September is World Alzheimer’s Month which aims to raise awareness of the most common form of dementia and how it affects people in their everyday lives. 
 
There is a lot of advice available that can help anyone who has a dementia diagnosis to live at home, independently and safely. 
 
 

Nine tips for living with dementia 

List emergency telephone numbers – keep a list of people you might want to call if you need help. Put it in a place you will be able to find easily, next to a telephone or on the fridge door, for example. Save a contact as a quick dial number or save a number under ‘help’ on your smartphone. 
 
Check your house alarms – make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working in case you forget you have turned on your oven, for example. 
 
Consider a personal alarm – you can use a personal alarm to call for help. They range from simple sound alarms to communication and monitoring devices. Your local authority might offer a lifeline alarm service. 
 
Use reminder messages – you can leave yourself reminders to do important things. Tape a note to your front door to remind you to lock it when you leave. Put a message by the light switch reminding you to turn off your gas fire when you go to bed. Electronic memory aids can help. You can also set up automated phone call reminders. 
 
Use pill dispensers – there are a lot of different dispensers available to help you take the right medication at the right time. Some even have an alarm if you miss a dose. 
 
Stay safe in the kitchen – it’s easy to get distracted when you’re cooking, so use an alarm in case you leave your oven switched on. Use an electric kettle that switches off automatically. There are plenty of other handy kitchen gadgets that can make cooking easier too. 
 
Make the most of technologysmart technology can help you to keep in touch with your family and friends and to stay safe. For example, movement sensors can let your family know when you get up in the morning, make a cup of tea, or leave the house. 
 
Have your needs assessed – you can have a free needs assessment from your local authority to help you access extra help to live independently with dementia. This could include help with shopping or home care assistance. 
 
Protect your interests – over time, dementia can cause memory problems, confusion and physical difficulties. You can set up lasting powers of attorney (LPAs), so that someone you trust can make decisions on your behalf if you can’t make decisions for yourself. It’s important to take this step while you have mental capacity to make your own decisions; if you wait too long it could be too late. 
 
The process of setting up LPAs is straightforward. If you would like to know more, please get in touch
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