January: A Key Point in the Year for Early Dementia Care Planning

By Rebecca Rawlings, Registered Manager, Mill House Care Home is a purpose-built, family-run home in Worcester specialising in dementia care (www.themillhousecarehome.co.uk)

Care professionals increasingly recognise January as a pivotal moment when families begin to engage more proactively with dementia care planning. Following the Christmas period, relatives often reflect on changes they have noticed, creating an opportunity for earlier, more informed conversations about future support needs.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, almost one million people in the UK are currently living with dementia, with numbers projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. The charity has consistently highlighted the risks associated with delayed care planning, including crisis-led decision-making and increased strain on health and social care services.

Evidence suggests that when families are supported to explore care options earlier — before a point of acute need — outcomes can improve for both individuals living with dementia and those supporting them. Early engagement allows for greater continuity, better alignment with personal needs, and smoother transitions should care requirements change.

“From a care perspective, January is often when families feel ready to start conversations they may have been postponing,” says Rebecca Rawlings, Registered Manager at The Mill House Care Home. “Early planning enables families to understand the range of dementia care options available, which in turn supports better continuity of care and reduces the likelihood of decisions being made under pressure.”

Figures from NHS England show that hundreds of thousands of people provide unpaid care to relatives living with dementia, often alongside employment and other responsibilities. Without early guidance and support, many carers report high levels of stress and uncertainty, particularly when care needs escalate unexpectedly.

Care providers have a growing role to play alongside GPs, memory services and community teams — offering families guidance, specialist knowledge and reassurance as part of a joined-up approach to dementia care. January presents an opportunity to encourage earlier engagement, helping families feel informed and supported long before a crisis point is reached.