Glossary of terms
Admiral Nurse
Specialist mental health nurses trained to support people living with dementia and their carers.
Adult day centre
An adult day centre is a safe, social setting where people living with dementia can take part in activities and meet others, often providing carers with respite and peace of mind.
Advance care plan
A document where someone’s preferences for future healthcare or medical decisions are written down. It comes into effect if they lose the ability to communicate or make decisions.
Advance statement
A record of a person’s wishes, beliefs and values about their future care. It can include preferences about daily care routines, religious practices or location of care.
Agnosia
Difficulty recognising familiar people or objects through sight, touch, sound, taste or smell - even when the senses themselves are working normally.
Alzheimer’s disease
The most common type of dementia. It usually starts with memory loss and gradually affects other parts of the brain.
Attendance Allowance
A non‑means‑tested benefit for people over state pension age who need help with personal care because of dementia. Eligibility is based on care needs, not income or savings.
Blue Badge
A Blue Badge is a parking permit for people with mobility challenges. It allows closer access to shops or services in designated disabled parking spaces, whether the badge-holder is driving or riding as a passenger.
Bright light therapy
A treatment that involves sitting in front of a light box that mimics natural daylight, to help regulate the body's natural sleep-wake cycle and improve mood.
Anyone who supports a person living with dementia, whether that’s a family member, friend or neighbour. You don’t need to be paid or live with the person to be a carer.
Carer’s Allowance
A benefit for someone providing at least 35 hours of care each week. It offers financial support to carers, even if they don’t live with the person they care for.
Carer’s Leave Act
Employees in England, Wales and Scotland have the right to up to one week’s unpaid leave per year to care for a dependent with long‑term care needs. Leave can be taken flexibly as half days, full days or a block.
A review carried out by the local council to understand what support a person might need in daily life. This could include help at home, equipment or access to local services that support wellbeing.
Care plan
A written document agreed with health professionals, the individual and their carers. It records diagnosis, preferences, care goals, treatments, risk factors and day‑to‑day arrangements.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
A progressive brain condition seen in people with a history of repeated head injuries. It is particularly associated with contact sports like boxing, but can affect anyone with repeated head trauma.
Individuals with a severe mental impairment, such as dementia, may be eligible for a council tax reduction or exemption.
Dementia
A general term for a group of conditions that affect how the brain works. It can cause problems with memory, thinking, communication and everyday tasks.
A home that has been adapted to help someone live more safely and independently. This could mean making changes like improving lighting, using clear signs and removing trip hazards.
Dehydration
A condition that occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, resulting in insufficient water and other essential fluids. Dehydration can be a serious issue in dementia when someone forgets to drink or cannot recognise thirst.
Delirium
A rapid onset state of confusion that usually develops over hours or days. It differs from dementia by its speed and fluctuating presence.
The process of identifying a condition through tests, conversations and medical history. A dementia diagnosis helps people plan ahead and access support.
A medical instruction that tells healthcare staff not to try to restart someone’s heart or breathing if they stop. It’s usually agreed with a doctor based on the person’s wishes and health condition.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
The DVLA is a government agency which regulates driving in the UK. A dementia diagnosis must be reported to the DVLA if the person wishes to continue driving.
Dysphagia means having trouble swallowing. It can happen slowly over time or come on more suddenly.
Early‑onset dementia
Early-onset dementia refers to dementia diagnosed in individuals under the age of 65.
Fidgeting means moving hands or feet in a restless way, often without realising. In people with dementia, it can be a way of showing discomfort, boredom, anxiety or a need for reassurance.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
Frontotemporal dementia affects the front and side regions of the brain. It often causes early changes in personality, behaviour or language and can occur at younger ages than other dementias.
Gait
Gait means the way a person walks. Dementia can affect movement and balance, sometimes leading to a slower, shuffling or unsteady walk. Changes in gait vary depending on the type of dementia and which parts of the brain are affected.
General practitioner (GP)
A GP is a local doctor at your surgery or health centre. They are often the first point of contact for health concerns and can refer you to other services.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are when someone sees, hears, smells or feels things that aren't really there. They can be vivid and sometimes distressing. Some types of dementia, like Lewy body dementia, are more likely to cause hallucinations.
A national scheme that helps the police find people with dementia who go missing. Families or carers fill out a form with key details like the person’s routines, medical needs and places they may go. If they ever go missing, the form can be quickly shared with the police to help bring them home safely.
Home care
Home care involves trained staff visiting a person’s home to provide personal care, meals, companionship or support with daily tasks.
Huntington’s disease
A rare inherited condition that affects the brain causing problems with movement, thinking and behaviour, it can lead to dementia over time.
Incontinence
Incontinence means trouble knowing when or how to use the toilet. It's common in dementia and can be caused by memory problems or physical difficulties.
Insomnia
Insomnia is trouble falling or staying asleep. It is common among people with dementia and may affect mood and wellbeing.
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
An LPA is a legal document allowing someone you trust to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity. It can cover health and welfare or property and financial affairs. The equivalent term in Scotland is Power of Attorney and in Northern Ireland it is Enduring Power of Attorney.
Lewy body dementia is caused by changes in the brain from a protein called Lewy bodies. It can affect how a person thinks, moves, feels and acts. People may also see things that aren't really there.
Local authority
Your local authority (or council) is the local government body responsible for social care services. It carries out needs assessments and can grant care packages or support.
Meal planner
A planning tool used to organise meals for the week. It helps carers prepare balanced and timely meals, easing routine stress and helping structure daily life.
Memory café
A memory café is a friendly, dementia‑aware gathering for people living with dementia and their carers. Sessions may include gentle activities, conversation, coffee or arts and support.
A service that assesses memory problems and may offer tests, support or diagnosis. Usually run by specialist nurses or doctors.
The ability to understand, remember and weigh up information to make a decision. Dementia can affect a person’s capacity over time.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
Means having noticeable problems with memory or thinking, but still being able to manage everyday life. It isn’t dementia, though some people with MCI may go on to develop it.
Mixed dementia
Mixed dementia refers to a situation where someone has two or more types of dementia at the same time - for example Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
A care package fully funded by the NHS for adults with complex health needs resulting from disability, illness or injury, regardless of income.
Nursing home
A nursing home provides accommodation and 24‑hour care managed by qualified nurses. It supports people who have higher medical and personal care needs.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy helps people stay independent and do everyday tasks more easily. An occupational therapist can suggest equipment, small changes at home, or new ways of doing things to make daily life safer and more manageable.
Palliative care
Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for people with progressive illness. Its goal is comfort and support rather than cure.
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease affects movement through loss of brain cells. It can cause tremors, slow movement, speech changes and may lead to dementia in later stages.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
PIP is a benefit for people under state pension age who have long‑term health needs affecting daily living and mobility.
Power of Attorney
A formal legal arrangement allowing someone to act on your behalf in financial or health matters. See Lasting Power of Attorney.
Reminiscence therapy
Reminiscence therapy uses prompts like photographs, music or stories to help someone living with dementia remember and talk about their past. It can help boost mood and connection.
Residential care
Residential care homes offer 24‑hour personal support, medication help and social activities. They are suitable when someone cannot manage independently at home.
Short-term care that gives carers a break. It might be a few hours, a day service or a short stay in a care home.
Protecting someone from harm or abuse.
Sheltered housing
Sheltered housing offers independent living in a supported environment. Usually suitable for older adults who need occasional support but value independence.
Social prescribing
Social prescribing is when a GP or nurse refers someone to local community activities to support wellbeing. It might include walking groups, arts, befriending or other social support.
Social worker
A social worker supports individuals and families with planning, funding and navigating care needs. They provide emotional help, practical guidance and support discharge planning.
Speech and Language Therapy (SALT)
SALT services help with speech, language and swallowing difficulties. A GP or healthcare team may refer someone living with dementia to SALT for assessment and support.
Sundowning
Sundowning describes increased confusion, restlessness or agitation late in the afternoon or early evening.
Support group
A support group brings carers together to share experiences and advice. They can meet in person or online with a leader or facilitator to guide discussions.
Sometimes, after a serious head injury, people can develop something called post-traumatic dementia. This means they might have lasting difficulties with memory or thinking.
A UTI is an infection in the bladder or urinary system. In someone with dementia, it can cause sudden confusion instead of the usual signs like pain or needing to wee more often.
Vascular dementia
Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, which can lead to problems with memory, thinking and planning.
Wandering
Wandering is when someone with memory loss walks off - sometimes disoriented or lost - even in familiar surroundings. It often occurs when someone forgets their address or destination.
Will
A will is a legal document stating how someone’s money, property or possessions should be distributed after they die. It must be signed and witnessed to be valid.