There are many things people in the community can do to ensure a person with dementia is supported, well and safe.
Tailoring communication:
A person with dementia may have difficulty understanding instructions or questions, but they do still have feelings and emotions. Dementia Australia provides the following communication tips:
- Remain calm and talk in a gentle, matter-of-fact way
- Keep sentences short and simple, focusing on one idea at a time
- Always allow plenty of time for what you have said to be understood
- It can be helpful to use orienting names whenever you can, such as “Your son Jack”
Maintaining independence:
In the early stages of dementia, people are often able to maintain independence with some support. Labelling doors and cupboards, printing a weekly timetable, placing important phone numbers near the phone and encouraging the use of a diary for appointments and to-do lists will assist someone in the early stages of dementia.
Connect with services:
There are many services available to people with a dementia diagnosis and their carers. Services may include educational resources, respite options to give carers a break, or programs that allow people to remain connected to their community after their diagnosis.
Uniting AgeWell offers a variety of services for people living with dementia and their carers. They include centre-based respite, which comprises social support groups and outings, individual support in the home and in the community, cottage respite to provide carers short breaks, and carer support groups.
For information about services near you, contact Uniting AgeWell on 1300 783 435.