13th September 2022

World Alzheimer’s month: supporting a loved one after a dementia diagnosis

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases. World Alzheimer’s month is a global event aimed at raising awareness of the condition, which will this year focus on post-diagnosis support. Here we expand briefly on the campaign and provide our tips for supporting a family member who has recently been diagnosed with dementia.

Unfortunately, there is still a stigma that comes with dementia diagnosis, and that’s what World Alzheimer’s month aims to change, using education and conversations to help demystify dementia. The theme for 2022 is ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s’, which follows the previous year’s focus on diagnosis, the early symptoms and the problems still caused by COVID-19 on dementia patients.

Supporting a loved one after a dementia diagnosis

As well as building on the themes from last year, September 2022 will focus heavily on the friends and family support network for people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, providing valuable information for family and friends of a person who’s recently been diagnosed.

Providing support to a loved one with a complex condition can be tough and can vary from person to person. Below are a few strategies that can help you support a friend or family member following a diagnosis:

• Set reminders for important tasks and events – Simple prompts can help them maintain a routine and stay organised. Set reminders for all doctors, consultants,’ dentist, opticians and hairdressers’ appointments. Depending on how your family member is coping with their diagnosis, it might be worthwhile offering to go along with them, as they may appreciate the extra support.
• Help them with booking events – Helping book routine events, such as car MOT and servicing, insurance policy renewals, banking household maintenance tasks can really help ease their load.
• Find local support groups – These groups act as a source of more specialised help and as a form of social interaction. They can meet other people with a similar diagnosis which helps them feel less isolated. It also can help introduce them to new hobbies and interests.
• Plan day trips and memorable events – Enjoyable, fun experiences will keep your loved one in good spirits. Trips to the coast, a local pub or a friend’s house are some nice ideas.
• Prioritising mental and physical health – Staying active and increasing mental activity has been shown to slow the effects of dementia. Why not try to introduce gardening or craft activities, or watercolour painting.

With around half of our clients diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, our knowledgeable staff have extensive experience working with these complex conditions. In partnership with the Canterbury Dementia Centre, we work to the latest dementia research.

In line with this year’s World Alzheimer’s Month theme, we also work closely with families providing support and the knowledge to perform their vital role in supporting a loved one with the condition.

If you would like to contact TerraBlu to discuss ways in which our care team could help a loved one with an Alzheimers’ diagnosis, please call 01892 529429 to have an informal chat.