Alzheimers disease

Advance decisions and advance statements

People who have been diagnosed with dementia, or who are worried that they may develop dementia in the future, are often concerned about how decisions regarding their medical treatment might be made should they lose the ability to decide for themselves. They may fear that life-sustaining or life-prolonging treatments would be provided long after they were able to achieve a level of recovery, length of life or quality of life that the person would at present consider to be acceptable or tolerable.

Assessment for care and support in England

The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. They produce information and advice sheets to support those affected by dementia. This information sheet explains that if a person is confused or has dementia and needs support, their local authority social services department should carry out a community care assessment. If this assessment shows that the person needs certain services, the local authority has a duty to ensure that these services are provided.

Becoming a carer : a booklet about looking after someone with dementia

This booklet, produced by the Mental Health Foundation, is for anyone who has become, or thinks they may become a carer for someone with dementia. This booklet explains some of the basic facts about dementia, gives ideas on where to get practical and emotional support, offers advice on how to plan for the future, and provides some tips on caring for people with dementia. Importantly, it also suggests some ways carers can look after themselves while they are caring. And finally, it recommends sources of further information and help.

World Alzheimer Reports

Reports presenting a comprehensive global prevalence study of dementia and examining levels of mortality, disability, strain on carers and dependency. Also considers examples of good national dementia plans and provides information on health service responses. It includes recommendations for a global framework for action on dementia.

Still going strong : a guide to living with dementia

This booklet, produced by the Mental Health Foundation, is for people who want to find out more about living with dementia. It explains some of the basic facts about dementia, gives ideas on where to get practical and emotional help, offers advice on planning for the future, and details some strategies which other people have used to cope with dementia. Finally, it recommends places to go for information and help for people with dementia.

The milk's in the oven : a booklet about dementia for children and young people

This booklet, produced by the Mental Health Foundation, is to help children and young people understand dementia. It explains how people with dementia behave and feel, it also aims to provide young people with information about the illness and how to cope with knowing someone who was dementia. There are a number of exercises in the booklet which make it ideal for use in the classroom, as part of a PSHE lesson.

Dementia and children

The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. They produce information and advice sheets to support those affected by dementia. Finding out that someone close to you has dementia, and coping with the ongoing illness, can be distressing for anyone. But children and young people can find it particularly difficult. This advice sheet explains how to talk to children about dementia and suggests ways of helping them feel secure and involved.

Counselling : how can it help?

The Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. They produce information and advice sheets to support those affected by dementia. Counselling, or ‘talking therapy’, gives people the chance to talk in confidence to a trained professional counsellor about problems or issues that are causing them concern. There are many different types of counselling available. This information sheet explains how counselling might help people with dementia, carers and former carers.

What is dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)?

The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. They produce information and advice sheets to support those affected by dementia. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a form of dementia that shares characteristics with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. It may account for 10 to 15 per cent of all cases of dementia in older people. This information sheet outlines the symptoms of DLB, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated.