Sarah Franklin, Helping Hands Dementia Champion, attended the Dementia Matters Here(fordshire) Dementia festival, organised to bring together people living with dementia, their carers, and dementia professionals from the area. In a supportive environment of sharing knowledge, fun, and activities, people were able to speak to organisations such as Alzheimer’s Research UK, local care homes, young carers’ support groups, and many more. Local artist Gemma Moore demonstrated the work she’d been doing helping people living with dementia to express themselves through art, while singing for the brain ..read more

Helping Hands Home Care have received the highest rating possible from Alzheimer’s Society for their commitment to dementia-friendly spaces. Watch the branch walk-through here. In a recent audit conducted by Alzheimer’s Society, the Rothwell branch, near Leeds, received a level 1 rating out of 4, where the environment provides the best possible opportunity for people living with dementia. Using the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friendly Audit Tool, the branch was rated on eight key areas including signage, lighting, navigation and décor – with the criteria being met for all eight categories ..read more

After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Alzheimer’s Show is back! I was fortunate enough to be one of Helping Hands’ representatives at the prestigious event this year hosted by the Business Design Centre in London, and it was wonderful to be able to chat face-to-face with potential customers, carers, and fellow industry professionals. What is the Alzheimer’s Show? The Alzheimer’s Show is the only UK event dedicated to dementia advice, support and information for healthcare professionals and family carers, and since it launched in 2013 over 18,000 visitors have attended. The show ..read more

Both dementia and a stroke can significantly impact a person’s life, from the physical effects to the strain on your emotional wellbeing. Quite often, people are unfamiliar with the causes and impacts of dementia and strokes until they, or a loved one, have experienced them. There are numerous online resources which explain the link between a stroke and dementia, but we understand that this information can be difficult to understand, which is why we have put together a simple guide on how stroke and dementia are connected. The link between stroke and dementia Vascular dementia is a common typ ..read more

This article was initially published on 09/07/18, and has been updated for accuracy on 06/04/21. Dementia can have a tremendous impact on the person living with it, but also their family and loved ones. There are many types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and the symptoms differ between each type. However, because dementia affects the brain, one of the most common symptoms is noticeable memory loss and having difficulty with tasks that they could do with ease before their diagnosis. There are many different techniques that you can use to alleviate the symptoms of dem ..read more

When springtime falls, many of us look upon it as a time to dust away the webs of winter and illuminate our homes with vibrant flowers and the fresh scent of spring. And whilst we look at brightening up our homes for spring, it can also be an opportunity to enhance your loved one’s home if they are living with dementia. Whether you are planning to redecorate or want some inspiration for arranging furniture, we have got some top tips on making their home dementia friendly. Making the home comfortable: First up, we have a few examples of how to best use your furniture and layout to make the hom ..read more

According to the Alzheimer’s Society 9 out of 10 deaths from coronavirus have been in people aged over 60. Due to the majority of people living with dementia being over the age of 65, it’s therefore understandable that the risk does increase for people living with a form of dementia. It isn’t just because of age though; confusion resulting from dementia can mean a person doesn’t understand the rules around social distancing, frequent handwashing and other COVID-19 measures, as well as the increased likelihood that someone living with dementia will have care inside their home from an outside so ..read more

Christmas can be a very exciting time for many of us. Exchanging gifts, spending quality time with your nearest and dearest and trying to make it all the way through Christmas dinner without dropping your paper hat in the gravy; it truly can be the most wonderful time of the year. Not only that, but it’s traditionally a time for hope and spreading joy; being together as a family and celebrating everything that is good in the world. But for some, Christmas isn’t always a time for joy and excitement; it can bring back painful memories of loved ones that are no longer with us, which can be partic ..read more