Memory & Later Life
Dementia & Cognitive Change
Progressive conditions affecting memory, thinking and daily function, often accompanied by anxiety, low mood or personality change.
What it can feel like
- Short-term memory loss that affects daily life
- Difficulty with familiar tasks or finding words
- Disorientation to time or place
- Mood change, apathy or irritability
- Withdrawal from conversation and activities
Not everyone has every symptom, and you do not need a label to deserve support.
Things that help
01
Keep the day predictable
Routine, familiar objects and gentle cues reduce confusion and distress substantially.
02
Respond to the feeling, not the fact
Correcting a mistaken belief often increases distress. Join the emotion and redirect kindly.
03
Keep meaningful activity and contact
Music, simple tasks, and regular visitors protect wellbeing for longer than any single intervention.
Want to actually do these? Save them to your practices and tick them off as you go.
Add to my practicesWhen to reach for more support
See a GP early for assessment, which can also rule out treatable causes. Support exists for the person and for those caring for them.