A person with dementia who is in supported living can still be deprived of their liberty. A deprivation of liberty will still need to be authorised but the process is slightly different to the one for care homes and hospitals.

After a deprivation of liberty has been authorised there are still important safeguards to make sure they are protected, including appointing a representative. The authorisation should have an end date and it can be reviewed at any time.

The DoLS assessment makes sure that the care being given to the person with dementia is in the person’s best interests. There are six parts to the assessment: age, mental health, mental capacity, best interests, eligibility and no refusals.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) are a set of checks that are part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Read about the DoLS procedure, which protects a person receiving care whose liberty has been limited, and tips to help you identify a deprivation of liberty.

Find out more about the challenges you might face as the person's dementia progresses, and read advice on how to cope.

From the December 2015/January 2016 issue of our magazine, Alzheimer's Society provides training to help improve care for people with dementia. Danny Ratnaike finds out how real-life stories are making courses more engaging and memorable.

From the February 2015 issue of our magazine, Martina Kane, Senior Policy Officer, reports on how the Society has been working to influence England's new Care Act and how people can continue to affect how it is implemented.