A dementia diagnosis changes things for the whole family. The person diagnosed is processing what it means for them. The people around them are trying to understand what comes next, what support exists, and how to make the right decisions without having any experience of this before.
This guide is for families in Newark and Sherwood at that stage. It covers what local support is available, what care at home can look like, and how to navigate the practical questions without having to piece it all together yourself.
After a diagnosis: what happens next
A dementia diagnosis in Nottinghamshire is usually made following a referral to the local Memory Assessment Service. The GP is typically the starting point. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, a care coordinator or community mental health nurse usually stays in contact to review how things are going.
What that support looks like in practice varies. Some families feel well-guided. Others find the period after diagnosis one of the least supported, with appointments tapering off once the diagnosis is made and the immediate questions still unanswered.
If that’s where you are, you’re not alone, and the rest of this guide is intended to help.
Local dementia support in Newark and Sherwood
The Newark and Sherwood Dementia Directory is published annually by Your Notts Directory and is the most comprehensive single source of local services. The 2026 edition covers support groups, memory cafés, Admiral Nurse services, carer support, transport, legal and financial guidance, and activity groups across the district. It is worth downloading and keeping. A link is in the sources section at the bottom of this page.
Memory cafés and support groups
Memory cafés are informal drop-in sessions where people living with dementia and their families can meet others in similar situations, have a cup of tea, and access information in a relaxed setting. They are not clinical appointments. They are not assessments. They’re simply a regular, accessible place where people understand what you’re going through.
The Newark and Sherwood Dementia Directory lists current groups across the district. Availability and venues do change, so checking the current directory or contacting the Alzheimer’s Society local services line is the most reliable route.
Admiral Nurses
Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses employed by Dementia UK. They provide one-to-one support to family carers of people living with dementia, helping with the emotional, practical, and clinical questions that come up over time.
They’re not always available in every area, but Dementia UK’s helpline (0800 888 6678) can advise on what’s accessible locally and can provide remote support where a local Admiral Nurse isn’t in place.
Newark Dementia Carers’ Group
The Newark Dementia Carers’ Group is a registered charity providing peer support for people caring for someone with dementia in the Newark area. The current directory confirms their activity, and contact details are in the Newark and Sherwood Dementia Directory 2026.
Alzheimer’s Society
The Alzheimer’s Society provides national services with local reach, including its Dementia Connect support line (0333 150 3456), local Dementia Advisers in many areas, and an online directory of local services. The Society also publishes plain-English guides on every aspect of dementia that are genuinely useful at every stage.
Nottinghamshire County Council Adult Social Care
Anyone in Nottinghamshire can request a care needs assessment from the local authority. For a person living with dementia, this assessment looks at what support is needed and what might be funded. The carer is also entitled to a separate carer’s assessment in their own right.
Assessments are free and there is no obligation to take up any services that follow. Contact Nottinghamshire County Council Adult Social Care on 0300 500 8080.
Staying at home with dementia: what care can help with
Most people diagnosed with dementia want to stay in their own home for as long as possible. That’s usually achievable with the right support in place. What that support looks like depends on where someone is in their diagnosis and what their daily life involves.
Familiar routines
Routine matters more in dementia than in almost any other care situation. Familiar faces, consistent visit times, and predictable sequences of activity reduce confusion and anxiety. A carer who arrives at the same time, in the same way, and does things in the same order provides a form of structure that supports the person rather than unsettling them.
This is why continuity of carer is so important in dementia care specifically. At Helping at Home, we aim to keep each client’s care team to a maximum of four familiar carers. Introductions are done before care starts wherever possible. When regular carers are unavailable, cover comes from our wider directly employed team, never from agency staff.
Personal care
Help with washing, dressing, personal hygiene, and getting going in the morning. This is often the first practical support a person with dementia needs, and how it’s delivered matters enormously. A carer who is patient, consistent, and knows the person’s preferences can make the difference between a morning that goes well and one that doesn’t.
Medication support
Missed or incorrect medication is one of the more common concerns for families of people with dementia. Support can range from a prompt at the right time to active assistance with the medication process. The right level of support is agreed at the care assessment and reviewed as needs change.
Meals, hydration, and nutrition
People with dementia are at higher risk of poor nutrition and dehydration, often because appetite changes, meals are forgotten, or the steps involved in preparing food become difficult to manage. A carer who prepares a meal, sits with the person while they eat, and checks they’re drinking regularly addresses this without making it feel clinical.
Companionship and reassurance
Dementia can be lonely, and anxiety and low mood are common. A consistent carer who chats, listens, and provides a reliable friendly presence contributes to wellbeing in ways that are harder to measure than washing and dressing but are no less real.
Welfare checks
For families who don’t live nearby, a regular welfare check visit provides visibility and reassurance. Via the Birdie Family App, family members can see visit notes, mood and wellbeing observations, and activity logs in real time, without calling the office every day.
Supporting the family carer
In many dementia situations, the person doing most of the day-to-day support is a spouse or adult child who doesn’t think of themselves as a carer at all. They’re just doing what they do.
Carer burnout is real and common. The physical demands, the emotional weight, the disrupted sleep, the loss of the relationship as it was, these things accumulate. People often say they’re fine long after they’ve stopped being fine.
Elaine, daughter of a client, described what made the difference for her family:
“The team not only provides support to my father but also to my mother, who is the main carer. Nothing is too much trouble and they always go the extra mile.”
Elaine, daughter of a client (May 2023, published on homecare.co.uk)
Respite care, at its simplest, is regular support that gives a family carer time to rest, attend appointments, or simply step back without worry. It doesn’t have to be residential or long-term. A few hours of reliable support a week can make a significant difference to a carer’s capacity to keep going.
A carer’s assessment from Nottinghamshire County Council is available to anyone caring for a person with dementia, regardless of whether the person they care for has had an assessment. It looks at the carer’s own needs and what support might help them. Contact 0300 500 8080 to request one.
When dementia progresses
Dementia is progressive. What works at the start won’t always be sufficient as the condition changes. Planning ahead, while the person with dementia can still contribute to decisions, is one of the most useful things a family can do.
Lasting Power of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows a named person to make decisions on someone’s behalf if they lose the capacity to do so. There are two types: one covering property and financial affairs, one covering health and welfare. Both need to be set up while the person has mental capacity.
Setting up an LPA is often urgent once a dementia diagnosis is confirmed, because the window to do it while capacity is intact narrows over time. The Office of the Public Guardian website (gov.uk/lasting-power-of-attorney) explains the process. A solicitor can assist if the family needs support.
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. For complex situations, seek advice from a solicitor with experience in later life planning.
Advance care planning
An advance care plan records what a person wants, and doesn’t want, in terms of treatment and care as their condition progresses. It isn’t legally binding in the same way as a formal advance decision (sometimes called a living will), but it is an important document that helps health and care professionals understand the person’s wishes.
A GP, community nurse, or social worker can help facilitate this conversation.
Changes to care at home
As dementia progresses, the level and frequency of care visits usually needs to increase. Overnight care or live-in care may become relevant at some point. Planning for that, rather than waiting for a crisis, gives families more time and more options.
What families have found
Teresa, daughter of a client, described what the relationship between her Mum and her regular carer had become after a month:
“After only a month, they have built up a close bond, for which we are eternally grateful. It has given us confidence that when we are not able to be there, Mum is in very safe hands.”
Teresa, daughter of a client (March 2025, published on homecare.co.uk)
That bond between a consistent, familiar carer and a person with dementia is not something that appears overnight. It’s built through repetition, patience, and genuine interest in the person. It’s also one of the things that’s hardest to replace when it breaks down, which is why continuity of carer matters so much in this specific context.
Frequently asked questions
Can someone with dementia stay at home?
Many people with dementia live at home for years, often with a combination of family support and professional care. The right level of care at home depends on the stage of the condition, the person’s physical health, the home environment, and what family support is available. A care needs assessment from Nottinghamshire County Council, or a private care assessment with Helping at Home, can help establish what support is needed.
Why does it matter who the carer is in dementia care?
Consistency is especially important for people with dementia. Familiar faces and predictable routines reduce anxiety and confusion. An unfamiliar face, arriving without warning, is more likely to cause distress. At Helping at Home, we aim to keep each client’s care team to a maximum of four familiar carers, with introductions before care starts wherever possible.
Can home care help with medication for someone with dementia?
Yes. Support can range from a prompt at the right time to active assistance, depending on what’s needed and what’s been agreed in the care plan. The level of medication support is confirmed at assessment and reviewed as needs change.
What support is available for family carers in Nottinghamshire?
Family carers of people with dementia are entitled to a carer’s assessment from Nottinghamshire County Council Adult Social Care (0300 500 8080). Admiral Nurses through Dementia UK provide specialist support for family carers. The Newark Dementia Carers’ Group offers peer support locally. Helping at Home can provide respite care visits to give family carers regular time to rest.
When should we think about overnight care for someone with dementia?
Night-time can become more difficult as dementia progresses, with anxiety, disorientation, and toileting needs all increasing. If a family carer’s sleep is being regularly disrupted, or if the person is getting up and potentially at risk during the night, overnight care is worth discussing. Helping at Home provides overnight care options, with the right type of cover agreed at assessment.
How do I get a dementia care assessment in Newark?
Contact your GP to request a referral to the Newark and Sherwood Memory Assessment Service if a diagnosis hasn’t been made yet. Once diagnosed, Nottinghamshire County Council Adult Social Care (0300 500 8080) can arrange a care needs assessment. Helping at Home can carry out a private care assessment at no obligation if you are considering home care independently.
Local resources summary
| Organisation | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Newark and Sherwood Dementia Directory 2026 | Comprehensive local resource guide | yournottsdirectory.org.uk |
| Alzheimer’s Society | Dementia Connect helpline, local advisers, information guides | 0333 150 3456 |
| Dementia UK (Admiral Nurses) | Specialist support for family carers | 0800 888 6678 |
| Newark Dementia Carers’ Group | Local peer support for carers | See Dementia Directory |
| Nottinghamshire County Council Adult Social Care | Care needs and carer’s assessments | 0300 500 8080 |
| NHS Memory Assessment Service | Diagnosis and post-diagnosis support pathway | Via GP referral |
| Helping at Home | Dementia-informed care at home, Newark and surrounding areas | 01636 646915 |
Thinking about care at home for someone with dementia?
Courtney Pike, our Registered Manager, oversees all care planning. The Care Quality Commission rates us Good. On homecare.co.uk, families give us 9.9 out of 10.
We support people with dementia across Newark, Southwell, Grantham, Ollerton, Bingham, and surrounding villages, with care built around familiar routines and consistent carers.
Call 01636 646915, email hello@helpingathome.co.uk, or request a callback. Office hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
A conversation is just a conversation.
