Serious older woman sitting at kitchen table

How to work out which stage of dementia your parent is in — without waiting for a formal assessment

The stage is usually judged by how much help the person needs in everyday life. In early stages, they may still manage many tasks but show memory or planning problems. In middle stages, they often need more help with meals, money, medicine, dressing, and travel. In later stages, they may need full support with eating, bathing, walking, and communication. A healthcare professional can help confirm the stage. Daily functioning is usually the clearest sign.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to Home care support

Next of kin and care home fees — the financial pressure families feel that has no legal basis

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Free home care for dementia — the entitlements most families never claim

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Legal responsibility for someone with dementia — what Lasting Power of Attorney actually means

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Who is financially responsible for someone with dementia? Not who most families assume

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The hardest part of caring for someone with dementia — and why nobody tells you it's this

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The 'happy pill' for dementia — what carers mean by it, what doctors prescribe, and what works better

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Why people with dementia sleep so much — and when it's normal versus a sign of something else

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Keeping someone with dementia content — the daily habits that matter more than occasional big gestures

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