You might be wondering what you can do to help yourself now you have a dementia diagnosis. The answer is that there’s a lot that will make things easier for you – starting with how you live on a day-to-day basis.
Here are some key ways to help yourself when you’re living with dementia:
No one copes well without enough sleep – and dementia can bring changes to sleep patterns that make getting a good night’s sleep tricky.
 But it’s important that you establish a good bedtime routine and avoid daytime napping so that your body knows the difference between night and day.
Try sticking to the same bedtime and make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and cool enough for you to sleep well. Wake the same time every morning, too.
You can find more sleep tips
By having a set routine to your day and week you’ll find it easier to remember things. Planning out your week also means there’s enough time for a good mix of activities such as socialising, keeping fit and all the things you enjoy for a balanced and healthy life.
You can read more about the importance of routine here
Spending time outdoors – especially early in the day – does you a lot of good. Natural daylight helps to set your body clock, gets you into a good routine and is great for your mood. If you can, go for an early morning walk. If that’s not possible, enjoy a cuppa in the garden every morning.
In fact, if you’re a gardener, you can tick lots of lifestyle benefits boxes at once! Read more about gardening here
Isolating yourself will not be helpful. It’s important to stay connected to others because loneliness and lack of social contact can make dementia symptoms worse. That’s why it’s important to build activities into your routine where you socialise with other people. Find out what’s on in your area here
No one is at their best when you’re hungry or thirsty and you will feel better if your diet is nutritionally sound and you are well hydrated. But it can be difficult to remember to eat and drink at times, so don’t forget to add this into your daily routine when you’re planning it out.
Why not download our handy Meal Planner – it will help you to shop, prepare and enjoy good food and make regular meals simple to include in your daily routine.
Read more about eating well here
While there’s no need to make major changes to your home, there are some small practical changes you can make to your environment that will make life easier in the future.Â
From clearing clutter to improving the lighting, simple steps will keep you safe and secure at a time when you might be feeling a little vulnerable.
Read more about creating a dementia-friendly home here
Whether you’re a tech-head or prefer old-school ways, now’s the time to get curious about the ways in which technology can help you. There are many ways that technology can be useful to those living with dementia – from smart phones and tablets with alarms to remind you to take medication or attend appointments to smart home technology that means loved ones can help you stay safe by turning lights on using only their phones.
If you have a hobby or interest that you love, keep going with it. If you haven’t, it would benefit you greatly if you could find one you enjoy. Whether it’s knitting, bowling, doing crosswords, volunteering in your local community or singing, keeping your mind busy has great benefits. Bonus points if it’s a hobby that get you out of the house, too.
Read more about dementia-friendly hobbies and interests here
Staying active brings immense benefits, so if you’re an active person, keep doing what you love. If you’re not, now’s the time to start. You’ll find lots of ideas for ways to get active here including easy ways to keep fit at home.
Even if you’re an extremely independent person, it’s important to accept the help of friends and family and any other support networks that you might have. This will help you to cope with the changes that dementia will bring, both in the short and long term.
Be realistic about what you can do by yourself and what you need help with. Identify people in your life who can help with care, finances, legal admin and day-to-day routine – this might mean different people for different tasks.
Don’t feel bad if you find yourself needing help with your feelings, either. Sometimes family and loved ones are not the best at helping us with emotions, so speak to your GP if you’re struggling with your diagnosis. You can read more about seeking help with difficult emotions here