Dementia-friendly support in Mid & West Cornwall

Dementia-friendly support in Mid & West Cornwall

Understanding dementia-friendly support

Dementia-friendly support is about recognising how dementia affects everyday life & responding with patience, consistency and understanding.

Memory loss, changes in communication, and difficulties with routine can all be unsettling, both for the person living with dementia and for those close to them. A dementia-friendly approach focuses on reducing anxiety, maintaining dignity and helping people feel safe and understood in familiar surroundings.

For many people, staying at home where routines, belongings and memories are familiar, can provide reassurance as needs change.

The importance of familiarity and routine

As dementia progresses, familiarity often becomes increasingly important.

Small things can make a big difference, such as:

• Following a predictable daily routine

• Being supported by familiar faces

• Keeping to known habits and preferences

• Remaining in a place that feels safe and recognisable

Dementia-friendly support takes time to understand the individual, who they are, what matters to them, and how they experience the world — rather than focusing only on tasks or timetables.

Dementia-friendly awareness and local support

Across Mid & West Cornwall, there is growing awareness of the importance of dementia-friendly environments and understanding.

This includes initiatives such as Memory Cafés, which provide relaxed, informal spaces for people living with memory loss and those who care for them, as well as organisations like Age UK Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, who offer guidance, information and support for people affected by dementia.

These forms of support are often valued for the understanding, reassurance and shared experience they offer, particularly for families who may be navigating dementia for the first time.

How care at home can support people living with dementia

As everyday tasks become more challenging, care at home can offer calm, consistent support in a familiar environment.

Dementia care at home may include:

• Support with daily routines and personal care

• Gentle reminders and reassurance

• Help maintaining familiar activities and habits

• Emotional support and companionship

Seeing familiar Care Experts and maintaining familiar routines can help reduce confusion and anxiety, supporting wellbeing and confidence over time.

Supporting families and loved ones

Dementia affects the whole family, not just the person diagnosed.

Many families tell us they feel unsure, worried about doing the right thing, or unsure when it’s time to ask for help. Dementia-friendly care at home can offer reassurance, shared responsibility and continuity, helping families feel supported rather than alone.

We believe families should feel listened to, involved and informed, with space to ask questions and talk things through as needs change.

If you’re unsure what support might help

Every experience of dementia is different, and there is no “right” way to navigate it.

If you’d like to talk through how dementia-friendly care at home could support you or a loved one in Mid & West Cornwall, our team is always happy to have a conversation. There’s no pressure and no obligation, just the chance to talk things through at your own pace.