This briefing summarises research commissioned by the Department of Health on models of generic and specialist domiciliary support for people with dementia. The research collected evidence through: a literature review of existing models (UK based); reanalysis of existing PSSRU studies; consultation with carers; a survey of local authority arrangements; and a national data set analysis of associations between patterns of commissioning/providing and rates of admission to care homes. The key findings are discussed separately for each method used. Lessons from the study are then summarised under five headings which reflect the decision to commission different types of domiciliary care. These are: quality, intensity, service mix, service linkages, and costs and effectiveness. In terms of cost effectiveness it is suggested that there was little difference between generic and specialist services. Whether a service conformed to good practice or quality standards was more important.