Dementia Together

14/04/2025

🐣🌷 Easter Gatherings & Dementia 🌷🐣

Family celebrations like Easter can be joyful—but also overwhelming for someone living with dementia. With a little planning, you can make the day more enjoyable for everyone. Here are a few practical tips:

✅ Keep It Simple
Big gatherings can be overstimulating. Consider a smaller lunch or staggered visits throughout the day instead of one large event.

✅ Create a Quiet Space
Set up a quiet area where your loved one can retreat if things get too noisy. A comfy chair, soft music, and a familiar item (like a blanket or photo book) can help.

✅ Stick to Routine
Try to keep meals and medications on time. A familiar structure can provide a sense of calm during a busy day.

✅ Engage with Meaning
Invite your loved one to help with tasks according to their abilities—like folding napkins, arranging flowers, or handing out Easter eggs. Feeling included matters more than perfection.

✅ Use Name Tags
Name tags with large, clear writing can help with memory and reduce any embarrassment or confusion and support social engagement during family gatherings.

✅ Be Flexible & Kind
If your loved one wants to leave early, needs a break, or repeats a story, meet them with patience and reassurance. What matters most is that they feel safe and loved.

💛 Easter is a time for connection. By slowing down and making small adjustments, you can create a warm, inclusive space that supports everyone—especially those living with dementia.

Feel free to share any tips that have worked for your family!

Together 🐣🌷 Easter Gatherings & Dementia: Practical Tips for a Calmer, Happier Holiday 🌷🐣

Family celebrations like Easter can be joyful—but also overwhelming for someone living with dementia. With a little planning, you can make the day more enjoyable for everyone. Here are a few practical tips:

✅ Keep It Simple
Big gatherings can be overstimulating. Consider a smaller lunch or staggered visits throughout the day instead of one large event.

✅ Create a Quiet Space
Set up a quiet area where your loved one can retreat if things get too noisy. A comfy chair, soft music, and a familiar item (like a blanket or photo book) can help.

✅ Stick to Routine
Try to keep meals and medications on time. A familiar structure can provide a sense of calm in a busy day.

✅ Engage with Meaning
Invite them to help with simple, safe tasks—like folding napkins, arranging flowers, or handing out Easter eggs. Feeling included matters more than perfection.

✅ Use Name Tags
Name tags with big, clear writing can help with memory and reduce any embarrassment or confusion when seeing lots of people.

✅ Be Flexible & Kind
If your loved one wants to leave early, needs a break, or repeats a story, meet them with patience and reassurance. What matters most is that they feel safe and loved.

💛 Easter is a time for connection. By slowing down and making small adjustments, you can create a warm, inclusive space that supports everyone—especially those living with dementia.

Feel free to share any tips that have worked for your family!

Send a message to learn more

02/04/2025

🧠👀👂 Supporting Individuals with Dementia: The Critical Role of Vision and Hearing

Vision and hearing are often overlooked but essential factors in the well-being of those living with dementia. Both impairments are modifiable risk factors for dementia, yet they’re frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated. This can lead to preventable complications that impact daily functioning, mental health, and quality of life — including an increased risk of social isolation.

What Can You Do to Help?
🔹 Regular Sensory Assessments: Schedule frequent vision and hearing tests, especially if cognitive impairments are present. Ensure timely referrals to specialists who understand dementia care.
🔹 Assist with Sensory Aids: Ensure aids are in good working condition— change batteries, help with usage, and keep glasses clean. Use verbal reminders or visual cues to use them.
🔹 Support Communication and Engagement:
- Speak clearly, using simple language.
- Complement speech with gestures, facial expressions, and written cues.
- Minimise background noise and choose quiet spaces for meaningful interactions.
- Reduce clutter, glare and ensure adequate lighting for safety and visibility.
- Give extra time for responses and avoid interruptions to create a supportive environment.

For dementia-friendly care, find an optometrist at Optometry Australia or an audiologist at Audiology Australia — some even offer home visits.

Addressing sensory impairments can improve quality of life and help prevent further decline. Early detection and intervention are crucial.

Send a message to learn more

16/03/2025

🧠💡 Dementia Together encourages you to prioritise brain health all year round! 🌟
During Brain Awareness Week and every day after, let’s focus on keeping our brains healthy through simple actions like eating right, moving more, and stimulating our minds. We want to help our brains thrive at every stage of life, and protecting them should always be top of mind.
Here’s how you can support your brain health:
✅ Regular physical exercise
✅ A healthy diet, hydration, and consistent sleep
✅ Lifelong learning and exposure to new things
✅ Maintaining social connections and a positive mindset
✅ Wearing protective headgear when necessary & being cautious of head injury risks
✅ Reducing exposure to toxins such as pesticides, excessive alcohol, smoke, and unprescribed substances
At Dementia Together, we’re passionate about building dementia-friendly communities and supporting individuals to live well with dementia. Let’s keep our brains strong and healthy together! 💪💙
Share your brain health efforts with us using and let’s keep the conversation going! 🌍

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28/11/2024

Seeking Participants Living in Australia for an Interview: Caregiver Experience Supporting a Loved One with Dementia

Are you a family member providing informal support to a loved one living with dementia, or do you have past experience as an informal caregiver?

I am developing an online course aimed at offering essential support and education to caregivers of people living with dementia, particularly in the early stages following a diagnosis. Despite the vast amount of online information, many caregivers feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn, facing a journey often marked by fear, stigma, and uncertainty.

To ensure this course truly meets the needs of caregivers, I would greatly appreciate the insights of those who have first hand experience supporting a loved one with dementia. Your feedback will directly inform the content and direction of the course.

Specifically, I am interested in understanding:
• The support and information provided immediately after diagnosis
• Any follow-up or ongoing support offered
• The types of support or information you sought as a caregiver
• Your knowledge of dementia, services accessed, and what was most helpful
• What you wish you had known sooner that could have improved your caregiving experience

If you are willing to share your experiences, your perspective would be invaluable in shaping this program and could make a meaningful difference in supporting others on this challenging journey.

To participate, please comment below and I will send you a pm with my contact details. Thank you for considering sharing your experience.

Send a message to learn more

25/11/2024

“Occupational therapy is a quiet rebellion against the reductionist view of health, insisting that well-being is not merely the absence of illness, but the presence of meaning, purpose and agency in every moment of life.”
~ 𝑅𝒽𝒾𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑜𝓃 𝒞𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓅𝑒

Send a message to learn more

30/09/2024

Being a caregiver is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming. It’s essential to take time for yourself to recharge and maintain your well-being. 💖 Whether it’s a quiet walk, reading a book, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee, prioritise self-care in your routine. 🌼 Remember, your well-being matters too!



🎗️ As World Alzheimer's Month comes to an end, remember that awareness and action continue beyond this month. Keep learning, supporting, and advocating for those affected by Alzheimer's.

29/09/2024

❤️🌍 Happy World Heart Day! 🌍❤️

Today, let’s celebrate the powerful connection between heart health and brain health. Did you know that taking care of your heart can also help in dementia prevention? 🧠💪

Here’s how looking after your heart can benefit your brain:

Boosts Cognitive Function: A healthy heart supports better blood flow to the brain, which is crucial for cognitive function.
Reduces Dementia Risk: Cardiovascular health is linked to a lower risk of developing dementia. Maintaining a healthy heart helps protect your brain.
Promotes Overall Well-being: Healthy habits like regular exercise and a balanced diet benefit both your heart and mind.
Let’s commit to heart-healthy habits today:
💖 Exercise regularly
🥦 Eat a nutritious diet
🚭 Avoid smoking
🧘‍♂️ Manage stress

By taking care of your heart, you’re also taking care of your brain. Here’s to a healthier heart and a sharper mind! 🌟

29/09/2024