Dementia care at home
What good dementia care at home looks like
Published: 27/04/2026
Supporting loved ones across Chichester, Selsey and Bognor Regis
A dementia diagnosis changes a family’s map of the future. Suddenly, decisions that once felt straightforward — where to live, how to manage the day, who can help — carry new weight. Across Chichester, Selsey, the Witterings, Bognor Regis, Aldwick, Felpham and the villages we serve, more families are finding that thoughtful care at home offers the best path forward for as long as it is safe and right for the person involved.
There are good reasons for this. People living with dementia tend to feel more settled in surroundings they know: the chair by the window, the kitchen rhythm that has shaped fifty years of mornings, the photographs on the mantelpiece, the cat that sits on the bed. Familiarity reduces anxiety, supports memory and helps preserve identity in ways that no other intervention can match.
What good dementia care at home looks like
Person-centred dementia care is rooted in knowing the person, not the condition. At Right at Home Chichester and Bognor Regis, every Care and Support Plan for a Client living with dementia begins with a "This is me" conversation that captures life story, preferences, routines, sensitivities and the small things that matter — the cup of tea brewed in a particular pot, the radio station that lifts the mood, the walk past a particular tree in the front garden.
From that foundation, good dementia care does several things consistently:
• Maintains routine. People living with dementia thrive on predictability. We pair Clients with a small, consistent team of CareGivers so that familiar faces become a source of reassurance.
• Supports orientation. Visible clocks, simple signage and gentle verbal cues help Clients stay oriented to time and place without feeling tested.
• Promotes meaningful activity. From folding washing to flicking through a photograph album, purposeful activity reduces agitation and lifts wellbeing.
• Manages risk thoughtfully. Falls, medication, kitchen safety and night-time wandering are all assessed and revisited as needs change.
• Supports family carers. Family carers often shoulder enormous loads. We see ourselves as part of a team that includes the spouse, son, daughter or neighbour who is also caring — and we listen to them carefully.
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When home care helps most
Many families find home care valuable from the point of diagnosis. Even small, regular visits — help with breakfast, a midday check-in, support to attend a local memory cafe — establish trust early, giving the family room to step back from intensive caring and giving the Client a reliable rhythm. As needs grow, care can scale up to several visits a day, overnight support or live-in care, often without the disruption of changing provider.
Live-in care is increasingly chosen by families in West Sussex who want to avoid the upheaval of a residential move. With a dedicated CareGiver in the home, the Client retains their environment, garden, neighbours, GP and routines while receiving continuous, attentive support.
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Families in our area benefit from a strong network of dementia services:
• Chichester and Bognor Dementia and Older People’s Mental Health Service (DOPMHS) at Drayton House, Oving, offers specialist NHS assessment and ongoing support (0300 304 0681).
• Memory cafes and singing groups run regularly in Chichester and Bognor Regis, offering social contact for both the person living with dementia and their family carer, such as Sage House
• Age UK West Sussex, Brighton and Hove runs information, advice and community activities across the area.
• Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia UK both offer specialist telephone support and Admiral Nurse advice for families.
Looking after the family carer
Family carers — spouses, adult children, siblings, neighbours — are the backbone of dementia care in West Sussex. They are also at heightened risk of exhaustion, depression and physical illness themselves. Regular respite, even just a few hours a week, is one of the most protective steps a family can take. Our respite care visits are designed to give family carers genuine, uninterrupted time off — not a quick errand under pressure.
Frequently asked questions
At what point should we consider home care for someone with dementia?
Earlier than most families think. Introducing carers when the person is still able to build a relationship with them makes everything easier as the condition progresses. Even a single weekly visit can build a foundation of trust.
Is dementia care at home better than a care home?
Neither is universally better; the right setting depends on the person, the family and the stage of the condition. For many people, home care offers the best outcomes for as long as it is safe and sustainable, particularly with live-in support during later stages.
What if my loved one resists having a carer?
This is very common. A skilled provider will introduce a carer gently — sometimes as "a friend who comes for a cuppa" — and build trust over weeks. Continuity of carer is critical: the same friendly face, every visit.
Can you support someone with advanced dementia at home?
Yes. Through visiting, overnight, waking-night or live-in care, we support Clients with all stages of dementia, including those requiring palliative or end-of-life care at home.
Talk to us
Every dementia journey is different. If you are looking for compassionate, person-centred dementia care at home in Chichester, Bognor Regis, Selsey, the Witterings or the surrounding villages, we would welcome a conversation — in your time, at your pace, with no obligation.