Memory problems | Alzheimer's Society

'Love in every stitch' - Danielle's memory cushions made for people with dementia

Danielle helps to support her mother-in-law, Sheila, who has dementia. When the family were unable to visit Sheila's care home during coronavirus, Danielle decided to make a unique cushion with pictures of family members.

09 Apr 2021

short

Real stories

Advice

Time-shifting and dementia

Time-shifting is when a person’s experience is that they are living at an earlier time in their life.

Advice

Misperceptions and misidentifications, and dementia

A person with dementia may mistake objects or people for things they are not. Misperceptions and misidentifications can be caused by problem with a person's eyes, or by problems with the brain. Find out how to support a person who is experiencing this.

Real stories

Finding Mum - Sue's 7 learnings after caring for her mother with dementia

Sue's mum, Mollie, passed away two years ago with Alzheimer's disease. Now Sue reflects on the lessons that living with and caring for a person with dementia taught her. She shares her perspective to honour her mum, celebrate their relationship, and help others affected by dementia.

17 February 2021

Real stories

'Dad's hallucinations got worse and worse' - Jess and her dad's young-onset dementia diagnosis

Jess and her brothers began to notice worrying changes in their dad's behaviour while he was living alone. Following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, the siblings set out looking for the right care home for their father.

28 January 2021

Real stories

‘Grandad wasn’t himself’ - Spotting changes in behaviour before a dementia diagnosis

Ruby and her family started to see changes in her Grandad, George’s behaviour before he was diagnosed with mixed dementia. Ruby tells her story of what these changes meant and how the family dealt with them.

31 December 2020

Real stories

'Mum was not Mum' - Jacqueline's story about her mother's dementia diagnosis

When Jacqueline's mum stopped doing the things she enjoyed, she took her to the GP. She tells her story of Audrey's diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease and the changes in her behaviour.

08 December 2020

Advice

Understanding denial and lack of insight

When a person is diagnosed with dementia they may not understand or accept their diagnosis. This may be because the person is in denial, or because they have what is known as ‘lack of insight’.

Information

Understanding denial and lack of insight - other resources

Find out about other useful organisations that can support you with denial and lack of insight.

Advice

Coping with denial and lack of insight with dementia

Coping with lack of insight or denial can be very difficult. Here are practical tips for supporting a person with denial or lack of insight, including support for friends and family.

Information

Memory loss but not dementia: functional cognitive disorder (FCD)

Researchers have studied people being assessed for problems with their thinking and memory. Recent figures suggest that, of people going to a memory clinic with such symptoms, as many as one in four don’t have dementia. Instead, these difficulties are caused by functional cognitive disorder.

24 September 2020

Real stories

Home movies and memory loss – Creating a short film from my grandfather’s old footage

Following the passing of his grandfather, David found his old film reels and created a short film, which was broadcast by the BBC. David reflects on their relationship before dementia, and how the condition affected his grandfather in his later years.

18 August 2020

News

Alzheimer’s Society comment on how coronavirus is affecting dementia assessment and diagnosis

Every person with dementia should have access to a diagnosis and post-diagnostic support. Ella Robinson, Senior Policy Officer at Alzheimer's Society, shares data and insight on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected primary care and memory assessment services.

Dementia Connect support line

'Love in every stitch' - Danielle's memory cushions made for people with dementia

Time-shifting and dementia

Misperceptions and misidentifications, and dementia

Finding Mum - Sue's 7 learnings after caring for her mother with dementia

'Dad's hallucinations got worse and worse' - Jess and her dad's young-onset dementia diagnosis

‘Grandad wasn’t himself’ - Spotting changes in behaviour before a dementia diagnosis

'Mum was not Mum' - Jacqueline's story about her mother's dementia diagnosis

Understanding denial and lack of insight

Understanding denial and lack of insight - other resources

Coping with denial and lack of insight with dementia

Memory loss but not dementia: functional cognitive disorder (FCD)

Home movies and memory loss – Creating a short film from my grandfather’s old footage

Alzheimer’s Society comment on how coronavirus is affecting dementia assessment and diagnosis