Cover Story - Advertising feature
The changing face of complex care
Robert Atherton, content strategist at CareHomeLife, highlights some of the steps care providers are taking to honour our loved ones with dignity and ensure their homes are ready and able to meet the complex care challenges of tomorrow
Caregivers today are navigating an increasingly complex world of care, with rising numbers of residents living with conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. With dementia cases expected to climb by 42 per cent in the next 15 years and Parkinson’s projected to double by 2050, the landscape is shifting rapidly, and care homes are having to evolve to meet these growing needs.
Demystifying the dementia care landscape Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition that affects memory, problem-solving, language, and behaviour. Although there are over 100 types of dementia, each with its own set of symptoms, they all share one characteristic: the profound impact they have on the lives of those diagnosed – and the people who care for them. So, what does the most recent data tell us
about the dementia landscape of tomorrow? Around 982,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK,1
including
approximately 70,800 people with young- onset dementia.2
But with more people
Volume 11 Issue 1 January 2026
CARE HOME
ENVIRONMENT
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
The changing face of complex care
Aston Manor Care Home: creating ‘A Better Everyday’ in Aylesbury
Care Market Review: the key highlights
living with complex care conditions for longer, the number of people with dementia is expected to soar to 1.4 million by 2040. This upward trend places additional pressure on care homes, both in terms of beds needed and staff required. We know from experience that social
care is already hard at work delivering thoughtful, person-centred dementia care at scale and pace. For residents to feel safe, secure and fully understood, a warm, welcoming environment – staffed with skilled, compassionate practitioners – is half the battle. But what does dementia care best practice actually look like, now and for the future?
Designing for dementia Even at the best of times, dementia care can be demanding. It asks a lot of carers, especially those supporting people in the later stages of the syndrome. Recognising
this, the care community prioritises routine and consistency, and with good reason. Consistency is key to reducing resident distress. However, carers also need the flexibility to respond sensitively to an individual’s changing needs. Each person’s experience is unique, and it is this uniqueness that makes personalised care essential rather than optional. Delivering personalised care to increasing
numbers of residents living with the condition is easier said than done, however. Care providers should consider how they plan to sustain this, be that through innovations or simple additions that empower residents in meaningful ways. Supportive spaces can make a significant
difference. According to NHS England, this includes everything from straightforward flooring designs to signage and sensory areas that promote calm and reduce over- stimulation. Colour coding can also help residents to differentiate fixtures and fittings more easily from their surroundings, not only in utilities and furniture but also in plates, bowls and utensils. For instance, CareHomeLife’s colour-
coded ORNAMIN range, which features unobtrusive aids that enable residents with dementia to dine independently and with dignity, is specially designed to empower people with dementia. Similarly, Nilaqua – a waterless
personal care and hygiene solution – offers residents who may find traditional bathing challenging the opportunity to manage their own personal care comfortably and with privacy. If independent traditional bathing is still an option for a person, simply placing
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com January 2026
THE
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