Understanding dementia
What is dementia and how can we best help people living with it?

Can we help those with dementia to sleep through the night?
Many carers report that their relatives living with dementia struggle to sleep through the night. Sleeplessness is a problem many of us face, whether we’re carers, cared-for, or just living our normal lives. It’s a particular problem for those with dementia because of worries over their safety, especially if they live alone. If they get […]
Read moreWhat are the best options for individuals with dementia?
Collaborative Post If you have an elderly relative who is suffering from dementia, you will know that trying to figure out what is best for them can be very hard. Dementia affects around 850,000 people in the UK alone, and can put pressure not just on the individual but on their surrounding family and community. […]
Read moreCan we avoid Alzheimer’s?
Not so many years ago Alzheimer’s disease was a mystery to many. It wasn’t easily identified, and for many of us, its implications weren’t widely understood. When it struck members of our family, we didn’t know how to cope. And we certainly didn’t know how it had happened. Much has changed in recent years. There […]
Read more5 tips for creating a dementia-friendly garden
Nicky Roeber is the Online Horticultural Expert at Wyevale Garden Centres. Here, he shares his top tips for creating a garden in which someone living with dementia can feel safe and happy. There are currently more than 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, and that number is expected to rise above one million by […]
Read moreOfficial advice on reducing the risk of dementia
There isn’t a cure for dementia, yet. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) has drawn up guidelines to help us reduce our risk of dementia. Focusing on those who are not showing any or little sign of congnitive decline, the organisation has taken a look at the evidence of what may or may not help. […]
Read moreCan we delay the symptoms of dementia?
When They Get Older reader Roger Burgess has been looking at some suggestions around the causes of, and possible ways of delaying, the symptoms of dementia. Here are some of the ideas he has discovered. Roger is at pains to emphasise that he is not a physician or academic – but he has been affected […]
Read moreChristmas celebrations and dementia
Christmas and other family celebrations can be an overwhelming time for someone living with dementia. A sudden influx of friends and family can cause individuals to feel stressed, agitated and confused. Active Minds outline their top tips for supporting your loved one through the Christmas period, ensuring you enjoy a magical festive time together. Planning […]
Read moreExperiences in caring for a mum with dementia
Adam Sibley has written an acclaimed book about his experiences of caring for a mother with early onset dementia. In this article he offers advice from someone who has been there to help those who are there now. I cared for my mum for nearly four years after she was diagnosed with early onset dementia […]
Read moreTreatment and care to slow the progress of dementia
With escalating demands on the care industry fuelled by the growth of dementia, Nicola Mewse, Managing Director at Hales Care, summarises current and potential future treatments for this life-limiting disease. It’s currently predicted that one in three of those born in 2015 will be affected by dementia and 2 million will be diagnosed with dementia […]
Read moreDesigning activities for people with dementia and their families
It’s hard to watch family members lose the ability to create and play as dementia takes hold. And it makes finding enjoyable activities to share harder too. One young designer, Ben Atkinson-Willes, has worked with experts to develop activities that are satisfying, doable and promote conversation. Dementia affects not only the patient but those responsible […]
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