Newly diagnosed with dementia

Getting the right support

The first thing is to remember that your diagnosis doesn’t change who you are. You’re still you, and having dementia doesn’t change that.

The next thing is to get as much help and support as you can. Support can come from lots of different places, but sometimes it can be hard to find or difficult to understand. We're here to help you to find support that’s right for you.  

You are not alone

There are lots of ways to connect with people who understand what you’re going through. You could try:

• finding a support group – where you can talk to others with a similar experience
• joining an online community (for example, Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Support Forum)
• call our Dementia Support Line to talk with a dementia support worker or dementia adviser
• read real stories from other people affected by dementia on our blog.

Adjusting to life with dementia

Planning for the future

Making plans for the future can be helpful for people with dementia and their carers. It’s important to plan ahead because dementia is a progressive condition. This means there may come a time when you find it hard to make decisions for yourself.

We have lots of information online, and a guide to planning ahead. This is part of a series of nine booklets that have been written for people with dementia.