Dementia Support

Whether you regularly support clients with a dementia or have never encountered it in your role, understanding the condition and knowing where to turn for support is essential. Dementia affects thousands of people across the UK, and paid carers play a vital role in helping those affected live with dignity and purpose.

This page offers practical advice for supporting people with dementia, guidance for those who may receive a diagnosis themselves, and links to organisations offering help.

Whether you’re new to dementia care or have years of experience, support is available to help you manage the emotional and practical demands of your role.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is not a single disease but a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and behaviour. It’s caused by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and others. Symptoms can vary but often include confusion, memory loss, difficulty communicating, and changes in mood or behaviour.

Click here for a video 9 minute about dementia support in Gloucestershire including what dementia is, how to request a diagnosis and other helpful information.

Supporting Someone Living with a Dementia

If you work with clients who have a dementia, your support can make a real difference. Even if you don’t currently support someone with a dementia, these principles can help you feel prepared and confident should it be necessary in your work or personal life.

Build Trust and Routine

• Keep daily routines consistent to reduce anxiety
• Use clear, simple language and visual cues
• Offer reassurance and avoid correcting or arguing.

Encourage Independence

• Support individuals to do tasks themselves, even if it takes longer
• Use memory aids like labelled cupboards, calendars, and photos
• Create a Safe and Calm Environment
• Minimise clutter and noise
• Ensure good lighting and remove trip hazards
• Use contrasting colours to help with navigation

Engage in Meaningful Activities

• Encourage hobbies like music, art, gardening, or reminiscence therapy
• Adapt activities to suit the person’s abilities and interests
• Be Emotionally Present
• Listen with empathy and validate feelings
• Understand that behaviour changes may reflect unmet needs.

Coping with a Dementia Diagnosis Yourself

If you’ve been diagnosed with dementia, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Whether you’re a carer or someone working in health and social care, your wellbeing matters.

• Give Yourself Time
  It’s okay to feel shock, sadness, or fear. These emotions are valid.
• Seek Support
  Talk to people you trust. Look at the local support included below. Join a support group to connect with others who understand.
• Focus on What You Can Control
  Stay active, eat well, and keep socially connected. These can help slow progression.
• Plan Ahead
  Consider legal and financial planning early, including lasting power of attorney’s (LPA), ensuring you apply for both the financial and health and welfare LPAs, and talk to the people you nominate about your care preferences (see details below about TCAL).
• Stay Connected to Your Identity
  You are still you. Continue doing things that bring you joy and purpose.
• Just Diagnosed?
  The Alzheimer’s Society has some information for you click here

Support for Unpaid Carers

Local support (see below for national support)

• If the person with dementia requires a care needs assessment, contact Gloucestershire County Council Adult Social Services on 01452 426868, for more information, for an online referral form go to the Adult Social Care helpdesk click here.
  
  

• The Managing Memory Team support people who are worried about memory, people with dementia and carers of people with a dementia, in Gloucestershire. This includes delivering the memory assessment service. They can be contacted on 0800 694 8800 or email managingmemory@ghc.nhs.uk. Click here for more information.

  They also have social media pages:
  Facebook page
  Instagram page

• Gloucestershire Carers Hub supports all adult carers in Gloucestershire, the definition in Gloucestershire is “someone of any age who provides support to or looks after a family member, partner, or friend who needs help/assistance due to frailty, physical or mental illness, addiction, or a disability and cannot cope without this support. This includes someone who receives a Carer’s Allowance and/or cares for someone who receives an Attendance Allowance. However, it does not include someone who is paid to provide care or who is a volunteer". They offer a supportive ear, information, training, carers assessments, and much more, for more information click here.

• The Care Advice Line (TCAL) is an information and advice service for adults and their carers in Gloucestershire. Their aim is to help individuals, and their families make informed decisions about paying for their care and support. Click here for more information.
  The helpline is available on 01452 22 22 00 and helps with:
  • Planning for future care needs
  • Paying for current care
  • Power of Attorney
  • Benefits & entitlements
  • How the care system works
  • Managing assets
  • Access to regulated financial advice

• Anyone affected by a dementia can access support relating to depression, they should speak to their GP or contact the Talking Therapies service, they can be contacted on 0800 073 2200 or you can make a self-referral, click here.
• The person affected by a dementia may be eligible for a blue badge, for information about the Gloucestershire eligibility, process and frequently asked questions click here, to apply click here
• Gloucestershire Care and Support Guide gives readers information on how to live well for longer, independently, and in their own home. It also explains how to access a wide range of services that are available for people who need extra care or support, whether that’s in their own home or in a care home, if that’s the right option for them. To download a copy click here
• Your Circle, Gloucestershire's online directory dementia support search click here
• Guideposts for local befriending service click here
• Gloucestershire Dementia Choirs click here
• Mindsong, a Gloucestershire charity reaching people with dementia through music and song. Mindsong’s singing groups, courses and music therapy sessions offer hope, inspire joy, unlock memories, enhance quality of life, and enable participants and their families to live well click here
• Age UK Gloucestershire dementia support click here
• Gloucestershire Dementia Action Alliance click here
• The Admiral Nurse Service, Helping families facing dementia click here
• Dementia Carers Online Monthly support group click here
• Dementia & Domestic Violence Resources click here
• Dementia Support Forum click here
• Local Dementia cafés click here
• An information sheet about dementia click here
• Support services for people affected by dementia click here
• Dementia & driving - contact the Older Drivers Forum (ODFG) Gloucestershire who offer advice on how to approach difficult conversations about driving and can provide information on the impact of conditions like dementia on driving abilities, as well as alternative transport options. You can email them at odfglos@gmail.com to find out about their webinars or other support.
• Films about dementia in other languages
  

  Cantonese click here
  Gujarati click here
  Polish click here

National support

Alzheimer’s Society

• Dementia support services, guides, and helpline click here
• Symptom checker website click here
• Dementia Support Line: 0333 150 3456

Dementia UK

• Admiral Nurses provide expert advice and emotional support click here
  Helpline: 0800 888 6678
• Dementia UK podcasts click here

Age UK

• Befriending services, day centres, and cognitive stimulation therapy click here
• Resources for People with a Dementia and Dementia Carers click here
• The Silver Line is a free Helpline run by Age UK, offering confidential telephone service for older people. They provide friendship, conversation and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week click here or phone 0800 4 70 80 90

Alzheimer’s Research UK

• Information and links to support services click here

Other useful information

• An insight by Dr Jennifer Bute who was diagnosed with a dementia in her 50’s click here
• Information and a blog by Wendy Mitchell who was diagnosed with a dementia whilst working for the NHS click here
• Young Dementia Network - is an online membership community for everyone living with, working with or interested young onset dementia. Driven by the needs and wishes of people affected by young onset dementia, the Network was launched in 2016 and is hosted by Dementia UK. Click here
• Playlist for Life is a music and dementia charity. The charity was founded in 2013 by writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson after the death of her mother, Mamie, who had dementia. Their vision is simple: we want everyone with dementia to have a unique, personalised playlist and everyone who loves or cares for them to know how to use it, click here.

Final Thoughts

Dementia care is a journey of compassion, patience, and resilience. Whether you’re supporting someone or navigating your own diagnosis, remember: you are not alone. Help is available, and your wellbeing matters.

Training

You can find training on the Proud to Care website click here. Your organisation may also have training available, do talk to your manager about relevant courses.

Please see our other pages:

Unpaid carers

Mental Health

Connection, Community and Loneliness | Proud to Care Gloucestershire

Please go to our Wellbeing A-Z main page for more topic areas.