Articles

Evidencing Family Partnership in Dementia Services for Commissioners and CQC

Family partnership is frequently claimed in tenders and inspection narratives, but it must be evidenced in day-to-day delivery. This article sets out what good evidence looks like, how to build...

Managing Family Disagreement and Conflict in Dementia Care

Disagreement between families and services is common when dementia needs escalate and risk increases. This article sets out a practical, defensible approach to managing conflict, maintaining relationships and protecting the...

Co-Producing Dementia Care With Families: From Principles to Practice

Co-production in dementia care requires more than consultation. This article explores how services work in partnership with families in a structured, defensible way that improves outcomes while maintaining professional accountability...

Supporting Family Carers Through Escalating Dementia-Related Distress

As dementia-related distress increases, families often carry significant emotional and practical burden. This article explains how services support family carers during escalation, using structured communication, behaviour understanding and defensible practice...

Working With Families to Prevent Placement Breakdown in Dementia Services

Placement breakdown rarely happens overnight. It usually follows a pattern of escalating stress, misaligned expectations and missed early warning signs. This article explains how providers work with families to prevent...

Best Interests Decisions and Family Involvement in Dementia Care: Getting It Right

Family involvement is vital in dementia care, but it must sit within clear Mental Capacity Act practice and defensible best interests decision-making. This article explains how services work with families,...

Managing Family Conflict and Safeguarding Risk in Dementia Care Settings

Family involvement can sometimes introduce conflict or safeguarding risk in dementia care. This article explains how providers can manage family conflict safely, maintain clear accountability and protect people with dementia...

Supporting Family Carers Through Change and Decline in Dementia Services

As dementia progresses, family carers often experience uncertainty, grief and role change. This article explores how dementia services can support carers through change and decline while maintaining professional accountability, safeguarding...

Carer Knowledge as an Asset: Using Family Insight to Improve Dementia Support and Reduce Distress

Families often hold vital insight into a person’s history, routines and triggers. This article explores how dementia services can systematically use carer knowledge to improve outcomes, reduce distress and strengthen...

Working in Partnership With Families in Dementia Care: Roles, Boundaries and Shared Responsibility

Effective dementia care depends on strong, well-governed partnerships with families and carers. This article explains how providers can define roles, manage boundaries, and share responsibility with families while maintaining professional...

From Tokenism to True Partnership: Families as Equal Voices in Care Planning

It’s not enough to “consult” families — true person-centred planning means working with them as equal voices. Here’s how to move beyond tokenism.

Making Time for Families: Why It’s Worth It (Even When You’re Busy)

It’s easy to say “we involve families” — but how often does that fall by the wayside? Here’s why making time matters, and how to build it into practice.

When Families Disagree: Navigating Conflict in Person-Centred Planning

Disagreements happen — but conflict doesn’t have to derail planning. Here’s how to manage tensions between families, advocates and services with dignity.

Care Planning Conversations That Count: Making Meetings Inclusive

Meetings can feel overwhelming or tokenistic — unless they’re planned with care. Here’s how to make sure families and advocates are heard, not sidelined.

The Power of Listening: Why Family and Advocates Hold the Missing Pieces

Care plans become more meaningful when they include the voices of those who know the person best. Learn how to embed family and advocate input into assessments and reviews.

Balancing Autonomy and Support: Involving Families Without Undermining the Person

Explore how to involve families and advocates in care planning without diluting the person’s voice — and why balancing autonomy with support is key to quality care.

Involving Families in Person-Centred Planning: How Much Is Too Much?

How do you strike the right balance between involving families and respecting the voice of the person? This blog explores practical and ethical considerations for care providers.