The Care CompassKey UK Care Resources, Explained: Who to Call and When
There's no shortage of organisations offering to help — the hard part is knowing which one actually does what you need, right now. This is a plain guide to the main ones UK families turn to, what each is genuinely for, and how to reach them. Nothing here needs sponsoring or paying for. These are the free, official and charitable services families already have access to.
NHS & Social Care
This is usually the right starting point, and it's the one route that can actually assess someone's needs and arrange funded support.
GP or Memory Clinic
What they're for: The first port of call for any concern about memory, confusion, or a possible dementia diagnosis. Your GP can refer to a memory clinic for assessment, and stays involved in ongoing physical health throughout.
When to contact them: As soon as you notice changes worth investigating, and any time physical health changes alongside the care itself.
Adult Social Care (via your local council)
What they're for: A Care Needs Assessment (for the person needing care) and a Carer's Assessment (for you) are both free and can be requested directly from your local council's adult social care team — no referral needed. This is the route to funded care support, equipment, and a personal budget if eligible.
When to contact them: Any time care needs increase, or if you simply want to know what support you might be entitled to. Search "[your council name] adult social care" on GOV.UK to find the right team.
NHS 111 / 999
What they're for: 111 for urgent but non-emergency medical concerns (including sudden confusion, which is often a UTI or infection rather than dementia progressing). 999 for genuine emergencies.
When to contact them: Trust your instinct here — if something feels seriously wrong, it's always right to call.
Dementia-Specific Support
These two charities are staffed by people with real dementia expertise, not general call-centre advisers.
Alzheimer's Society — Dementia Support Line
What they're for: Information, support and signposting on any type of dementia — diagnosis, care strategies, accessing social care, and Lasting Power of Attorney.
Call: 0333 150 3456. Lines open 9am–8pm Mon–Wed, 9am–5pm Thu–Fri, 10am–4pm Sat–Sun.
Dementia UK — Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline
What they're for: Free access to specialist dementia nurses (Admiral Nurses) for advice on genuinely complex situations — difficult behaviours, managing a crisis, or emotional support when you're struggling to cope.
Call: 0800 888 6678. Lines open Mon–Fri 9am–9pm, Sat–Sun 9am–5pm. Or email helpline@dementiauk.org.
Support for Carers
Built specifically for the person doing the caring, not the person being cared for.
Carers UK
What they're for: Practical guidance on Carer's Allowance and other benefits, your rights as a carer, and requesting a Carer's Assessment.
Call: 0808 808 7777. Lines open Mon–Fri 9am–6pm, including bank holidays.
General Later-Life Advice
Broader than dementia specifically — useful for money, housing, and everyday later-life questions.
Age UK — Advice Line
What they're for: Advice on benefits, money, housing and health for older people and the family around them.
Call: 0800 678 1602. Lines open 8am–7pm, every day of the year.
Citizens Advice
What they're for: Free, impartial guidance on benefits, care funding, and your legal rights — not dementia-specific, but genuinely thorough on the practical and financial side.
Find them: citizensadvice.org.uk, or search for your nearest local branch for a face-to-face appointment.
Official & Legal Sources
Not helplines in the traditional sense, but the actual official sources for anything legal or regulatory.
GOV.UK
What it's for: The single official source for Lasting Power of Attorney, Carer's Allowance, care funding rules, probate, and Attendance Allowance. Always the place to double-check a fee or a form, rather than a third-party summary.
CQC (Care Quality Commission)
What it's for: The independent regulator for care homes and care services in England. Every care home has a public CQC inspection report — genuinely worth reading before choosing one.
Find reports: cqc.org.uk
Companionship & a Listening Ear
Sometimes what's needed isn't advice, it's someone to talk to.
The Silver Line (run by Age UK)
What it's for: Free, friendly conversation for anyone aged 55 or over who's feeling lonely or isolated — not a crisis line, just company.
Call: 0800 4 70 80 90. Open 24 hours a day, every day.
Samaritans
What they're for: Someone to talk to, any time, about anything — caring can be genuinely isolating, and you don't need to be in crisis to call.
Call: 116 123. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, every day.
Helpful companion resource
Want somewhere to keep all of this together?
The Caregiver Journey Planner gives you one calm place to note down who you've spoken to, what was said, and what to follow up.
Browse the shop →None of these organisations can do everything, and that's exactly why there are several. The Care Compass exists to sit alongside all of them — not to replace any one, but to be the calm, plain-English starting point that helps you work out which door to knock on first.