Living with dementia.
Knowing how to spot early signs of dementia, knowing what to do about it, and knowing how to speak to a person with dementia can help us all cope better with a distressing situation. And there are many things that can be done to ensure that the person with dementia still enjoys life.
Our information and advice can help you to better understand dementia symptoms and get help in finding and accessing health and social care support. We share interviews, videos and articles to help deepen understanding of all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s. We aim to give you the knowledge you need to feel empowered.
What do we mean by dementia? Is it different to Alzheimer's Disease?
Dementia is a broad term used to describe symptoms such as memory loss, impaired cognitive functioning and changes in thinking and functioning. Dementia is not a specific disease but more of an umbrella term, which can be caused by several different diseases (such as Alzheimer’s).Alzheimer's diease is the most common type of dementia and there are many others which affect smaller numbers of people.
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How can we help you?
Are you living with dementia, or know someone who is?
We are regularly contacted by people who are living with dementia - especially carers - who may be living with their family member or who live away and are trying to support their loved one as best they can. We are not dementia specialists but we can help you with information and signposting, so that you can make the best choices for your situation and access available services.
Our Information Service is your point of entry for one to one information and help with accessing general services and support. You can email or phone our trained volunteer Infoline assistants, who will give you the time and support to work through your needs, identify and help with accessing available support options.
Helpful videos by Shannon Martin. - Gerentologist and Age in Spain volunteer
Learn how to recognize dementia – in ourselves or others. A twenty-minute video that might make a world of difference to you – or someone you know.
How to make the home safe and comfortable for a person with dementia
How to cope with repeated questions
Dementia support information and resources
There are many specialist organisations worldwide, which provide information and support services for people living with dementia. Here is a small selection from those with information (mainly) in English.
This organisation has a wide range of useful videos and resources in their free online dementia carers centre. They have a new text support service for holders of UK phones too.
Age UK (UK)
Excellent dementia guides and factsheets aimed at older people and their carers and directory of local Age UK organisations
Alzheimer's Association (International)
information and resources in English, Spanish and links to national Alzheimer's Associations worldwide
Confederación Española de Alzheimer (ES)
The Spanish Alzheimer Confederation represents the many dementia organisations in Spain. (Site in Spanish).
This website provides details of official Spanish government and non-government welfare organisations as well as many others in the voluntary sector to help English speakers who live in Spain. A useful tool to find out what's available in your locality.
