Taking Action Together - Dementia Action Week UK | Blog

Taking Action Together - Dementia Action Week UK

Elderly with puzzle pieces

Taking Action Together - Dementia Action Week UK

 

Every year,  Dementia Action Week  shines a vital spotlight on a condition that touches millions of lives across the UK and beyond. Organised by the  Alzheimer's Society,  this important week is not just about raising awareness - it's a powerful call to action, empathy, and support.

Dementia affects over 900,000 people in the UK, and that number is growing. But the impact doesn't stop with the diagnosis - families, friends, carers, and communities are all part of the journey. Sadly, stigma and misunderstanding still surround dementia, often leading to loneliness and isolation for those affected.

Elderly with puzzle pieces

What is Dementia Action Week?

Dementia Action Week (usually held in May) is a national event that encourages individuals, communities, and organisations to come together and improve the lives of people living with dementia. It's about challenging stigma, increasing understanding, and taking steps - big or small - to create a dementia-friendly society.

Dementia Awareness Week Blog

Living With Dementia - When It's Someone You Love

When someone you love is diagnosed with dementia, life doesn't change all at once - it changes in slow, often heartbreaking ways. If you live with that person, those changes are woven into your daily routine, your conversations, your plans, and your heart.

At first, it might be small things - forgotten appointments, repeating the same questions, misplacing items. But as time goes on, the shifts become bigger and harder to ignore. Roles within the home begin to change. You might find yourself taking on more responsibility - cooking meals, managing finances, remembering medications - things they once did without a second thought.

Emotionally, it's a rollercoaster. There are moments of deep sadness, frustration, and guilt. You grieve the person even while they're still with you, because pieces of who they were seem to fade a little more each day. And yet, you still catch glimpses - a smile, a shared laugh, a story they suddenly remember. Those moments can mean everything.

Living with someone who has dementia also affects your energy, your time, and your identity. You might be a spouse, a son or daughter, a sibling - but over time, the word carer starts to define you more and more. It's easy to lose yourself in that role. Social plans get cancelled, hobbies get pushed aside, sleep becomes a luxury. Some days, just getting through feels like a win.

And yet, despite the exhaustion, many people say the same thing:  I wouldn't trade this time for anything.  Because caring for someone you love, even through the hardest moments, is one of the most human things you can do.

It's not easy. It's not always graceful. But it's filled with a quiet kind of love that doesn't get talked about enough.

If you're living with someone who has dementia - you're not alone. Your patience, your strength, your presence they matter more than you know.

Footprints on beach

What to do if you are worried about someone

Norfolk County Council recommended websites below to find out about diagnosis, help for people with dementia and their families or carers, and treatments which may lessen the symptoms.

Dementia Support Norfolk and Waveney

Dementia support service is here to give you personalised help and advice face to face or over the phone. Depending on your needs, we can offer you information and signposting or ongoing support regardless of whether you are worried about your memory, have a diagnosis of dementia or are a carer, family or friend.

Alzheimer's Society

Dementia support workers offer information and practical guidance to help people understand dementia, cope with day-to-day challenges and prepare for the future.  Information can be provided on Alzheimer's Society services such as Dementia Cafés, Activity Groups or Peer Support Groups.

Age UK

Provides a range of services for people living with dementia.  They also offer advice, information, and support through their helpline, advice line, and information guides

Keys on path

Local Services

Support services for people with dementia

Independence Matters is a not-for-profit company that offers a range of services for people and carers, such as personal assistance in the home and out and about, supported living ranging from light touch to 24-hour help, respite breaks and day centres.

Help around the home 

We can point you to a number of private and voluntary organisations that can help people with dementia with household jobs, such as cleaning, bathing and shopping.

Services for carers 

If you are caring for someone with dementia we can make sure you are getting the right sort of help to assist you with their care.

Reminiscence packs from libraries

Packs with a variety of objects such as photos and CDs, as well as books and conversations cards, can be taken out on loan. They are used to trigger memories using different senses and are beneficial for people with memory loss and communication difficulties.

Grandparent and child

Our support

Our online workshops are here to support you through the challenges of day-to-day life, whenever you may need it.  They're all free to join and are presented by our own expert clinicians, covering a vast range of topics.

You can view our full range of online Workshops here

We also offer

1:1 Support: anyone in Norfolk and Waveney aged 16 or over can self-refer here or by calling 0300 123 1503

Social Events (online & in person)

Employment support

Peer Support

Podcasts and blogs

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