Campaign to Rethink Dementia

When a friend or relative is diagnosed with dementia it’s natural not to know what to do, but helping someone stay connected, socially active, and doing many of the things you’ve always done together, can help them stay well for longer. The Scottish Government in partnership with COSLA has launched a new campaign to challenge the stigma surrounding dementia.

Alleviate symptoms

The ‘Rethink Dementia’ campaign encourages people to continue doing the things they always did with friends or relatives diagnosed with dementia. Created in collaboration with a National Dementia Lived Experience Panel, the campaign emphasises the importance of maintaining relationships with those living with dementia. Research has shown that making this effort to stay in contact and include individuals in social activities can help alleviate symptoms of depression, agitation, sleep disturbance, anxiety and apathy that can often come with dementia.

Think differently about dementia

Dementia affects an estimated 90,000 people in Scotland and 3,000 of whom are under the age of 65. Insight informing the campaign highlighted that many people associate dementia with the later stage of the illness and therefore change their behaviour towards a friend or family member who has been diagnosed, some even step away.

The Rethink Dementia campaign will play a key role in getting friends and family to think differently about a dementia diagnosis and provide simple ways they can help a friend or loved one live fulfilling lives with dementia and help them stay well for longer.

Things you can do with someone who has had a dementia diagnosis:

If you have a friend or relative who has been diagnosed with dementia, they have not changed overnight. They will appreciate your understanding and support, as well as you still being you.. Having fun, laughing and chatting about the same things you always did matters. So keep doing the things you did together before their diagnosis. There are so many simple ways you can be there for someone living with dementia. You could:

•  go shopping together so they can choose things for themselves
• take your usual walks or go for a scenic bike ride
• keep doing your hobbies together – play your weekly game of golf, watch the local football, go bird watching or go to the gym
• listen to music, reminisce and have a dance
• have them round for dinner or organise a family get-together
• read books – take turns reading aloud or go through it together, you could even start a family book club
• spend time in the garden or walk through the local park, talking about the different plants and flowers
• go for a swim at your local pool or if you live near the water take a dook in the sea
• look through old photo albums to bring back favourite memories
• play games you’ve always enjoyed – things like dominoes, board games, card games and jigsaws

Find out more about local supports for people living with dementia from the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership web pages.

For more information around supporting someone with a dementia diagnosis, please visit NHS inform - Rethink Dementia