Living well with dementia

Learning how to live with dementia after your diagnosis is important and there is support and information to help.

Different types of dementia can affect people differently. However, there are some common early symptoms which include:   

  • memory loss  
  • difficulty concentrating 
  • finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks 
  • struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word 
  • being confused about time and place 
  • mood changes 

Alzheimer's Society provides more information about dementia, including types of dementia, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Get help and support 

If you think someone is showing signs of dementia, please speak to a GP. Your GP can arrange tests to confirm what’s causing their symptoms.  

If they suspect you may be developing dementia, they may refer you to the Memory Assessment Service (MAS) provided by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust (BSMHFT). 

The BSMHFT website provides information about the MAS including:

  • who the service is for
  • how to access the service
  • what happens after an assessment
  • patient information

Local services  

You can find local support services using the Alzheimer's Society dementia directory. 

Find support near you 

Alzheimer's Society also provides a local dementia support service called Dementia Connect. You can get in touch by:

Solihull Adult Social Care 

If you find it difficult to live independently or carry out everyday tasks because of your dementia diagnosis, you may be entitled to adult social care. 

To find out if you're eligible, you will need to complete an adult social care assessment. 

Complete a self-assessment  

Support for carers 

If you provide regular, unpaid care for someone, you may be entitled to support. Please refer to help and advice for carers for more information. 

To find out what support you may be entitled to, complete a carer's assessment.  

Complete a carer's assessment 

The NHS also has advice about looking after someone with dementia. 

National services  

There are national services for people with dementia and their loved ones. You can: 

Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who provide free expert advice and support. Visit Dementia UK for more information. 

Advocacy and Lasting Power of Attorney 

If you need help to express your views and wishes, find out how an advocate could help. 

Many people with dementia often reach a point where they are unable to understand and make their own decisions. This is known as lacking mental capacity.  

To help you make decisions, you may choose to appoint a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). More information about what an LPA is and how to appoint one is available on our help to make decisions about your life page.