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Caring for an elder with dementia can be an emotional journey. It may involve feelings of grief and sadness, as well as being a stressful time, as loved ones try to understand the wishes of a parent or spouse while planning for their care.

An extension of Kumeu Village Family, which specialises in dementia care, Kingfisher House is due to open on June 7 in Devonport, Auckland.

Owner Belinda Brice says the best time to start looking into care facilities is earlier than one might think.

"With the rate at which dementia accelerates, it's advisable to start looking and making a decision about the long term care facility early on.

"Even if you're not ready to move your family member in, starting to bring them in for a visit for morning tea or spending a couple of hours a day getting to know the staff and the people who live there, will set you up for when you do have to make that move."

Brice says it's important to appreciate the differences in each person and to understand their individual needs. She advises researching a range of different types of facilities to see which will suit the lifestyle their loved one has been accustomed to.

"As a first step, my advice is to start looking and visiting various facilities, then choose the one you think most suits your family," says Brice.

"If someone has come from a farming background or a lifestyle block, moving into a facility where they can spend plenty of time outside is going to be ideal.

"There are many different types of facilities available so it's about finding the right one that you think is going to support the wellbeing of your family member."

Brice understands that sometimes families can find the options overwhelming and has simplified this task by designing the Kumeu Village Family with four different options under one umbrella, each one catering to different lifestyle options.

The Ladybug is a ladies' only facility on a lifestyle block with cats, dogs, farm animals, a tennis court and gardens, for ladies who enjoy an upmarket country lifestyle.

Memory Assist House is part of Kumeu Village, which is a close knit environment with a small outdoor area and internal garden, catering to people who may be overwhelmed by large spaces or enjoy more indoor activities.

The Villa is open plan living, sitting on three acres next to the vineyard, which creates an environment of freedom.

The newest facility, Kingfisher House in Devonport, will appeal to people who have lived in a beach town, perhaps in a villa or townhouse. They may enjoy spending their days going down to the beach, walking around the village or going to cafes.

"This could also help local families to make a decision, as many don't want their loved ones to move too far away," says Brice.

The small household approach focuses on getting residents involved with day-to-day life activities, such as cooking and baking, exercise and yoga, gardening, group walks, and public outings to cafes, art galleries, or visit other houses.

Kumeu Village opened in 2015, and is privately owned and operated, overseen by an on-site specialist team of dementia care experts. Community residents who choose to live in one of the homes will receive 24/7 care with tailored routines, high care ratios, and superior health care from the inhouse GP.

All facilities in the Kumeu Village Family follow the Eden Alternative Philosophy, which promotes health, wellbeing and growth and combats the three 'plagues' of helplessness loneliness and boredom, which are suffered by millions of elderly around the world.

"We do that by bringing in animals, pets, plants and community into our home, and treating our residents as they would like to be treated in their own home," says Brice.

"We also have high staff ratios, enabling staff to spend one on one time with residents."

Kingfisher House invites families with loved ones living with dementia, as well as the elderly community, to call in for a cup of tea, lunch or join in some activities to get a feel for the environment.