What is an EMI Unit in a Care Home?
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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.
So, what does EMI care mean, and what is an EMI unit? Read on to find out all you need to know.
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In this article:
- What does EMI mean?
- What is EMI care?
- What is an EMI unit?
- Specialist dementia care
- The difference between EMD and EMI care
- The difference between EMI care and nursing care
- EMI care costs
- Search our EMI care homes
What Does EMI Mean?
EMI stands for Elderly Mentally Infirm and describes people living with advanced dementia. 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The term ‘EMI’ is a little outdated.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” or “registered for 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.
What is an EMI unit?
An EMI unit is a separate dementia unit attached to a nursing care home. EMI units are specifically for those with more advanced 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 struggle with 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, as well as dementia and other cognitive disorders.
If you are 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 care homes have EMI beds available, too.
There are currently around 900,000 in the UK with dementia and this number is expected to rapidly rise over the coming years. There are projected to be over 1 million people with dementia in the UK by 2025, and nearly 1.6 million by 2040. EMI units in care homes are here to support anyone living with dementia.
What do EMI units offer?
Many EMI units aim to provide activities that stimulate the senses, along with dedicated areas to promote a more harmonious environment for those living with memory conditions.
Residents are encouraged to take part in activities like music therapy, arts and crafts or visits by animal companies to further enhance feelings of wellbeing.
Care homes with EMI units often 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 knows how to tailor support are crucial in maintaining emotional wellbeing over the long term.
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.
Specialist Dementia Care
Care homes that have facilities or units specifically for those 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) | Residents can use this equipment to play games that stimulate their brains. They’ll 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. |
| Activities Focused Around Memory | Ideas include 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 environment. |
| Smaller Communal Areas | These allow residents with dementia to enjoy a quieter atmosphere. |
Units like this bring peace and calm to residents with dementia, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
The Difference Between EMD and EMI Care
You may also have heard the term EMD used in reference to care homes. EMD stands for Elderly Mental Dementia. They are both very similar, so let's compare:
| EMI | EMD | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Elderly Mentally Infirm | Elderly Mental Dementia |
| Level of Care | Higher level of care required, usually nursing care | Often lower-level residential care |
| 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 as such, so you will need to check that the home can provide the type of care specific to you or your relative’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. Whether someone who needs EMI care requires a nurse or not depends on the individual.
For example, your loved one can receive EMI care in a nursing home or a residential care home. EMI nursing homes employ qualified medical professionals such as nurses who can support residents by administering medication and looking after advanced healthcare needs. People who don’t require special medical care may instead live in an EMI residential home.
Top tip! Different terms are used around the country and it can depend on the area you live in whether they say ‘EMI care home’ or ‘dementia nursing home’ for example. You’ll need to research exactly what each home offers in terms of support and medical care.
EMI Care Costs
The cost of EMI care
Our data shows that the average cost of self-funded residential dementia care in a care home is £1,430 per week. This works out at £6,197 a month and £74,360 a year. Meanwhile, self-funded nursing dementia care is £1,585 per week. This works out at £6,868 a month and £82,420 a year.
Who pays for EMI care?
EMI care is a form of dementia care. In the majority of cases, the person with dementia will need to pay for their own care and support.
In England, if your loved one has assets and savings above £23,250, they’ll like have to pay the full cost of care themselves. If their assets and savings are worth between £14,250 and £23,250, they’ll be eligible for partial support. If their assets and savings are worth less than £14,250, they’ll be eligible for full support.
If your loved one with dementia is classed as having complex care needs, they might also be eligible for NHS continuing healthcare (this covers the full cost of care). If they don’t qualify for this but 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).
The Essential Details about EMI Care
There’s lots of information to digest about EMI care, so here’s a quick summary of the most important information:
- Whether your loved one is better suited for EMI or EMD care comes down to their specific needs and challenges. This will become clearer post assessment done by a medical professional
- EMI care is more expensive than other types of care and is mostly funded by the family
- The term EMI is now a little bit outdated and some care homes don’t use it to refer to this type of care anymore. Instead they might say ‘dementia nursing’. Be aware of this if you’re looking for dementia-specific homes!
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 environment. You can use our care finder tool and directory to search for dementia care homes today.
Here are some of our dementia care homes with EMI Units:
- The Belmont Care Home
- Wellington Vale Care Home
- Upton Bay Care Home
- Harrier Lodge Care Home
- Haling Park Care Home
- Invicta Court Care Home
- Priors House Care Home
- Elsyng House Care Home
Lottie matches care seekers with the best dementia care homes for their needs. You can also request a free care home shortlist from our care experts, who will share homes matching your budget and location.
