Dementia Care at Home in North Surrey: The Local Route
Families usually start searching for dementia care at home in Surrey when something has already changed: a parent repeating questions, missing meals or getting lost on a familiar walk. This page maps the route from that first worry to support at home for families in our North Surrey patch of Egham, Virginia Water, Staines, Ashford, Sunbury and Shepperton. It covers the GP, the memory assessment, council help and national support lines, then where a home care agency fits. It is not medical advice; diagnosis and treatment belong with the NHS.
The route to a diagnosis almost always starts with the GP. Memory problems have many causes, including infections, thyroid problems, low vitamin levels, medication side effects and depression, and some of these are treatable. The GP will usually ask questions, carry out simple memory tests and arrange blood tests to rule them out.
It helps to go with your relative if they agree, and to take a short written list of the changes you have noticed, with rough dates. Specific examples, such as a pan left on the hob or bills unpaid, are more useful than a general sense that things are not right.
If the GP thinks dementia is possible, they can refer your relative to a specialist memory assessment service. In Surrey, NHS mental health and memory services are provided by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The assessment may include longer memory tests, a scan and a conversation with a specialist.
Waiting times vary. While you wait, nothing stops you from putting practical support in place at home, and a diagnosis is not needed to start home care.
A diagnosis does unlock things, though. It helps with planning, with decisions about medication, with Lasting Power of Attorney while your relative can still make one, and with access to specialist support.
Two national organisations are worth knowing from the start. Alzheimer's Society runs a Dementia Connect support line that gives advice on anything from diagnosis to benefits to changing behaviour. Dementia UK provides Admiral Nurses, specialist dementia nurses who support families, and runs its own helpline.
Unpaid carers in the county can also contact Action for Carers Surrey for information and support aimed at the family member doing most of the caring.
Surrey County Council is responsible for adult social care across all six of our towns, on both the Runnymede and Spelthorne sides. Your relative is entitled to a free needs assessment, and the main family carer is entitled to a separate carer's assessment.
If your relative is eligible, a financial assessment works out what they contribute. Attendance Allowance, which is not means tested, is often available once someone needs regular help, and many families claim it too late.
If dementia progresses to the point where needs are mainly health needs, NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply. It is assessed by the NHS, not the council, and the threshold is high.
Step five: care at home, and how it changes over time
Dementia care at home usually starts small. A carer might visit once a day to make sure lunch is eaten and medication taken, and to give a sense of company and routine. As needs grow, visits increase, and later on overnight or live-in care may be needed to manage night waking and keep someone safe.
Continuity matters more with dementia than with almost any other condition. Seeing the same small group of carers helps someone feel safe, and those carers are the ones who notice early signs of an infection, a change in mood or a new difficulty with eating.
Our carers are trained in dementia care, work to a written care plan agreed with the family, and record each visit. Where behaviour changes or distress increase, we raise it with the family and the GP rather than managing it quietly.
Early stage: a daily visit for meals, medication and routine
Middle stage: several visits a day, help with personal care
Later stage: overnight support or a live-in carer
Throughout: the same small group of carers wherever possible
One of the most useful things a family can do early on is plan while the person with dementia can still take part in decisions. That includes making a Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare and for property and financial affairs, talking about where they would like to be cared for, and writing down what matters to them.
These conversations are hard, but families who have them early usually find later decisions easier, because they are carrying out wishes rather than guessing. The NHS dementia pages include guidance on planning ahead and legal matters.
It also helps to think about the home. Good lighting, clear labels on cupboards, a simple routine and removing trip hazards can all make it easier for someone to stay independent for longer. An occupational therapist, reached through the council or GP, can advise on equipment and adaptations.
Finally, look after the main family carer. Dementia care is a long road, and the carer's own health, sleep and time off matter. A carer's assessment from Surrey County Council and regular respite, at home or elsewhere, are part of a sustainable plan rather than an extra.
Lasting Power of Attorney while it can still be made
Written wishes about care and daily life
Simple home changes: lighting, labels, fewer trip hazards
Reedsfield Care's weekday daytime dementia care starts from £28 an hour for weekday daytime care and live-in care from £1,300 a week. We confirm costs in writing after a free assessment visit.
We are based in Egham and rated Good by the CQC. We cover Egham, Virginia Water, Staines, Ashford, Sunbury and Shepperton, not the whole of Surrey.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need a diagnosis before starting home care?
No. Home care can start at any time. A diagnosis helps with planning and specialist support, but it is not required.
Who runs memory assessments in Surrey?
NHS memory assessment services in Surrey are provided by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, usually after a GP referral.
Who pays for dementia care at home?
Many families pay privately, sometimes helped by Attendance Allowance. Surrey County Council may contribute after needs and financial assessments.
How much does dementia care at home cost?
With Reedsfield, from £28 an hour for weekday daytime visits or £1,300 a week for live-in care.
Which areas do you cover?
Egham, Virginia Water, Staines, Ashford, Sunbury and Shepperton.
What if my parent refuses to see the GP about memory problems?
This is common. Try linking the appointment to a general health check, ask the GP for advice yourself, and contact the Alzheimer's Society support line for ideas on how to approach the conversation gently.
Can dementia care at home continue as the condition progresses?
Often, yes. Care usually increases gradually from daily visits to several visits, and later to overnight or live-in support, so many people remain at home for a long time.
