When does the demented patient need residential care?
Multiple factors need to be considered apart from the diagnosis of dementia in determining whether an individual requires residential care. These factors include the impairments associated with the dementia and the ability to provide appropriate care and supervision for the individual in their preferred location. The availability and willingness of carers to look after the individual is of vital importance, particularly in the more advanced stages of dementia. Predictors of the need for residential care include severity of dementia, associated behavioral problems and unavailability of carers.
