Getting a dementia diagnosis

Apr 3, 2017 | About Dementia, Advice

If you suspect that a loved one has a form of dementia, it may take some time to persuade them to visit the GP. Getting a diagnosis can also prove challenging. The first stumbling block is that the person may not think anything is wrong, or they may blame their...

Managing early stages of dementia

Mar 28, 2017 | About Dementia, Advice

My mum was recently diagnosed with a form of dementia. She is in the early stages and I am pleased to say she is living successfully on her own. But initially I was worried about how she would cope. My home is over an hour away from hers and, though I visit weekly and...

Coping when needs change

Mar 20, 2017 | Advice, Planning

When you’ve been caring for a loved one for some time, you will hopefully reach a stage where you feel you’ve got the situation under control. You will have learned more about the disease and the impact it has on the person. You may have adjusted your behaviour to...

Moving into a care home

Mar 12, 2017 | Advice

If a loved one has just moved into a care home, you can help the person settle in as swiftly as possible. You may feel sad or guilty, but you definitely have a part to play in helping them.That said, it will take some time for them to adjust and settle in. The more...

Coping with a dementia diagnosis

Mar 2, 2017 | About Dementia, Advice

Keith Oliver was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2010. He talks about how he has coped and shares his advice for others who have just received a diagnosis… I was 54 years old in 2010 when I was told by a neurologist completely out of the blue that he thought I...

Moments to treasure

Mar 1, 2017 | Featured

My wonderful Dad, Richard Watson, passed away recently from complications related to vascular dementia, writes Fiona Flores Watson. He was diagnosed five years ago, and his journey was, like that of most suffering from the disease, at times very painful for those of...

Dementia affects personality

Feb 9, 2017 | Behaviour

Many of us tend to think that dementia mostly affects short-term memory. It can also affect a person’s mood, personality, behaviour, perception, balance and even spatial awareness. A person with dementia may have to work much harder to perform daily...

When is it time for a care home?

Feb 9, 2017 | Advice

There’s no easy answer to that question. All I can tell you is there will come a time when you will know you have to make a tough choice. Your head will know what’s right, even if your heart doesn’t want to accept it. By Christina Neal In the earlier...

‘How I learned about dementia’

Feb 3, 2017 | Featured

Christina Neal writes about the launch of Dementia Help and what inspired her to do it… Why did I set up Dementia Help? I’m a writer, editor and published author with 25 years of media experience. My second book, Dementia Care: A Guide, was published last August. I’m...

Getting the paperwork sorted

Feb 3, 2017 | Advice, Financial, Planning

If a loved one has just been diagnosed with dementia, they may still be fairly independent at this stage, but it’s important to get their paperwork organised swiftly. Here’s what I’d recommend organising…  Encourage the person to make a Lasting Power of Attorney –...