Supporting Someone Living With Dementia

There are lots of ways that you can support someone living with dementia.

Supporting someone living with dementia can feel like an overwhelming and confusing task, especially when dementia is new to you. The good news is that while a dementia diagnosis can be devastating and difficult to adjust to, there are lots of ways that you can support and champion someone living with dementia. 

For instance, for a lot of people living with dementia, they prefer that their diagnosis is referred to as ‘they are living with dementia’ rather than, ‘they have dementia’. Because, when you say someone ‘has dementia’ it can make them feel like their diagnosis has overtaken their life, whereas saying someone is ‘living with dementia’ allows them to take back control of their diagnosis. This is something that many dementia charities support and encourage. 

Living with dementia can be difficult, but there are lots of ways that you can help and support someone living with this condition. 

Treat them with love, kindness and care 

One of the most important things that you can do for someone living with dementia is to be there for them, supporting them and treating them with love, kindness and care. A dementia diagnosis can be devastating for the person, as well as for their family, and it’s important to make sure that you are there for them, offering them all of the help and support that they might need while they adjust to their new reality. 

Support them but don’t take over 

It’s important to be on hand to help and support a loved one living with dementia, but it’s also vital to ensure that you don’t overstep. The last thing that you should do is try and take over the person’s life. Yes, their diagnosis does change things for them - and you - but taking over their life and taking control of them is not a healthy step to take. Instead, be on hand to help and offer support, but always take their feelings into account. 

Keep questions short and simple 

A common symptom of dementia is confusion. A lot of things can cause confusion; one of which is long and complex questions. To avoid causing confusion, make sure to try and keep questions short and simple. 

Write important things down

Confusion related to dementia can also make remembering things a little difficult, so it’s important that you take the time to write things down. If there’s an important date coming up or something that the person needs to remember, then write it down for them and leave the note in a visible place. 

It’s not always easy knowing how to support someone living with dementia, but there are plenty of things that you can do to make their life easier.