EMI stands for Elderly Mentally Infirm and was commonly used to refer to care home residents who have Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

EMI individuals may have had dementia for a significant period of time and experience more severe symptoms, including mental confusion, behavioural problems and hallucinations.EMI nursing homes take care of these people and offer specialist support to ensure that they can live as comfortably as possible.The term EMI is actually a bit dated. These days, you’re probably more likely to hear ‘dementia unit’ or ‘registered for dementia’ used instead.

What is an EMI Unit in a Care Home? (+ EMI Definition)

On your care home journey, you’re likely to come across many different terms and phrases that you may not be familiar with. One of these terms is EMI (Elderly Mentally Infirm). This refers to people living with advanced dementia.

This article explains what EMI care involves, what care and support is given in an EMI unit, how EMI care different from EMD care and nursing care, and how much EMI care costs.

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What Does EMI Mean?

EMI stands for Elderly Mentally Infirm and describes people living with advanced dementia. This dementia will have caused the person’s physical and mental wellbeing to decline over time.

EMI individuals require 24/7 care as a result of long-term dementia-related symptoms, including:

Wandering
Confusion
Mood swings
Difficulty with daily tasks and/ or personal care
Unpredictable behaviour

EMI individuals often need this support in a dementia home or unit, where they’re supported by specialist carers.

The term ‘EMI’ is a little outdated. Nowadays, the more commonly used phrases are ‘dementia unit’, ‘registered for dementia’, or describing someone as ‘living with an advanced stage of dementia’.

What is EMI care?

EMI care takes place within a dementia care home or nursing home. EMI nursing homes look after people who are living in a late stage of dementia. EMI care offers specialist dementia support, to ensure anyone living with dementia is as comfortable as possible.

An EMI patient in a chair

What is an EMI unit?

An EMI unit is a separate dementia unit attached to a nursing home (or a residential care home in some cases). Which one your loved one enters will depend on their care needs. EMI units are specifically for those living with an advanced form of dementia. Specialist and highly-trained care staff provide round-the-clock supervision to residents.

Staff are specially trained to cope with the behavioural difficulties that someone with advanced dementia may exhibit, and can help to calm them if they become distressed or upset.

EMI units are especially secure, to keep residents safe and prevent them from wandering off if they become disoriented.

Residents in EMI units may have additional health conditions that require treatment, alongside dementia or a different cognitive disorder.

If you’re visiting a care home with an EMI unit, you should be able to take a look around it during your visit. Some residential and nursing homes have EMI beds available, too.

According to the NHS, over 944,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, and this number is expected to continue rising as people live longer, with 1.6 million projected by 2040. Their findings also show that 1 in 11 people in the UK aged 65+ have dementia. EMI units in care homes are here to support anyone living with dementia.

What do EMI units offer?

Many EMI units provide activities that stimulate the senses, along with dedicated areas to promote a more harmonious setting for those living with late-stage memory conditions such as dementia.

Residents are encouraged to take part in activities like music therapy, arts and crafts, reminiscence, or visits by animal companies to further enhance feelings of wellbeing.

Care homes with EMI units create bespoke care plans that address your loved one’s individual needs. These plans give families the peace of mind that their loved one is receiving the appropriate care and plenty of compassion. Carers who tap into what every resident likes or dislikes, and know how to tailor support, are crucial in maintaining emotional wellbeing over the long term.

These carers are experienced in looking after people living with dementia, including being trained in calming methods and reminiscence.

We’re here to help you find the right dementia care home for you or your loved one. You can request a free list of dementia care homes from our care experts, who will then share homes matching your budget and location. You can also search for a dementia care home through our easy-to-use directory.

What Do Specialist Dementia Care Homes Offer?

Care homes that have facilities or units specifically for those living with dementia may offer different dementia-friendly facilities and services, including:

Facility or Service	What This Is and How It Helps
Reminiscence rooms	Rooms containing familiar objects to help engage residents’ senses and memories.
Specialist equipment (such as dementia tables or magic tables)	Residents can use this equipment to play games that stimulate their brains. They also allow for enjoyable social interactions with fellow residents.
Sensory gardens	Sensory gardens stimulate the senses through things like fragrant plants and herbs, brightly coloured flowers, and activities such as digging or cutting grass.
Memory-focused activities	Ideas include reminiscing by looking through old photos, dressing up in old clothes, or creating special memory boxes for residents’ rooms.
Structured daily routines	A daily routine will help residents feel safe and comfortable in a homely setting.
Smaller communal areas	These allow residents living with dementia to enjoy a quieter, calming atmosphere.

These parts of care homes bring peace and calm to residents living with dementia, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.

The Difference Between EMI Care and EMD Care

You may also have heard the term EMD used in reference to dementia care homes. EMD stands for Elderly Mental Dementia.

EMD refers to people who have been diagnosed with dementia, or are displaying symptoms of dementia. While EMI usually refers to people who have significant needs that require experienced dementia carers to provide bespoke support, EMD more generally refers to people living with dementia, whether that’s in a care home, at home, or somewhere else.

EMI and EMD have some key similarities and differences, so let's compare:

	EMI	EMD
Definition	Elderly Mentally Infirm	Elderly Mental Dementia
Level of Care	A higher level of care required (this is usually nursing care)	Often lower-level residential care (such as support with tasks like washing and getting dressed)
Care Focus	Addresses extensive physical and mental challenges	Focuses on cognitive and emotional support
Where To Find It	Specialised care units within dementia care homes	Catered for in dementia-friendly residential homes, assisted living or home care

Remember that if you need dementia care, you don’t necessarily require a home with an EMI care unit. Everyone is different, and care needs must be assessed accordingly, so you’ll need to check that the home can provide the type of care specific to your or your loved one’s individual needs.

The Difference Between EMI Care and Nursing Care

EMI care refers to dementia-specific needs, whereas nursing care is a more general term used for those who need day-to-day medical support from a nurse. People who need nursing care are often living with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis, or they need intensive rehabilitation following a stroke. Whether someone who needs EMI care requires a nurse or not depends on the individual.

For example, your loved one may be able to receive EMI care in a nursing home or a residential care home. EMI nursing homes employ qualified medical professionals such as registered nurses who can support residents by administering medication and looking after advanced healthcare needs. People living with dementia who don’t require special medical care may instead live in an EMI residential home.

EMI Care Costs

The cost of EMI care

Our internal data shows that the average cost of self-funded residential dementia care in a care home is £1,430 per week, £61,97 per month, and £74,360 per year. Meanwhile, self-funded nursing dementia care is £1,585 per week, £6,868 per month, and £82,420 per year.

Who pays for EMI care?

EMI care is a form of dementia care. In the majority of cases, the person living with dementia will need to pay for their own care and support.

Whether you pay for EMI care depends on the value of your savings and assets. In England, if your loved one’s savings and assets are worth £23,250 or more, they’ll likely pay the full cost of care themselves. If they’re worth between £14,250 and £23,250, they’ll be eligible for partial support from their local authority. If they’re worth less than £14,250, they’ll be eligible for full support.

Dementia residents are often classed as having complex care needs. If this is the case, your loved one could be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare which covers the full cost of care. If they don’t qualify for this but they have been assessed as needing care in a nursing home (such as through a care needs assessment), they could instead be eligible for NHS-funded nursing care (this entitles you or your loved one to a set amount of financial assistance per week).

Search Our EMI Care Homes

Some of our dementia care homes offer Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) and are committed to providing expert, 24-hour supervision and care in a safe setting. You can also use Lottie to search for dementia care homes today. We’ve curated the best care homes throughout the UK, and each of our listings explains the types of care available, facilities, activities, and more.

Here are some of our dementia care homes with EMI Units: