Will my life change straightaway?

When you find out that you have dementia it’s normal to have lots of questions about how your life might change. Dementia is a progressive disease. This means symptoms get worse over time, regardless of the type of dementia you have. With dementia there are three key stages. In the initial stages, symptoms tend to be mild. This means you can continue to live independently, but might need some support. By putting plans in place now, you’ll put yourself in a good position to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible. This might look like: - Getting a support network around you. Think about how you can call on to help with shopping, taking you to appointments and making sure your home is safe and secure. Also think about who might help with legal and financial matters. - Putting your affairs in order. Now’s the time to check you’re organised. Think about writing a will if you haven’t got one already and review your money situation. Chat to someone you trust about creating legal documents so that you know who will help you with care and financial decisions in the future. Read more about organising a power of attorney here . - Setting a routine. A routine will help you to feel more confident: when you know what you’re expected to do on what day, you’ll feel more relaxed. Setting a routine also means you can organise your week so it’s a good balance of socialising, being active, keeping your brain busy and rest. - Creating ways to remind yourself of important all the things you need to do. From notes and labels, to using tech to set alarms and memory aids, have a think now about what might help you with any memory issues you might be having. - Making your home a bit easier to live in. You can start to make little changes now to help you live more comfortably and safely in the future. From clearing clutter to changing lighting, have a read of our dementia-friendly home tips, here. Sources: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/how-dementia-progresses/progression-stages-dementia https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/dementia/understanding-dementia/