Living Well After A Dementia Diagnosis

Is living well after a dementia diagnosis possible? Yes, absolutely! Life will change, that’s for sure. But there’s so much advice and personalised support out there to help you live well and find joy in each day. Our latest blog explores life after being diagnosed, what your next steps are, and how you can adapt your lifestyle and experience those glimmers of positivity in every day.

What happens after a dementia diagnosis?

So you’ve been given a diagnosis of dementia after months – or perhaps several years – of concern over your symptoms. 

What now? 

Whether you’ve been diagnosed yourself or you’re caring for someone with dementia who’s been newly diagnosed, it can stir up a rollercoaster of feelings and emotions.

Suddenly, there will be changes and adjustments to be made, and this can have an impact on your mental health.

However, as difficult as a diagnosis can be, there’s still life to be lived. In fact, many people discover a newfound appreciation of life.

Plus, receiving a diagnosis on the specific type of dementia you have is the first step towards personalised care that improves your quality of life, as well as access to transformative treatments, research, and clinical trials. 

What dementia support is out there?

There’s lots of dementia support out there to make living well after a dementia diagnosis possible, so speak to your GP about services, groups, activities, events, and advice available in your local area.

A team of services which includes your GP, your local council, and a memory assessment service, should help you create a care plan which is reviewed every year.

This is designed to give you practical support so you can carry on doing things you enjoy while monitoring your health needs. It should also identify a health or social care representative to be your single point of contact for local dementia services.

The social services department of your local authority should also be able to conduct a needs assessment to see if you need extra support like a carer, meal delivery service, or a personal alarm.

Dementia Adventure is an organisation that helps people with dementia continue to live an active and fulfilled life. You can book a free Understanding Dementia session with them post-diagnosis to get more information and support

My Life, My Goals is self-help workbook created by Alzheimer’s Society, alongside real people living with dementia.

It encourages people with dementia to identify which areas they need support with and where they can continue to live independently.

Following the guide, you can set achievable goals, like cooking a meal for yourself or making a phone call, and feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment to stay independent and boost your wellbeing.

What to say to someone just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia

Maybe you found yourself here after hearing that a friend or family member has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. If that’s you, you could be worrying about what to say or how to support them in the right way.

You might be tempted to offer to do things for them which is lovely, but they may be keen to maintain their independence and not be treated differently.

The best place to start is by being yourself. They’re still the same person – yes, they may be experiencing changes, but they likely haven’t transformed overnight. So, include them, treat them respectfully, and see them as the person they still are. 

Ask what support they need, keep in regular contact, encourage them to do the things they love and keep your connection with each other.

Is living well after a dementia diagnosis possible?

Many people continue to live a long, fulfilling and independent life with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Will you need to adapt certain aspects of your life? Yes.

However, taking a proactive approach to seeking out the best support, tips and advice to improve your daily life will benefit you physically, mentally, and emotionally.

While we’re not medical experts, we have lived experience of dementia and we thought it would be a good idea to give you an overview of some recommendations we found useful.

Tips on living well after a dementia diagnosis

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, one in two people are affected by dementia, either by experiencing it personally or going through it with a loved one. 

So wherever you’re at in this journey, it’s helpful to have some guidance on ways you can make life easier to navigate and more pleasurable for all. 

Set yourself a good routine

Routines are fantastic for feeling in control and reassured when you’re living with dementia. Keep your daily routine written down somewhere you can easily see it so you can stay on track with your day, have a sense of purpose, and remind yourself what’s coming next.

Keep active

When your body stays active, it has a positive impact on your mental wellbeing, too. How might that look for you?

Some people love to keep up with their morning swim, take a guided exercise class or gym session at the local leisure centre (many have seated options if your mobility is limited), or get into nature for a walk. 

You may be able to continue going out to do your own shopping, either by yourself or with the right support from local groups, services, loved ones, or carers.

Find new ways to connect

Stay in touch with family and friends to prevent isolation and give your mental health a boost. 

If a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, perhaps you’re worried about losing your connection as their memory declines. However, there’s always new ways to maintain that bond and uncover the person that’s still inside. 

Conversation games and activities like Matching Memories are a firm favourite in homes and care homes alike as they’re the perfect excuse to sit down together, laugh, reminisce, and share a joyful moment together (and the whole family or group can get involved!).

Get support when you need it

There’s power in seeking out support where you need it and we encourage you to explore the different options available in your local community to discover the joy of living well after a dementia diagnosis.

You don’t have to struggle through alone when there’s so much support available from people out there waiting to help you.

The power of A Good Day

Although every day will have its challenges, we strongly believe there’s joy to be found in all stages of dementia-related illness.

After living through it ourselves through personal family experiences, we’re creating a range of games and activities to spark more of those joyful moments in the everyday lives of people living with dementia.

Matching Memories is a conversation game full of engaging prompts in a dementia-friendly accessible design with large fonts, clear illustrations, and contrasting colours. 

What will you learn about your loved ones and which memories will it spark? This is a beautiful way to help you stay connected with someone living with dementia, share experiences, and bring a smile back to their face.

Explore our games and activities for Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

And no matter where you after in your dementia experience, we send you love and positivity always, from our family to yours 💛