Living With Dementia

Living With Dementia

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Don’t Write Us Off

Dementia doesn’t define you. Many people living with dementia continue to live full, active lives with the right support, understanding, and attitude.

Living Well With Dementia

Living with dementia brings change, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop doing the things you love. Many people find new ways to enjoy life, stay connected, and feel in control.

Stay Active - Body
  • Go for daily walks, even just around the block or garden

  • Try gentle exercises like tai chi, yoga, or chair-based routines

  • Join community walking groups or classes designed for older adults

  • Dance to your favourite music—at home or in a group!
Stay Active - Mind
  • Do crosswords, puzzles, or memory games

  • Try new hobbies: painting, knitting, model making

  • Listen to audiobooks or read a few pages of a familiar book each day

  • Join memory cafés or social groups to keep your mind engaged
Stay Social - Stay Connected
  • Spending time with people who care about you makes a real difference.

  • Make regular phone or video calls with family or friends

  • Join a local dementia-friendly group or club

  • Attend singing or art sessions for people with dementia

  • Volunteer, if you're able—even small roles can give purpose

  • Isolation can make dementia feel worse. Keep relationships alive, and don’t be afraid to tell people how to support you best.
Stay Calm - Manage Stress
  • Breathe deeply and slowly when feeling overwhelmed

  • Take breaks from stressful tasks

  • Play calming music or sounds (like ocean waves)

  • Try mindfulness apps or guided meditations

  • Speak to a professional if anxiety becomes too much
Use Tools To Stay In Control
  • Keep a large wall calendar and mark important dates

  • Use a daily whiteboard or noticeboard to list activities and reminders

  • Create a “memory book” or “this is me” folder with your life story, preferences, and photos

  • Ask your GP or memory clinic about assistive technology (apps, talking clocks, GPS devices)
Stay Positive - Be Kind to Yourself
  • Celebrate small wins every day

  • Focus on what you can do

  • Let others help when needed - it's a strength, not a weakness

  • Laugh when things go a bit wrong - it’s all part of life
Stay Active - Body
  • Go for daily walks, even just around the block or garden

  • Try gentle exercises like tai chi, yoga, or chair-based routines

  • Join community walking groups or classes designed for older adults

  • Dance to your favourite music—at home or in a group!
Stay Active - Mind
  • Do crosswords, puzzles, or memory games

  • Try new hobbies: painting, knitting, model making

  • Listen to audiobooks or read a few pages of a familiar book each day

  • Join memory cafés or social groups to keep your mind engaged
Stay Social - Stay Connected
  • Spending time with people who care about you makes a real difference.

  • Make regular phone or video calls with family or friends

  • Join a local dementia-friendly group or club

  • Attend singing or art sessions for people with dementia

  • Volunteer, if you're able—even small roles can give purpose

  • Isolation can make dementia feel worse. Keep relationships alive, and don’t be afraid to tell people how to support you best.
Stay Calm - Manage Stress
  • Breathe deeply and slowly when feeling overwhelmed

  • Take breaks from stressful tasks

  • Play calming music or sounds (like ocean waves)

  • Try mindfulness apps or guided meditations

  • Speak to a professional if anxiety becomes too much
Use Tools To Stay In Control
  • Keep a large wall calendar and mark important dates

  • Use a daily whiteboard or noticeboard to list activities and reminders

  • Create a “memory book” or “this is me” folder with your life story, preferences, and photos

  • Ask your GP or memory clinic about assistive technology (apps, talking clocks, GPS devices)
Stay Positive - Be Kind to Yourself
  • Celebrate small wins every day

  • Focus on what you can do

  • Let others help when needed - it's a strength, not a weakness

  • Laugh when things go a bit wrong - it’s all part of life

Looking After Your Emotional Wellbeing

Dementia changes how you think — but it also stirs deep emotions. Fear. Frustration. Sadness. Even guilt. These feelings are real, and they’re not weakness. They’re human.

What matters is how you care for yourself through them.

Talking helps. Whether it’s with a friend, a support worker, or someone else living with dementia, sharing what you’re feeling can lift the weight. Sometimes just being heard is healing in itself.

Other times, comfort is found in quiet moments. In music. In nature. In doing something familiar that still brings joy — a walk in the garden, a cup of tea in your favourite chair, or singing a song from your youth.

If dark days stretch too long, reach out. Depression and anxiety are common but treatable. Your GP or memory clinic can help. You don’t have to face this alone.

You are still you — still valuable, still capable, still deserving of joy. There is purpose in every day. And even on the hardest ones, you matter.

Take each day as it comes. Be gentle with yourself. And remember: this journey is not just about surviving — it’s about living, fully and honestly, with the support you need.

Make Navigation Easy
  • Use clear signs on doors (e.g., "Toilet", "Kitchen") with both words and pictures

  • Label cupboard doors so you can see where things are

  • Use different coloured tape or stickers to mark important items (like light switches)

  • Leave some cupboard doors open if it helps you see what’s inside!
Keep a Routine
Routines help reduce confusion and anxiety. Try to:
  • Wake up, eat, and go to bed at similar times each day

  • Keep daily tasks (like bathing or taking medication) at regular times

  • Use reminders (phone alarms, sticky notes, or a daily planner) to stay on track
Organise Everyday Items
  • Keep essentials in the same place—for example, keys, phone, wallet

  • Use trays or baskets to group similar items (like TV remotes or toiletries)

  • Lay out clothes the night before to make dressing easier
Use Visual Aids & Tech
  • Large-print clocks with day and date help keep track of time

  • Talking reminders or smart speakers (like Alexa or Google Nest) can help with daily prompts

  • Use pill organisers or automated dispensers for medication
  • Night lights or motion-sensor lights reduce falls and confusion at night
  • Some people find colour-contrasting items (like a red plate on a white table) helpful when eating
Create a Calming Environment
  • Avoid clutter—it can cause distraction or frustration

  • Play familiar music or nature sounds to soothe

  • Have a cosy space with personal items, books, or a favourite chair
  • Use scents you enjoy—lavender, citrus, or your favourite candle
Safety First
  • Use a kettle with an automatic shut-off feature

  • Fit smoke alarms in key areas and check them regularly

  • Consider locks or alarms on external doors for added reassurance

  • Remove trip hazards—like loose rugs or exposed cables
Communication Tips (for You and Loved Ones)
  • Speak clearly and calmly—take your time

  • Use short sentences and allow time to respond

  • Keep eye contact and smile—it helps people feel safe and understood

  • If words are hard, try gestures or pointing
Make Navigation Easy
  • Use clear signs on doors (e.g., "Toilet", "Kitchen") with both words and pictures

  • Label cupboard doors so you can see where things are

  • Use different coloured tape or stickers to mark important items (like light switches)

  • Leave some cupboard doors open if it helps you see what’s inside!
Keep a Routine
Routines help reduce confusion and anxiety. Try to:
  • Wake up, eat, and go to bed at similar times each day

  • Keep daily tasks (like bathing or taking medication) at regular times

  • Use reminders (phone alarms, sticky notes, or a daily planner) to stay on track
Organise Everyday Items
  • Keep essentials in the same place—for example, keys, phone, wallet

  • Use trays or baskets to group similar items (like TV remotes or toiletries)

  • Lay out clothes the night before to make dressing easier
Use Visual Aids & Tech
  • Large-print clocks with day and date help keep track of time

  • Talking reminders or smart speakers (like Alexa or Google Nest) can help with daily prompts

  • Use pill organisers or automated dispensers for medication
  • Night lights or motion-sensor lights reduce falls and confusion at night
  • Some people find colour-contrasting items (like a red plate on a white table) helpful when eating
Create a Calming Environment
  • Avoid clutter—it can cause distraction or frustration

  • Play familiar music or nature sounds to soothe

  • Have a cosy space with personal items, books, or a favourite chair
  • Use scents you enjoy—lavender, citrus, or your favourite candle
Safety First
  • Use a kettle with an automatic shut-off feature

  • Fit smoke alarms in key areas and check them regularly

  • Consider locks or alarms on external doors for added reassurance

  • Remove trip hazards—like loose rugs or exposed cables
Communication Tips (for You and Loved Ones)
  • Speak clearly and calmly—take your time

  • Use short sentences and allow time to respond

  • Keep eye contact and smile—it helps people feel safe and understood

  • If words are hard, try gestures or pointing

Dementia At Home: Practical Tips

Your home can be your safe haven. A few small adjustments can make a big difference in supporting daily independence and peace of mind.

Planning Ahead

Facing a dementia diagnosis doesn’t mean losing control — in fact, planning ahead can be one of the most empowering things you do. It allows you to protect your choices, reduce uncertainty for your loved ones, and live with greater peace of mind.

Start by making a Lasting Power of Attorney. This lets someone you trust make decisions on your behalf if needed — for both your health and your finances. Without this in place, families often face difficult legal barriers when trying to help.

Next, consider writing an advance statement, a simple document that outlines what matters most to you — how you like to be cared for, your routines, your preferences. This helps ensure care stays personal, even if memory fades.

Some people also choose an advance decision, which sets out any treatments you would want to refuse later on. It’s not about giving up; it’s about staying in control.

Sort out your will and finances while things are still clear. Doing this now saves confusion and stress later. Many charities offer free advice clinics, and solicitors can guide you through the process with sensitivity.

Planning ahead doesn’t mean focusing on the end. It means making sure your voice is heard — every step of the way.