Written by: Dimple Chandarana
Last updated: July 2025
Dementia affects almost one million people across the UK, with numbers projected to reach 1.4 million by 2040, according to the Alzheimer's Society. When someone you care about is living with dementia, understanding the different approaches to care can help you make informed decisions.
The medical model of dementia focuses on the neurological diseases that cause cognitive changes. This clinical approach studies how conditions affect brain tissue and develops treatments accordingly. While medical advances are valuable, many families find that combining medical care with personalised home care provides the best outcomes.
What does the Medical Model focus on?
The medical model treats dementia as a condition requiring clinical management. This approach:
- Studies brain changes: Looking at how conditions, like Alzheimer's, affect neural pathways.
- Provides diagnosis: Using scans, blood tests, and cognitive assessments to identify specific types of dementia.
- Develops medications: Creating treatments that may help manage symptoms or slow progression.
- Establishing care guidelines: Helping healthcare professionals coordinate treatment.
Recent medications like lecanemab and donanemab have shown promise for slowing cognitive decline in early-stage Alzheimer's, though their NHS availability remains under review by NICE.
Benefits of the Medical Model
Medical approaches provide important advantages, such as:
- Clear diagnosis: Helps families understand what they're facing and plan for the future.
- Evidence-based treatments: Current medications (like donepezil and memantine) emerged from medical research following this model.
- Ongoing research: Clinical trials and scientific studies continue to develop new approaches and potential preventive measures.
- Professional coordination: Provides structure for healthcare teams to monitor changes and adjust care plans.
Limitations of the Medical Model
Focusing solely on the medical model can create challenges, such as:
- Limited personal control: Decisions may be made primarily by medical professionals, rather than considering what matters most to the individual and the family.
- Emphasis on difficulties: Concentrating on symptoms rather than abilities can feel disheartening during an already challenging time.
- Narrow focus: Medical approaches may overlook how the home environment, relationships and daily routines affect wellbeing.
- Over-medicalisation: Normal emotional responses to a challenging diagnosis might be treated as additional medical problems.
Social Model of Dementia: A holistic approach
The social model recognises that dementia affects the whole person, and not just their brain. This approach focuses on adapting the environment to support the person's remaining abilities and preferences.
- Environmental adaptation means modifying homes and routines to maintain independence and familiarity.
- Individual preferences guide all decisions, honouring the person's history, personality, and what brings them comfort.
- Meaningful connections through family, activities, and community involvement support emotional well-being.
This approach concentrates on what people can still do rather than focusing on their limitations and symptoms, often improving the quality of life.
Medical vs Social Model: What's the difference?
| Medical Model | Social Model |
|---|---|
| Disease-focused | Person-focused |
| Clinical priorities | Quality of life priorities |
| Medication emphasis | Environmental adaptation |
| Professional-led | Emphasis on individual choice |
| Manages symptoms | Builds on strengths |
| Hospital-based | Home and community-based |
How can they work together?
The most effective dementia care combines medical expertise with personalised, home-based support. The 2024 Lancet Commission, led by Professor Gill Livingston from UCL, confirms that a comprehensive approach works best.
Professor Tara Spires-Jones from the University of Edinburgh explains there's "compelling evidence for the ability to prevent dementia by addressing some of the 14 identified risk factors... a healthy lifestyle including keeping your brain engaged through education, social activities, exercise, and cognitively stimulating activities… avoiding things like head injury and factors that are bad for your heart and lungs can boost brain resilience and prevent dementia."
How it works in practice
Following diagnosis, many people benefit from appropriate medication to manage symptoms alongside home adaptations and familiar routines. Personalised, live-in support that respects individual preferences enables people to maintain their independence in familiar surroundings with both expert oversight and compassionate care.
Guardian Carers provides this integrated support
Our carers understand both medical needs and the importance of creating environments where people feel comfortable and valued.
Recent research from Emory University confirms that integrated care leads to better medication management and overall outcomes when all health conditions are considered "through the lens of their dementia diagnosis".
Current Research and Future Directions
The 2024 Lancet Commission identified that around 45% of cases of dementia might be preventable by addressing factors like education, hearing loss, hypertension, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, social isolation, and newly identified factors of untreated vision problems and high cholesterol.
This research confirms that effective care requires both medical intervention and lifestyle and environmental approaches working together.
Finding the right support
Understanding these different approaches can help you make decisions that feel right for your family. Whether someone needs companionship, help with daily tasks, respite care or more comprehensive support, the key is finding care that incorporates medical needs and personal preferences.
Guardian Carers specialises in this balanced approach. Our carers receive training in both medical awareness and person-centred care, enabling them to provide support that maintains independence whilst ensuring safety and wellbeing in familiar surroundings.
For guidance about care options that might suit your situation, speak with one of our care advisers. We're here to provide clear information without pressure, helping you find the right support when you need it most.
