DementiaRoadmap

Helping primary care to support people with dementia

Living well

Many people are happier if they can remain independent and in their own homes as long as possible. It is important for clinicians to encourage the person with dementia to be as  independent as possible  and to continue to do the things that they enjoy.

There are some practical things that people can do to help them to live as well as possible; focusing on the things they can and want to do and trying not to become isolated, keeping busy with activities they enjoy may help them to feel more confident.

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  • Dementia wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemicThis resource is primarily for clinicians working with people with dementia, but can also be used by carers and people with dementia. This document takes the Dementia Well Pathway and sets out the adjustments and amendments needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights key priorities and actions for each step in the pathway.
  • Living with Dementia – 51 Tips to Help You With Daily LivingIn this in-depth infographic and article UK Care Guide offers a range of tips of advice to help people to live well with dementia.
  • Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementiaThe World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia provide evidence-based recommendations on lifestyle behaviours and interventions to delay or prevent cognitive decline and dementia.
  • Music for Dementia 2020Music for Dementia 2020 is campaigning to make music free for people living with dementia by 2020. Led by The Utley Foundation, the campaign is a direct and positive response to the Commission into Dementia and Music report 'What would life be – without a song and dance, what are we?'.
  • What would life be – without a song or dance, what are we?This report by the Commission on Dementia and Music outlines the value and benefits of music for people with dementia and looks at the important next steps which can be taken to ensure that everyone with dementia is able to access music.
  • Driving with dementia or mild cognitive impairment: Consensus guidelines for cliniciansThese Guidelines are the result of a collaboration between a diverse range of clinicians with involvement of carers. They set out the responsibilities of clinicians to their patients, and provide a framework for thinking about the management of their driving safety.
  • Turning up the volume: unheard voices of people with dementiaThis report published by the Alzheimer’s Society brings together views of more than 3,500 people with dementia, carers and the public on what it is like to live with dementia.
  • John’s CampaignJohn’s Campaign is about the right of people who care for someone living with dementia to be able to stay with them – and the right of people with dementia to be able to have a family carer stay with them. It applies to all ...
  • Enabling people with dementia to remain at home: a housing perspectiveThis report published by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network sets out the key role housing providers, and in particular social housing providers, can play in supporting people living with dementia to stay independent in the home of their choice for as long as possible.
  • Implementation guide and resource pack for dementia careThis guide aims to set out the policy drivers and strategic context for transforming dementia care, and why it is of importance to commissioners, providers and sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) in supporting delivery of a number of objectives in the Department of Health’s Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2020, published February 2015, which complements the aims of the Five Year Forward View, published in October 2014.
  • How living with dementia could beThis short animated video highlights how living with dementia could be through the 'well pathway for dementia'. It shows the importance of a holistic partnership approach to supporting the person with dementia, their families and carers within local community settings.
  • Dementia Atlas: Putting a focus on dementiaThe Dementia Atlas is an interactive map that plots data about dementia care and support, allowing people to compare the quality of dementia care across the country.
  • Helping your loved one with dementia eat wellThis infographic published by Bupa UK offers some pointers for carers and relatives on how to help people with dementia to eat well so that they remain healthy and can continue to remain independent in their own home.
  • Better planning for car ownership and well-being in old ageThis briefing paper published by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network seeks to connect the body of knowledge around the significance of car ownership in achieving well-being for older people to those making decisions that may impact on car ownership among older people.
  • Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 Implementation PlanThis implementation plan outlines how the 50 commitments set out in the Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2020 will be met, ensuring that England becomes the world-leader in dementia care, research and awareness by 2020.
  • The dementia profileThe dementia profile developed by the Dementia Intelligence Network collects new and existing data on dementia at both Clinical Commissioning Group and local authority level. This will assist the local planning of services and support areas to make sustainable improvements from an easily accessible online platform.
  • Active Minds – dementia activity resourcesActive Minds produce a suite of activity products to assist people with dementia in leading active, engaging and fulfilling lives - enjoying activities that are meaningful to them.
  • The Daily SparkleThe Daily Sparkle is a professionally written daily and weekly reminiscence and activity tool supported by the UK's leading care organisations such as the NHS, AgeUK and DementiaUK.
  • Support for Living Well with Dementia in EastleighThe Eastleigh Borough Council Website collects together a range of local resources and groups to support individuals living with Dementia. Please follow the link below: Eastleigh Borough Council Resources  
  • Dementia Connect – Information about local servicesAcross Andover, Andover Mind have been doing a huge amount of work to increase awareness and to make Andover a Dementia Friendly Community and offering a Dementia Adviser services. Alzheimer’s Society works across North Hampshire to support people living with dementia and their carers. Alzheimer’s ...
  • What can I expect from good quality services if I have dementia?A guide for providers of services and people who use services about what support to expect with dementia. This guide was put together by the “Improving Quality of Care Working Group, London Dementia Strategic Clinical Leadership Group”  dem-carers-leaflet
  • New Forest Dementia Advisers Contacts List & Drop In LocationsThe New Forest Dementia Advice Service can help by providing support and information to people who are concerned about their memory and their carers You can contact the Dementia Advice service yourself, a relative or carer may contact us or you can ask any professional ...
  • Dementia core skills education and training frameworkThis framework published by Skills for Health, Health Education England and Skills for Care sets out the essential skills and knowledge necessary for all staff involved in dementia care.
  • A practical guide to healthy ageingThis guide published by NHS England and Age UK contains advice to help improve the health and general fitness of people of any age, but it is particularly relevant for people who are about 70 years or older.
  • Evaluation of the Bradford Dementia Friendly Communities ProgrammeThis report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation identifies the distinctive features of the Bradford Dementia Friendly Communities programme, and examines how people with dementia can influence what a Dementia Friendly Bradford should be like.
  • Peer Support for People with Dementia: A social return on investment studyThis report published by the Health Innovation Network South London, the Academic Health Science Network for South London, outlines the findings of a study which demonstrated that the positive social value of peer support groups for people with dementia, their carers and volunteers can be far greater than the investment.
  • On the journey to becoming a dementia friendly organisationThis paper shares the lessons that have been learned through the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Dementia without Walls programme which started in June 2012 with a vision of making the UK a better place for people with dementia.
  • How can we make our cities dementia friendly?This briefing paper published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation contributes to the emerging evidence base for Dementia friendly communities by drawing out the key messages from independent evaluations of their work programmes in Bradford and York.
  • Developing a national user movement of people with dementiaThis report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation explores the learning from the Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP), a national network that engages and empowers people with dementia to influence the services and policies that affect them.
  • Evaluation of the York Dementia Friendly Communities ProgrammeThis report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation identifies the distinctive features of the York Dementia Friendly Communities programme, which promotes a range of innovative projects. It looks at how people with dementia have been involved in shaping the programme.
  • World Alzheimer Report 2015: The Global Impact of DementiaThe World Alzheimer Report 2015, 'The Global Impact of Dementia: An analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends' makes key recommendations to provide a global framework for action on dementia.
  • Women and Dementia: A global research overviewThis report published by Alzheimer’s Disease International explores the main issues affecting women in relation to dementia from an international perspective.
  • Dementia DiariesDementia Diaries is a national project that brings together people’s diverse experiences of living with dementia as a series of audio diaries.
  • Women’s experiences of dementiaThe 'Women's experiences of dementia' website contains a wealth of stories which highlight the experiences of women affected by dementia.
  • Dementia Advice Service – Andover MindDementia Advice Service for: Andover, Basingstoke, Deane and Alton, Eastleigh, Hart and Rushmoor, Romsey and Winchester www.andovermind.org.uk/dementia-advice/ 01264 353363  Dementia Contact list 2015 (and see below) How can we help? We are a consistent point of contact and support from first diagnosis throughout your journey We ...
  • Local contact cardDr Nicola Decker from Oakley and Overton Surgery  found it was useful to collate local resources onto a small card that can be given to patients, carers or staff with the dementia adviser contact number, local carer support and local council contacts.   To create ...
  • Dementia Friendly GP Surgeries iSPACEThe iSPACE project led by Dr Nicola Decker, a GP at Oakley and Overton Surgery and dementia lead for the North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group, has developed a suite of resources to help make a GP surgery dementia friendly.
  • Dementia Friendly GP PracticesA resource for GP surgeries who want to sign up to becoming more 'Dementia friendly'
  • Good to go: A guide to dementia-friendly days outThis handbook published by Care UK aims to support carers relatives and friends who want to enjoy a variety of outings and trips with someone living with dementia.
  • Dementia Peer Support Resource PackThis resource pack, published by the Health Innovation Network, the Academic Health Science Network for South London, aims to promote and encourage more peer support opportunities for people with dementia.
  • Creating a dementia friendly workplace: A practical guide for employersThis guide published by the Alzheimer's Society is designed to help employers provide support for staff members with dementia. It may also be a useful resource for people living with, or affested by, dementia in the workplace.
  • The Sound Doctor: Getting the best out of life with dementiaA series of films providing information to families living with dementia through the entertaining medium of TV/Film.
  • Dementia Friendly Communities: New domains and global examplesThis report, published by Alzheimer’s Disease International, highlights the emerging trend to create dementia-friendly communities as a global response against stigma in an effort to form more inclusive societies for people living with dementia.
  • Duty of Candour: Information for all providersThis document published by the Care Quality Commission sets out how meeting the Duty of Candour regulation will be central to both registration and inspection for NHS bodies and all other care providers regulated by the CQC.
  • Women and dementia: A marginalised majorityThis report published by Alzheimer's Research UK reveals that dementia has become the leading cause of death among British women and that women are far more likely to end up as carers of those with dementia than men, suffering physical and emotional stress and job losses in the process.
  • Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2020The Prime Minister recently launched the government’s five year vision for the future of dementia care, support and research, which follows on from the existing Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia, launched in March 2012.
  • Reading well books on prescription for dementiaThe Reading well books on prescription for dementia scheme is available in public libraries as part of a national library strategy to support the development of dementia-friendly communities and build understanding and awareness of the condition.
  • No Secrets: guidance on protecting vulnerable adults in careThis guidance document published by the Department of Health sets out a code of practice for the protection of vulnerable adults in care.
  • Collaborative Care and Support Planning: an introductionThis animation, commissioned by the Royal College of General Practitioners, sets out the collaborative care and support planning process in a short, easy to understand way.
  • Mental Health Act 1983: Code of PracticeThe revised code of practice shows professionals how to carry out their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Health Act 1983, to ensure that all patients receive high quality and safe care.
  • Wearing glasses with dementia factsheetThis factsheet is about the issues people with dementia who need to wear glasses may face. It will be useful for people with dementia, their families, carers and professionals.
  • Eye examinations for people with dementia factsheetThis factsheet provides information on eye examinations for people with dementia. It will be useful for people with dementia, their families, carers and professionals.
  • Dementia Revealed: What primary care needs to knowThis toolkit written by Dr Elizabeth Barrett is intended as an educational resource for use by GPs and practice nurses to expand their knowledge and confidence.
  • Five Year Forward ViewThe Five Year Forward View published by NHS England sets out why the NHS needs to change and various models of care which could be provided in the future to deliver transformed care for patients.
  • State of Care 2013/14This report published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reveals wide variation in the quality and safety of care for conditions such as dementia in England.
  • Supporting a person with dementiaThis Easy Read factsheet published by the the Alzheimer's Society provides advice for someone with learning disabilities who may have a friend or relative with dementia.
  • A vision of care fit for the twenty-first centuryThis report published by the Commission on Residential Care offers a vision of housing with care fit for the twenty-first century, not bound by existing definitions but based on the outcomes that people want and value.
  • Building on the National Dementia Strategy: Change, progress and prioritiesThis report published by the All Party Parliamentary Party Group on Dementia (APPG) calls for a new long term strategy for dementia to be a worthy successor to the National Dementia Strategy for Dementia in England and the Prime Minister's challenge on dementia.
  • Driving and dementiaThis Alzheimer's Society factsheet explains the legal situation around driving and dementia, and gives some tips on stopping driving.
  • Care and Support Jargon BusterThe Care and Support Jargon Buster published by Think Local Act Personal is a plain English guide to the most commonly used social care words and phrases and what they mean.
  • Blackfriars Consensus on promoting brain healthThe Blackfriars Consensus, published by the UK Health Forum and Public Health England, explores the potential for incorporation of dementia risk reduction into current approaches for non-communicable diseases.
  • AT DementiaAT Dementia is web-based information resource on assistive technologies (including telecare) for people with dementia.
  • The dementia guideThis guide produced by the Alzheimer's Society is for anyone who has recently been told they have dementia.
  • The Care Bill: factsheetsThese factsheets will help practitioners to better support patients and carers to get the care and support they need, following the changes introduced by the Care Bill, published in 2013.
  • Putting dementia on the mapPutting dementia on the map published by the Department of Health draws on data and information about dementia health and care, dementia friendly communities and research.
  • Dementia: A state of the nation report on dementia care and support in EnglandThis report, published by the Department of Health, sets out what is known about dementia care, support and research. It highlights where improvements are being made and where improvements are needed.
  • Peer support networks and dementia advisers: evaluationThis report, published by the Department of Health, provides the findings of the Healthbridge evaluation into the role that dementia advisers and peer support networks can provide in post diagnostic support for people with dementia and their carers.
  • Building dementia-friendly communities: A priority for everyoneThis report, published by the Alzheimer's Society, explores evidence from people with dementia about their experiences of living in their community and the ten key things they would like to see in a dementia-friendly community.
  • Assistive technology – devices to help with everyday livingThis factsheet published by the Alzheimer's Society explores technological developments that can help make life easier for people with dementia and their carers in certain situations.
  • Dementia does not discriminate – The experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic communitiesThis report, produced by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia, looks at the experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in dealing with the condition.
  • Cataracts and dementia factsheetThe information in this factsheet will help people in with both dementia and sight loss and how to help someone with dementia cope with surgery.
  • Dementia 2013: The hidden voice of lonelinessThis report, published Alzheimer’s Society, reveals that nearly two thirds (62%) of more than 250,000 people with dementia who live on their own are lonely. This compares to just 24 per cent of over 55 year olds.
  • CMG48: Support for commissioning of dementia careThis guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) summarises the key commissioning issues and the resource impact that will arise from implementing improvements in the quality of care for people with dementia, in line with the statements and measures that comprise the NICE quality standards for dementia.
  • QS30: Supporting people to live well with dementiaThis quality standard, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), covers the care and support of people with dementia.
  • Low expectations: attitudes on choice, care and community for people with dementia in care homesThis report published by the Alzheimer’s Society stresses the need to lift expectations and to strengthen existing minimum standards to boost quality of life for people with dementia in care homes.
  • Support and care for people living with dementia from minority communitiesThis report outlines recommendations to improve support and care for people with dementia from minority communities in the North East.
  • Dementia FriendsDementia Friends is an Alzheimer’s Society initiative that aims to give a million people a better understanding of dementia by 2015.
  • Spirituality and ageing: implications for the care and support of older peopleThis briefing paper published the Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services explores why our ageing population requires person-centred care and developmental support in order to maximise its chances of ageing well.
  • New models of care for dementiaThis report proposes a new understanding of the dementia journey and a revised model of care for dementia, aimed at improving experiences and outcomes, and informing service redesign and commissioning.
  • Case for change – Communities for people living with dementiaThis document explains the evidence that has been used in designing the service to support people with dementia, whether living at home or in care homes, as well as dementia-specific elements of other Communities.
  • Making involvement countThe Making involvement count resource pack is made up 18 cards each aimed at giving specific information, advice and top tips to support people with dementia to get involved in activities whilst recognising their current abilities.
  • The £20 Billion Question – An inquiry into improving lives through cost-effective dementia servicesThis report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia (APPG) explores the the evidence for cost effective models of dementia care. It makes recommendations to focus on early intervention and prevention to reduce early entry to residential care and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
  • Befriending works: building resilience in local communitiesThis report published by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation provides an overview of how befriending can contribute to improving the health and well-being outcomes of vulnerable people at risk of social isolation or exclusion from mainstream society.
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