Living with dementia

This is a guide for people who have been diagnosed with dementia. A diagnosis is of dementia is usually given by a memory service following a referral from your GP and after an assessment. Some people however, are diagnosed by a neurologist, physician or by a community mental health team.

Whilst you may have been diagnosed and given the name of a particular sub-type of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Vascular dementia, this guide is for any type of dementia.

The guide has been written to give you information about dementia, how it is likely to affect you, what you can do to help yourself and where you can get help from other people. Understanding more about dementia can reduce some of the anxieties you may have and help you to plan for the future.

This information is organised in to several sections which are available as a complete document or smaller, separate documents:

A diagnosis of dementia / Emotional support / More about dementia

How will dementia affect me?

What can I do to help myself?

Practical help

Planning for the future

Further information

Living with Dementia video