Dementia UK

Tomorrow the clocks go forward, and as evenings are becoming darker later, some people with dementia may experience sundowning. ⏰ Sundowning is a term used for changes in behaviours that occur in the evening, around dusk. 🌇 Some people experience a growing sense of confusion or agitation at this time. They may appear anxious, pace, shout, and try to leave the home. Sundowning might occur if the person is tired, hungry, thirsty or in pain at the end of the day, or because the setting sun makes them feel they should be somewhere else. Here are some tips for managing and preventing sundowning: 🗨️ Stay calm, talk in a slow, soothing way, and sit close to the person to reassure them. 💡 Close the curtains and turn lights on before dusk to ease the transition to night-time. ☕ Distractions – like making a hot drink, watching TV or listening to music – may help reduce confusion. For more tips about how to manage sundowning, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/e6vgKpQ3 #Sundowning #Dementia #DementiaAdvice #DementiaUK

Does dementia always start with memory loss? Is it an inevitable part of ageing? 🤔 Our Admiral Nurse for Lewy body dementia, Rachel Thompson, joins Professor Sebastian Crutch from UCL and three people living with dementia to share common misconceptions about a dementia diagnosis. Made with The Open University as part of the BBC's Memories and Dementia week. What myths have you heard about dementia? Let us know in the comments. 👇 #Dementia #BBCMemoriesAndDementia #DementiaMyths

Did you know that around 700,000 people in the UK care for someone living with dementia? 📣 For working carers, support from their employer can make a big difference as they balance the dual responsibilities of working and caring. If you're aware that an employee has caring responsibilities, these tips can help you support them. We've produced a free 'Dementia at work' guide to help you support the needs of your employees and customers who are living with or caring for someone with the condition. To find out more and download our free guide, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/en9qRcn3 #DementiaAtWork #DementiaCarer #DementiaUK

Deciding when to stop working due to dementia is a personal decision. 💼 While a person with dementia may be able to continue working for some time, the increasing challenges may eventually mean their role becomes unsustainable. They may find it increasingly difficult to manage tasks or no further reasonable adjustments can be made to help them keep working. This could mean it's time for them to consider leaving – either moving to a new job that they feel more able to cope with, or to retire. If you believe your employee is reaching a point where they need to leave work, it's essential to handle it sensitively. Here's our advice on supporting the person during this difficult stage as they transition out of their job. Do you have any tips to add? Let us know in the comments. 👇 Learn more by visiting our website: https://lnkd.in/ehUAVTHk #DementiaUK #DementiaAtWork #Dementia

Did you know that by law, employers must make reasonable adjustments to enable employees with dementia to continue in their role? These reasonable adjustments will depend on the person with dementia's unique situation, but it's important for them to be involved in all discussions. Reasonable adjustments might include: ✅ Allocating tasks individually, rather than all at once. 🔔 Providing assistive equipment, like alerts, reminders, or voice recognition software. 🕐 Offering regular rest breaks. 🔇 Enabling supported homeworking or poviding a quieter workspace with fewer distractions. If you would like to learn more about our 'Dementia at work' programme and how we can support you, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/evPZweXV #DementiaUK #Dementia #DementiaAtWork

"I was a registered nurse for 40 years, but for the last 20 years of my career, I was a senior lecturer at a university. In July 2020 I was given a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Everyone was keen to support me with the symptoms and move forward. But as soon as the word ‘dementia’ made an appearance, it was like a rabbit in headlights. By the time I got my diagnosis of Lewy body dementia in September 2021, I’d had an assessment for Access to Work and was having regular meetings with an Occupational Health Consultant. For my HR Team, the word ‘dementia’ was terrifying – immediately it was, “Phil shouldn’t be doing this and that.” The plan was for me to work until I was 65 but I retired when I was 60, so I’ve missed out on five years of full-time income. My advice for employers is first of all, don’t panic just because you hear the word ‘dementia’. Secondly, keep talking to the person who has dementia about the positive contributions that they can make to their organisation. And third, listen to the expert in the room – the person with the diagnosis – about what they can and can’t do." Phil shares his experience of living with Lewy body dementia whilst working and his tips and advice for employers. You can read his full story here: https://lnkd.in/ehw8BUxW #Dementia #DementiaUK #DementiaAtWork

When an employee discloses a diagnosis of dementia, managers should approach the situation with empathy and care. 💙💬 Here are our top tips for responding to your employee's diagnosis to help them feel supported and avoid any misunderstanding about how it may affect their employment. What advice would you add? Let us know in the comments. 👇 To find out more about our 'Dementia at work' programme, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/evDq5DZh #DementiaUK #DementiaAtWork #Dementia

Why is dementia a workplace issue? Watch this video to learn more...💼 👀 We've produced a free downloadable guide to help you support the needs of your employees and customers who are living with or caring for someone with the condition. It covers key topics like employers’ responsibilities, noticing changes in an employee, employees rights, supporting carers in the workplace and more. Download a copy of our 'Dementia at work' guide here: https://lnkd.in/eZQXBWTW #DementiaAtWork #Dementia #Employer

It can be difficult to tell if your employee is showing signs of dementia or if there's another cause, but it's important to be aware that it may be an issue. 💭 People with possible dementia symptoms may not recognise or acknowledge their difficulties. Or they may be aware of symptoms but are trying to conceal them. It's crucial for employers to understand the early signs of dementia, so that the right support is put in place for their employees. Do any of these signs and symptoms surprise you? Let us know in the comments. 👇 Our Dementia at Work Team is here to support organisations in understanding and accommodating the needs of their employees and customers affected by dementia. To find out how we can support you, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/ekn3wHiX #DementiaAtWork #Dementia #DementiaSymptoms

As the leading cause of death in the UK, dementia is a huge and pressing issue which requires attention and solutions at both national and local level. The news that NHS England will be abolished, alongside proposed reforms to the NHS that we know are on their way via the forthcoming 10 year plan, means that we may see significant changes to the way healthcare is led and delivered in the UK in the coming months and years. What will not change, however, is the fact that people living with dementia and those supporting them deserve to have their voice heard, and the urgent need for increased support for everyone affected by this condition. We will work with people living with dementia, our Admiral Nurses, NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, local NHS systems and whoever we can in the years to come to deliver the dementia support that’s needed. https://lnkd.in/eg7KgdZw