Care homes will face particular challenges in responding to the inevitable rise in dementia, including Alzheimer’s, according to a report published by the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network (NEoLCIN). It says commissioners and providers across adult health and social care will be faced with meeting the needs of more people dying with these conditions as the population ages. It confirms that, unlike other conditions, most people with dementia, including Alzheimer’s, die in care homes.

Of those who died with one of these conditions recorded as the main underlying cause of death, some 59% died in a nursing or residential home compared to 32% in hospital. That contrasts sharply with the figure for deaths overall: nationally 58% of us die in hospital and only 16% in care homes.

The report also shows that people who die from cardiovascular disease, cancer or respiratory illness are significantly more likely to die in a care home if dementia including Alzheimer’s is a contributory factor in their death.

Download Deaths from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and senility in England from the NEoLCIN website