Tips for someone living with dementia

Underpinning successful dementia-friendly communities is an awareness of people with dementia as active citizens and the importance of supporting engagement in community life. This book offers an overview of the dementia-friendly communities movement, showing the many benefits of this approach. This compassionate book tells another story about dementia, away from negative stereotypes. This alternative approach claims people can retain a sense of dignity, hold onto hope, sustain meaningful relationships, and live with a sense of purpose with support from their communities.

This book is all about how to make life with dementia as positive as possible - to maximise quality of life for all concerned. Just as we need to exercise our body's muscles to keep them strong, flexible and working well, so too do we need to exercise our mental muscles (our brain) to strengthen and maintain our neural capabilities. By tailoring activities to suit the needs and abilities of people living with dementia, we can help: maintain relationships with others; maintain self-identity; enhance mental function by providing physical and mental stimulation; stave off boredom; and, experience happiness and pleasure.