Getting to know you

At Care UK, we understand there are a lot of things people don’t know about dementia or aren’t comfortable talking about. That's why our campaign, The Big Dementia Conversation, encouraged the nation to get talking about dementia.

To be more dementia friendly, take a look at our online advice hub to learn about the less-talked-about symptoms of dementia. We feature conversations from real families sharing their experiences, and expert advice from Suzanne Mumford, Care UK’s Head of Nursing, Care and Dementia, and other Care UK dementia specialists on how to navigate them.

You can also learn to identify the early signs of dementia and read advice for interacting with people living with the condition by downloading a copy of our free guide, ‘Let’s talk about dementia’. 
 

Dementia affects everyone differently. While living in a familiar environment can be beneficial for people living with dementia, sometimes it’s just not possible to get the care your loved one needs at home.

We explore everything you should know about when someone with dementia should move into a care home in our help and advice hub, or you can take a look at our Do I need care? page for more answers to your question about care home living. To help set your mind at ease, we’ve also outlined some of the benefits of living in a care home for people living with dementia.
 

The word dementia is used to describe a set of symptoms that affect memory and behaviour, but there are numerous types of dementia and each person will have a unique experience. Some common symptoms of dementia that affect daily life include memory loss, difficulty concentrating or planning, struggling to communicate, confusion about time or place and changes in mood.

Dementia is a progressive disease, but the rate at which your loved one will show the signs will vary. Hear real life scenarios in our Big Dementia Conversation initiative or in our guide, ‘Let’s talk about dementia’. 
 

Dementia can cause your loved one to act differently, for example repeating questions, ‘walking with purpose’ (also referred to as wandering or pacing), sleeping at unusual hours and having delusions or hallucinations. 

Explore expert advice about navigating behavioural changes in our Big Dementia Conversation initiative or in our guide, ‘Let’s talk about dementia’.
 

Dementia can change the way your loved one communicates, but it’s still possible to have meaningful conversations. Our ‘Listen, talk, connect’ guide has tips for communicating effectively with your loved one.

Explore more advice from dementia experts in our dementia help & advice hub, including tips for celebrating Christmas with someone living with dementia and how to make the most of your visit with a loved one in a care home.