It’s important to always be available when assistance is required, but, where possible and practical, the person should be allowed to retain their feeling of independence. This will help to improve their overall level of comfort and happiness.
Set the person’s environment up for them to succeed
As outlined in our first tip, there are some simple improvements to physical spaces that can be made to greatly improve the experience of people living with dementia. Read through our list of small changes you can make to help enable someone in their space as much as possible.
Engage the person in everyday decision making
This extends to things like planning activities or allowing a person time to work out a problem on their own. When planning an activity such as a walk outside, allow the person to be involved in the planning process and let them decide where they would like to walk. If the person is trying to work something out, allow them the time to get there on their own, even if you feel impatient and want to jump in.
Want to learn more about dementia? Go to our resources section for guides, help sheets, videos and other resources.