Ambiance Care

07/12/2025

Lots of fun activities here, some simple and some more advanced - have you tried any yet this December?

05/12/2025

The countdown to Christmas is often a stressful time of year for so many of us. If you'll be celebrating the festive season with a loved one who's living with dementia, here are some ways to keep things calm so that everyone can enjoy the real meaning of the season.

If you’ll be spending Christmas with a loved one who has dementia, here's how to get through the festive break without too much stress.

03/12/2025

It's that time of year again when many of us are racking our brains for gift ideas for our older relatives... 🎁

Ponder no further, because we've got a few suggestions right here!

These ideas make great gifts for older people - both with or without dementia.

🖼 Electronic memory boards 🖼

Digital memory boards are an effective way to stay connected with loved ones. These tablet devices have high-contrast, large-font displays to highlight messages and photos sent over by family or friends.

They can also display reassuring notes, reminders about events or appointments, and allow family or friends to communicate in real time by sending messages.

📺 Jubilee TV 📺

Jubilee TV is an app that works with a regular TV and compatible source device to simplify the television experience for older adults while offering a range of additional features.

The handy app enables direct-to-TV videocalling with an auto answer function, and also has a drop-in capability that allows family or friends to check in on a loved without disruption via a one-way video and audio feed. It’s also possible to send helpful medication reminders, notes, photos and videos directly to the person’s TV screen.

✨ Daily Sparkle ✨

The Daily Sparkle is an award-winning reminiscence newspaper that includes articles, quizzes, jokes and exercise ideas to enrich the lives of older adults and people living with dementia. It’s supported by organisations like the NHS, Age UK and Dementia UK and available on a subscription basis with a free trial.

Along with the daily newspaper, there are weekly versions, a monthly magazine, a sporting paper and Sensory Sparkle, designed for individuals with more advanced dementia.

For links to product ideas, head over to the blog post: https://www.ambiancecare.co.uk/aids-and-assistive-technology-for-dementia-a-guide/.

30/11/2025

The power of love cannot be underestimated. 💙

27/11/2025

Helping a loved one with dementia retain their independence at home isn't always easy - but there are plenty of handy gadgets that can help.

We wrote recently about tried and tested assistive aids and technologies for dementia. In case you missed the blog, we'll be running through some of our recommendations over the next few weeks (they also make useful Christmas present ideas!).

Here's our first: timed medication dispensers 💊⏰

It often falls to families to organise or oversee medication-taking, which can add to the strain of caring for a loved one with memory loss.

Timed medication dispensers are ideal in this scenario. These handy devices can be programmed to open at set times on set days, sounding an alarm, music, or pre-recorded message when the compartment opens.

Some timed medication dispensers can even send an SMS message to a set phone number with updates when a dose is taken, missed, or when doses in the tray reach a certain level.

There are lots of options available, so browse the worldwide web and you're sure to find something suitable for your loved one's needs.

25/11/2025

💡Know the signs of 4 of the most common forms of dementia💡

Everyone's experience of dementia will be different, and the symptoms can be different too, depending on the type of dementia.

This handy graphic from the Alzheimer's Society outlines some of the most common symptoms for each of these four forms of dementia: Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

If you have any concerns at all, getting an early diagnosis is crucial. Please don't hesitate to book in a checkup - for peace of mind if nothing else.

23/11/2025

Absolutely. A privilege. 💙

19/11/2025

If you've followed us for a few years this post might ring a bell. Psychologist Tom Kitwood created this model, the flower of psychological needs, to describe the psychological needs of people with dementia.

He wrote at length about the importance of person-centred care and has always been a guiding inspiration for how we design and deliver personalised support here at Ambiance Care.

The flower model moves the focus from a medical model of treating a patient with symptoms to a holistic approach that understands and addresses the person's core needs. This helps improve the person's emotional wellbeing and quality of life. 🌸

As loved ones become more vulnerable and more in need of our presence, these fundamental needs are where we can show true care. We can take their hand and comfort them, we can help them retain that sense of identity and include them in the things they enjoy. Because fading cognition doesn't mean fading needs.

14/11/2025

One of my favourite pictures ever. These are our lovely clients, past and present, each and every one so special to us.

You'll recognise a lot of these faces from our client stories and our posts, and of course, there's my lovely Mum just under our logo on the right.

Every person we work with we see as an individual. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to dementia care, which is why we do different things with each person to reflect their interests and create meaningful experiences.

It may be the end of the working week but we're already planning what we'll be doing with our current clients to enrich their lives in the weeks ahead. The best part of our job is seeing those beaming smiles and knowing that we're making a difference. 💙

10/11/2025

If you're free this coming Friday afternoon, why not head to a gentle creative writing workshop about dementia at Manchester's Central Library?

The Meet, Chat, Write workshop is led by artist Jenny Harris, whose tender 'Our Long Goodbye' exhibition is also on show at the library until December 19th and focuses on her relationship with her mum during her Alzheimer's journey.

The free workshop includes a range of fun activities and creative writing prompts that encourage caregivers to reflect and write in a relaxed setting.

Friday 14 November, 2.30-4.30pm, Manchester Central Library.

Our Long Goodbye is an exhibition of photos, films and texts that candidly and sensitively show the everyday love and heartbreak of someone you know living with dementia. From 5 […]

09/11/2025

We will remember them.