Dementia Care at Home in Crawley

50 CQC-registered home care agencies in Crawley. Compare ratings, read verified reviews and book care directly — free for families, no account needed.

Dementia Care at Home in Crawley

Finding the right home care for a relative living with dementia is one of the most difficult things a family can face. In Crawley, as in most of the country, demand for specialist dementia support is significant, and the options can feel overwhelming at a point when clear thinking is already hard. Dementia — whether Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, or a mixed presentation — is a progressive condition. That means the care your relative needs today will not be the care they need in six months or two years. Choosing a home care agency with genuine dementia expertise, and understanding how local funding and NHS pathways work, makes a real difference to how well supported your family will be as needs evolve. Crawley sits within West Sussex and is served by a network of CQC-registered home care agencies, with approximately 54 agencies operating in the area [4]. Some of those agencies have staff trained specifically in dementia support; others offer more general personal care. CareAH exists to help families compare agencies clearly, so you can ask the right questions and make a more informed choice rather than simply taking the first available option. This page sets out what dementia care at home actually involves, how local NHS and council pathways connect to it, what to look for in an agency, and how care might be funded. The aim is to give you enough grounding that when you do speak to agencies, you feel less at sea.

The local picture in Crawley

Crawley is served primarily by two hospitals: Crawley Hospital, which provides a range of community and outpatient services, and East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, which is the main acute site for the area. Both fall under Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH). When a person living with dementia is admitted to hospital — whether following a fall, an infection, or a period of acute confusion — the discharge planning process becomes immediately relevant to families thinking about home care. NHS guidance is clear that discharge planning should begin as early as possible during any admission [8]. Under the hospital discharge framework, patients may be placed on different pathways depending on their level of need. Pathway 0 involves discharge with no additional support or minimal support already in place. Pathway 1 covers discharge home with short-term support, often delivered by a reablement or home care team. Pathway 2 involves a more complex package, potentially including a period of interim care in a bed-based setting before returning home. Pathway 3 is for those who cannot safely return home without a long-term residential placement. For many people with dementia, Pathway 1 is the relevant route, and in some cases a Discharge to Assess (D2A) approach is used — meaning the full assessment of long-term need happens after the person has left hospital, once they are more settled at home. It is worth asking the ward team at East Surrey Hospital or Crawley Hospital specifically which pathway is being considered and what home care arrangements are expected to be in place before discharge. If your relative's needs are substantial and primarily health-related, a referral for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessment may be appropriate. The national framework for CHC sets out the criteria and process [2][3]. CHC is not means-tested and, if awarded, meets the full cost of care.

What good looks like

Dementia care requires more than general personal care skills. When you are speaking to agencies, look for specific signals rather than broad reassurances.

  • Dementia-specific training: Ask what training staff receive in dementia, and how recently. Look for references to recognised frameworks rather than vague assurances.
  • Consistency of carer: Frequent changes of carer are particularly disruptive for people with dementia. Ask how the agency manages continuity and what happens when a regular carer is off sick.
  • Communication with family: Find out how the agency keeps family members informed about changes in behaviour, mood, or physical condition — these often signal a shift in need before a formal review is requested.
  • Experience with the specific dementia type: Lewy body dementia, for example, involves fluctuating cognition and particular medication sensitivities that differ from Alzheimer's care. It is reasonable to ask whether the agency has supported people with the same diagnosis.
  • Out-of-hours support: Dementia-related distress does not keep office hours. Ask what happens if a family member needs to raise a concern at 9pm on a Sunday.
  • Reviews and care plan updates: A good agency will review the care plan regularly and when circumstances change, not only at fixed annual intervals.

On legal standing: under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], it is a criminal offence for any organisation to provide regulated personal care in England without first registering with the Care Quality Commission [4]. An unregistered agency is operating illegally. Every agency listed on CareAH is CQC-registered. You can verify any agency's registration status and read its inspection reports directly on the CQC website [4].

Funding dementia care in Crawley

Funding for dementia care at home in Crawley follows the same national framework as the rest of England, administered locally by Crawley Borough Council and, where health needs are primary, by the NHS via Sussex Integrated Care Board.

Local authority funding: Under the Care Act 2014 [5], Crawley Borough Council has a duty to carry out a needs assessment for anyone who appears to have care and support needs. If the assessment confirms eligible needs and a financial assessment shows the person cannot fully fund their own care, the council may contribute. The upper capital threshold is currently £23,250; below £14,250 in capital, a person generally pays nothing from savings [1]. For a Care Act 2014 needs assessment, search 'Crawley Borough Council adult social care' for current contact details and opening hours.

NHS Continuing Healthcare: If dementia-related needs are primarily health-based and meet the national threshold, NHS Continuing Healthcare funding may cover the full cost of care without a means test [2][3]. The free advice service run by Beacon can help families understand whether a CHC assessment is appropriate and how to challenge decisions [10].

Direct Payments: If the council agrees to fund care, a Direct Payment [9] allows the family or the person with dementia to arrange and pay for their own care package rather than having it arranged by the council — giving more control over which agency is used.

Questions to ask before you commit

  • 1.How many of your carers have completed dementia-specific training, and through which recognised framework?
  • 2.How do you ensure the same carer visits my relative consistently, and what happens during periods of staff absence?
  • 3.Do you have experience supporting people with the specific type of dementia my relative has been diagnosed with?
  • 4.How will you communicate changes in my relative's behaviour or condition to our family between scheduled reviews?
  • 5.How often is the care plan formally reviewed, and what triggers an unscheduled review if needs change suddenly?
  • 6.What out-of-hours support is available if a family member needs to raise an urgent concern in the evening or at weekends?
  • 7.Can you describe how you would adapt the care package if my relative's needs increase significantly over the coming months?

CQC-registered home care agencies in Crawley

When comparing dementia care agencies in Crawley, look beyond headline descriptions and focus on three things: the agency's CQC inspection history, its specific dementia experience, and its approach to continuity of care. Read the most recent CQC inspection report for any agency you are seriously considering — reports are publicly available on the CQC website [4] and give a more detailed picture than any agency's own marketing. Pay particular attention to how agencies describe their approach to people with cognitive impairment and how they handle changes in a person's condition over time. Dementia care is not a static package; the agency you choose will need to adapt as your relative's needs change. Also consider how the agency communicates with families — clear, proactive updates matter more in dementia care than in many other types of home support. Home care agencies near me will differ in size, staffing model, and specialism, so it is worth contacting two or three and asking the same questions to each before making a decision.

Frequently asked questions

What types of dementia can home care agencies in Crawley support?

Most specialist dementia agencies can support people living with Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia. The level of specialist knowledge varies between agencies, so it is worth asking directly whether the agency has experience with the specific type of dementia your relative has been diagnosed with, as care approaches differ in meaningful ways.

How does hospital discharge from East Surrey Hospital or Crawley Hospital connect to home care?

When a person with dementia is discharged from East Surrey Hospital or Crawley Hospital, the ward team will plan which pathway applies. If a home care package is needed — often Pathway 1 — arrangements should ideally be in place before discharge [8]. Under a Discharge to Assess (D2A) approach, a short-term care package may begin at home while longer-term needs are assessed. Ask the discharge team what is being arranged and within what timeframe.

What is NHS Continuing Healthcare and could my relative qualify?

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is funding provided by the NHS — not the local authority — for people whose care needs are primarily driven by a health condition. It is not means-tested. The national framework sets out how eligibility is assessed [2][3]. Dementia alone does not automatically qualify someone, but complex or severe presentations can meet the threshold. The free Beacon helpline [10] can advise families on how to request an assessment and how to respond if funding is refused.

Can my relative stay at home if their dementia becomes more advanced?

Many people live at home throughout significant stages of dementia progression with the right care package in place. As needs increase, care hours typically increase, and additional support — such as night-sitting or live-in care — may be introduced. The key is having an agency that reviews and adapts the care plan as needs change, rather than one that applies a fixed package. There is no single point at which home care becomes impossible; it depends on the individual and the available support.

What is a Direct Payment and how does it work for dementia care?

If Crawley Borough Council agrees to fund your relative's care following a needs assessment under the Care Act 2014 [5], a Direct Payment [9] gives the family control over how that funding is used. Rather than the council arranging care, the money is paid to the family or the person with dementia, who then contracts with a home care agency of their choosing. This makes it easier to select an agency that fits the person's specific needs and preferences.

How quickly can home care for dementia be arranged in Crawley?

Start times vary between agencies and depend on their current capacity. Some agencies can begin care within a few days; others have waiting lists. If care is needed urgently following a hospital discharge, the ward team at East Surrey Hospital or Crawley Hospital should be involved in coordination. Using a marketplace like CareAH to contact multiple agencies simultaneously is often quicker than approaching them one by one.

What does a dementia care assessment from Crawley Borough Council involve?

Under the Care Act 2014 [5], a needs assessment looks at how the condition affects daily life — washing, dressing, eating, safety in the home, and social wellbeing. For dementia, assessors should also consider fluctuating capacity, behaviour that may present risk, and carer stress. Following the assessment, if eligible needs are identified, a financial assessment determines how much the council contributes and how much the family pays [1]. For current contact details, search 'Crawley Borough Council adult social care'.

Is CQC registration legally required for a home care agency?

Yes. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], any organisation providing regulated personal care — which includes washing, dressing, and medication support — must be registered with the Care Quality Commission before it can legally operate [4]. Providing such care without registration is a criminal offence. You can check any agency's registration status and read its most recent inspection report on the CQC website [4]. Every agency listed on CareAH holds current CQC registration.

Sources

  1. [1]GOV.UK — Social care charging 2026 to 2027
  2. [2]GOV.UK — National framework for NHS continuing healthcare
  3. [3]NHS England — NHS Continuing Healthcare
  4. [4]Care Quality Commission
  5. [5]Care Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)
  6. [6]Health and Social Care Act 2008 (legislation.gov.uk)
  7. [8]NHS — Leaving hospital after being an inpatient
  8. [9]GOV.UK — Apply for direct payments
  9. [10]Beacon — Free NHS Continuing Healthcare advice

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Page guidance last updated May 2026. Funding figures and council details may change — always check current information at the official source.