Alzheimer’s and dementia care home Maison de Quetteville, which is due to open towards the end of the year.

The national Alzheimer’s Society claimed yesterday that half of all dementia patients who were admitted to hospital left in a worse state than when they arrived.

It said those with the condition stayed far longer than patients being treated for the same illness or injury who did not have Alzheimer’s.

The society blamed that on a lack of communication, which could exacerbate problems associated with dementia, such as incontinence.

An HSSD spokesman said the preferred option once the illness or injury had been addressed was to return the patient home and provide support.

That could be provided at the dementia day centre and/or at home.

But in some instances that was not possible.

‘There are sometimes circumstances where a prolonged stay in hospital is unavoidable – such as a lack of adequate support at home, secondary medical condition, and so on.’

He said it might be that the best ongoing care for a person experiencing dementia would involve further hospitalisation.