Compassionate Home Support
Dementia Physio & OT at Home
Caring for a loved one with dementia is one of the hardest things a family can face. You don't have to manage this alone. Our specialist dementia physio at home service combines physiotherapy and occupational therapy to keep your loved one safe, mobile, and comfortable at home.
How We Support Dementia Care
Falls Prevention
Safe movement patterns at home
Balance & Gait Training
Prevent shuffling and tripping
Muscle Memory Work
Maintain automatic movements
Visual Cues & Signage
Reduce confusion at home
Carer Training
Safe transfers & handling
Understanding Dementia & Mobility
Dementia affects far more than memory. As the condition progresses, it changes how the brain processes movement, balance, and spatial awareness. Your loved one may develop a shuffling walk, struggle to judge distances, or become fearful of moving. They might forget how to use their walking aid, or lose the confidence to get up from a chair.
These physical changes, combined with confusion and anxiety, significantly increase the risk of falls. People living with dementia are at a much higher risk of falling than other older adults — and the consequences of a fall can be devastating, both physically and in terms of the rapid loss of independence that often follows.
The good news is that specialist physiotherapy for dementia patients, combined with occupational therapy, can help maintain mobility, reduce fall risk, and support your loved one to stay safely at home. Effective dementia care requires patience, creativity, and a deep understanding of how the brain processes the world — qualities our experienced team brings to every visit.
The "Whole Person" Approach to Dementia
Effective dementia care is not just about "doing exercises." It requires understanding how the brain processes the world. We combine physiotherapy to maintain muscle and balance with occupational therapy to simplify the environment and reduce confusion. This dual approach helps prevent falls before they happen and keeps your loved one engaged and as independent as possible.
Physiotherapy
Mobility, balance, strength, safe movement patterns
Occupational Therapy
Home environment, daily routines, visual cues, carer training
How Our Team Helps with Dementia Care at Home
We combine physiotherapy to maintain physical ability with occupational therapy to simplify the environment and reduce confusion. This dual approach helps prevent falls and keeps your loved one as independent as possible.
Physiotherapy
Using simple, repetitive cues and muscle memory to maintain physical ability and prevent decline.
- Muscle Memory & Automatic Movement — Engaging deeply embedded movements like standing and walking to prevent them being lost as the condition progresses.
- Falls Prevention — Training the brain to recognise safe movement patterns in your loved one's home environment, reducing fall risk and hospital admissions. Learn more.
- Balance & Gait Training — Gentle exercises to prevent the "shuffle" walk that leads to tripping, working on posture, weight transfer, and confidence.
- Contracture Prevention — Gentle stretching to prevent joints becoming permanently stiff, particularly important for those who spend long periods seated.
Occupational Therapy
Modifying the home environment to reduce confusion, lower anxiety, and make daily life safer and more manageable.
- Visual Cues & Environmental Modification — Using signs, contrasting colours, and clear visual markers to help your loved one navigate independently.
- Routine Planning — Structuring the day to reduce "sundowning" and provide a predictable rhythm that helps reduce confusion and distress.
- Home Safety Assessment — Removing trip hazards that a brain with dementia might misinterpret, like dark rugs or reflective surfaces. Learn more.
- Seating & Positioning — Assessing chair height, firmness, and positioning to ensure safe transfers, with specialist seating recommendations if needed.
- Carer Training — Teaching family members or paid carers how to safely assist with walking, transfers, and exercises to ensure safe support continues.
Why Home-Based Therapy Is Essential for Dementia
Taking someone with dementia to a clinic is often distressing. The noise, the unfamiliar waiting room, and the change of routine can cause significant confusion and agitation, making therapy ineffective.
Home is where they feel safe. By seeing your loved one in their own familiar chair, surrounded by their own things, we get the best out of each session. We work with their reality, not against it. This lowers anxiety and allows us to build a trusting relationship much faster.
Home-based dementia mobility support at home also means we can address the real environment — practising the actual route to the bathroom, assessing the specific chair they sit in, and identifying the exact hazards in their home that increase fall risk.
What to Expect from a Home Visit
Free phone consultation
Speak directly with Naomi, our Clinical Director. She will listen to your concerns, discuss your loved one's situation, and advise whether home therapy is right for them — with no obligation.
Initial assessment at home
Your therapist visits, assesses mobility and daily living challenges, observes how your loved one moves in their own space, and creates a personalised care plan. Family members or carers are welcome to be present.
Regular sessions
Typically weekly visits, building familiarity and trust over time. We adapt each session to how your loved one is feeling that day — some days will be more active than others, and that is perfectly fine.
Family communication
With consent, we keep family members fully updated on progress, challenges, and any changes we observe. If you are arranging care from a distance, we will ensure you know how things are going.
Pricing
Home physiotherapy and occupational therapy for dementia care from £60 per home visit. Your initial assessment is a comprehensive 60-90 minutes session at £120. No hidden costs.
£120
Initial Assessment
60-90 minutes
£60
30-min Follow-up
30 minutes
£90
45-min Follow-up
45 minutes
Compassionate Therapists for Dementia Care
Patience and understanding are at the core of our approach. Our team averages 19+ years of clinical experience. View all team profiles.
Naomi Patrick
Clinical Director & Senior Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Julia Pervin
Senior Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Seena Thomas
Senior Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Naomi Gibson
Senior Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Lucy Chaldecott
Senior Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Kate Griffiths
Senior Occupational Therapist
Occupational TherapyFrequently Asked Questions About Dementia Care
Will they understand what to do?
We are experts in communicating with people living with dementia. We do not give complex instructions. Instead, we use physical prompts, clear visual cues, and “mirroring” (doing the movement alongside them). We also focus on making sessions engaging and enjoyable rather than a chore.
Can you work with carers or family members?
Yes, this is a central part of our role. We teach family members or paid carers how to safely assist with walking, transfers (getting out of bed or chairs), and exercises. This ensures rehabilitation continues safely even when we are not there. We also offer dedicated carer training and moving & handling sessions.
What if they refuse to do the exercises?
This is common, and we never force it. If someone is agitated or unwilling, we adapt. “Exercises” might turn into a walk to the garden to look at the flowers, or gentle movement to their favourite music. Our goal is movement and safety, however we achieve it. Patience and flexibility are what set specialist dementia therapy apart.
Do you visit patients in care homes?
Yes. We provide rehabilitation and support to residents in care homes across Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire, including those living with dementia. We work alongside care home staff to deliver the dedicated, one-to-one therapy that busy staff may not have time for. Learn more about our care home service.
Which areas do you cover?
We provide home visits across Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire. This includes Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, Salisbury, Ringwood, and the surrounding towns and villages.
You Don't Have to Manage This Alone
If you are worried about a loved one living with dementia, a free phone call with Naomi is the easiest way to find out how our specialist home physiotherapy and occupational therapy can help keep them safe, mobile, and comfortable.