life. Institutionalised environments with poor care and high staff turnover are associated with worse outcomes.