About Dementia

Dementia refers to a collection of symptoms affecting memory, understanding, judgment, and daily living. Though often treated as one disease, dementia stems from various brain conditions. Alzheimer’s disease is the most prominent cause, yet vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia also play significant roles. Each type uniquely impacts thinking, mood, and the ability to manage daily routines.

The condition affects around 850,000 people in the UK. It usually occurs in people aged over 65, but it’s not a natural part of ageing.

Importantly, dementia is progressive—meaning symptoms tend to worsen over time. Therefore, seeking support early is essential. It also helps you plan and access help earlier. Early guidance from The Carers’ Support Service helps carers in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire plan effectively, manage day-to-day needs, and live well with dementia.

Click on the links below to find out more

Symptoms

While memory loss often comes to mind first, dementia shows up in many ways. You might notice:

Forgetting recent events
Struggles with planning or organising tasks
Confusion in unfamiliar places
Difficulty finding words or following conversations
Sudden changes in mood or behaviour
Trouble judging distance or recognising objects
Hallucinations, delusions, or sensory distortion

Further information

You can find more information about the symptoms of each type of dementia on the NHS symptoms webpage.

The Alzheimer’s Research UK website has a helpful visual diagram that allows you to tour the brain. You can find out how dementia can affect different areas of the brain.

If you are worried about memory loss

It is important to know that there are many reasons for memory loss apart from dementia. Many of us become more forgetful as we get older and need a bit longer to remember things. For most people, these changes will be the result of normal ageing and won’t be down to dementia. Stress, tiredness, illness, and certain medications can all affect your memory. For this reason, it is important to take action if these issues persist.

Getting a Diagnosis

Worried about memory issues? Start with your GP—they can assess symptoms and refer you for further evaluation. A community mental health team might conduct in-depth memory tests, scans, or interviews. Following a diagnosis, you’ll receive tailored care options such as medication, memory support, and links to specialist services through the Carers’ Support Service.

Moreover, your GP will support you long-term by conducting annual reviews. This ongoing support ensures the plan stays relevant as needs evolve.

Have a diagnosis?

If you, or a friend or relative, have recently been diagnosed with dementia, you may be feeling scared, anxious or sad. There is currently no “cure” for dementia but there are several drugs that could help

It is important to know that many people who have the condition lead active, fulfilling lives.

Next step: planning

If you do receive a diagnosis, the next step is planning your care. This plan may include medication, memory courses, and signposting to local support services. Furthermore, your GP will be kept informed about your assessment and will work alongside you. They will also provide a yearly review to make sure your care continues to meet your needs.

By seeking a diagnosis early, you gain access to advice, treatment, and vital support. Most importantly, you will not face this journey alone, as help is available every step of the way.

If you are worried that someone you know may have dementia, The National Health Service (NHS) and the Alzheimer’s Society have tips for starting a conversation with them about your concerns.

Staying independent

There may be equipment which may help you with memory loss and staying independent. See the staying independent page of North Lincolnshire Councils website for information on aids and adaptations and the independent living service. The Alzheimer’s Society also have an online shop

Advice, support and resources

Looking for practical advice on living with dementia? The Carers’ Support Service (in collaboration with Dementia Direct) offers free, confidential assistance to carers and people living with dementia. We deliver emotional support, peer groups, wellbeing workshops, and guidance to help you manage daily life more confidently.

Since 1989, we’ve helped carers throughout North and North East Lincolnshire access the support they need.

For further help, receive peer connection, or explore our services, please reach out anytime on either 01652 650585 (North Lincolnshire) or 01472 242277 (North East Lincolnshire).

The Living With Dementia Toolkit is a set of resources. It is based on research and the expert experiences of people with dementia and their carers.
The Alzheimer’s Society offers a telephone support line – 0333 150 3456. They also have an online discussion forum, Talking Point, for anyone affected by dementia.
“This is me” is a simple leaflet which you can download. It is for anyone receiving professional care who is living with dementia or experiencing other communication difficulties. It can be used to record details about a person who can’t easily share information about themselves.
‘My Home Helper‘ has been developed to help people who care for someone living with memory issues. It is simple to use tablet computer doesn’t need any interaction from the person living with dementia or memory issues.
My House of Memories app is an easy to use app designed for, and with, people living with dementia and their families and carers. It allow you to explore objects from the past and share memories together.

Videos

Researchers at Loughborough University have produced a series of short ‘Dementia Persona’ videos to help people living with dementia and families to identify the level of care required at different stages of dementia:

The Ideal Project have made a film about a theatre production, The World Turned Upside Down, that takes a realistic look at dementia: what it can be like to live with dementia or care for a person with dementia.

Here is a collection of videos in Urdu and Arabic, put together by Age UK in Sheffield. They help raise awareness and understanding of Dementia, the diagnosis and helping those living with Dementia. If you need help or support, get in touch with Dementia Direct, the Dementia Advisory Service for North Lincolnshire. Get in touch via the contact form or call 01652 650585

Support in other languages

Volunteering to support people living with Dementia

Anyone who is keen to make a positive difference to the lives of people living with dementia can get involved with the work of Dementia Direct and the Carers’ Support Service. Please complete our volunteer application form, and make it clear you would like to support people living with Dementia. We very much look forward to hearing from you.

We are keen to hear form people who are interested in becoming Befrienders, and those who would like to support our peer support groups.