A little support makes a big difference

Initiative

It’s important for people with dementia to stay socially connected and meaningfully engaged in their communities. With a little support, people with dementia who want to, can take the initiative and plan their own social lives.

Help people with dementia maintain independent social lives

It’s important for people with dementia to stay socially connected so they can enjoy a high quality of life and keep from feeling isolated. With a little support, people with dementia who want to, can take the initiative and plan their own social lives.

This will help someone living with dementia maintain their independence and feel more in control. There may be times when someone wants to do the planning, and times when they don’t. It’s important to recognise those times and support the person living with dementia with whatever option they choose.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Ask the person living with dementia if they want help to plan social activities
  • Focus on the abilities and strengths of the person, not what they can’t do. Value the contributions they make.
  • If it is a social event with an activity, don’t assume the person can’t participate because they have dementia.
  • Use clever technology, like our social planner below.

 

Download our easy social planner to help people with dementia make plans

If someone you know lives with dementia, you can help them maintain an independent social life by downloading and sharing our social planner with them.

The planner is designed to be dementia-friendly and assist people to make plans and to prompt for upcoming events with friends and family.

Download our easy social planner to help people with dementia make plans

The Dementia Australia Advisory Committee, made up of people who live with dementia, have developed the below resources includung tips for using video conferencing technology including Zoom and information for supporting people living with dementia to stay social.

With a little support, people with dementia who want to, can take the initiative and plan their own social lives.

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The National Dementia Helpline is a free service that provides information and advice to all people who would like to know more about dementia or access services and support.

Dementia Australia’s national library service offers print and digital resources about dementia. Explore information related to these tips by accessing the library guide.