Dementia Home Care That Works: Why Families Deserve More Than Just a Warm Body

Jenna Fralick, BScN RN

“The Caregiver Left at Noon and Never Came Back”

This story is, sadly, not rare. We have received so many calls from families that their loved one needed consistent care—but the caregiver assigned to them vanished without warning. Instead of the same person coming back, clients meet a new person each visit. This happens too often in homecare systems focused on volume, not value. It’s time for families to demand dementia home care that is skilled, relational, and dependable.

The Problem with Standard Dementia Home Care

A staggering 61% of family caregivers in Canada reported that homecare workers lacked proper training for dementia-specific needs (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2021). This lack of specialized knowledge leads to unnecessary hospitalizations, medication overuse, and worsening mental health outcomes. The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (2022) emphasizes that effective dementia care must be holistic, not task-focused.

Why Familiarity and Consistency Matter

The Canadian Geriatrics Society (2022) notes that continuity of care is essential in reducing agitation and improving outcomes for dementia clients. Seeing the same caregiver builds routine, predictability, and a sense of safety—vital for memory-impaired individuals.

The Emotional Weight Families Carry Alone

Caring for someone with dementia is often described as “a slow goodbye.” The emotional toll is heavy—and often hidden. Many caregivers in Canada say they feel emotionally isolated and unsupported by both systems and social networks (Peel Institute on Violence Prevention, 2020).

What Families Deserve from Homecare Providers

Families deserve:

• Experienced caregivers for dementia, not generalists

• Reliable, scheduled support

• Transparent communication and care updates

• Flexibility as needs evolve

• Caregver consistency
  

You don’t need to navigate this alone. We’re here to help.

👉 Learn more: Dementia Home Care Support

We Don’t Just Show Up—We Show Up Right

When it comes to dementia home care, showing up with presence, knowledge, and compassion is what truly matters. Families deserve care that adapts, that listens, and that stays.

References

Canadian Geriatrics Society. (2022). Person-centred care and dementia: Recommendations for Canadian providers. https://canadiangeriatrics.ca

Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2021). Dementia in Canada: Highlights and key findings. https://www.cihi.ca/en/dementia-in-canada

Peel Institute on Violence Prevention. (2020). Supporting caregivers of people with dementia: Gaps in the system. https://peelinstitute.ca

Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario. (2020). Dementia: Supporting and caring for individuals and families (Best Practice Guideline). https://rnao.ca/bpg/guidelines/dementia