Tips to give a dementia-friendly welcome at your activity

We identified these tips from desktop research, our survey of  30 people with dementia and carers, and review of the resulting draft list by 5 more people with dementia. They included:

• 3 Nations Dementia Working Group members in Wales, Shropshire and Staffordshire.
• people with dementia in London and Manchester.

Be clear with people about what they can influence.

• 'Together with other people suffering from Dementia I attended a meeting with a [health service] representative which was so clearly a tick box exercise it was insulting.'

• 'The person conducting the exercise took no notes, and when asked if she had got what she wanted from us replied that we had told her nothing she had not already known. The slightest modicum of respect might have helped.'

Find out people's access, dietary and support needs.

Use  Information about Me forms and collate the information. Use this to help you plan in advance and to deal with unexpected things on the day. 

• 'it’s very important that the people running the event understand what each person can and cannot do or understand.' 

Use 'pads in bags' to be inclusive of the needs of people affected by incontinence. Ask venues to ensure there are sanitary waste bins in all toilet areas. 

Consider support people may need in unfamiliar places.

Peter Berry offers insights to his experience of staying away from home.

Make it easy to find your activity. 

Use Dementia-Friendly signage so people don't get lost.

• ‘make very clear where the event is going to be and offer to explain the best way to get there.’
• ‘It’s especially helpful to have signage in toilets (when you come out of a cubicle, to have an exit sign on the door.)’

Have a quiet room - not just a quiet space. 

• 'We need to be reminded all the time. I went to a conference recently that had a quiet room, but it was only announced in the morning, so it was  not well used, even though people would have liked to use it. The organisers should have reminded everyone each time there was a break – it’s a memory thing.'
• 'Include an easy accessible version of a map [of the event] showing where everything is, some water to drink, and a couple of photos of key staff who you might want to approach if you need help or support.'

Have people to provide support. Identify them clearly.

• 'Having familiar faces is a great help, but it’s much better if they have a name badge too. I forget the names of really familiar faces – people I’ve known for years!' 

Help people to stay hydrated - prompt people to drink. 

Many people with dementia may focus on your activity and forget to drink. 

Plan - and deliver - your agenda to enable people to focus 

Structure your agenda so people can concentrate ‘in the moment’ rather than having to remember what they have said or done earlier in the day.

• 'Short sessions... with good breaks, preferably with opportunities to get some fresh air and quiet.' 
• 'Remember to speak slowly. If people speak quickly it makes it difficult to keep up and I miss things.' 
• 'rule out jargon. And use jargon warning cards to stop it!' 

Don't wait till the end of your activity to gather feedback. 

• 'I went to one and they had feedback forms on the table. After every presentation they said please mark your feedback sheets before the next one comes on. They got lots more feedback that way!'

Let people know if there will be updates after the event. 

• 'If people go to events hoping that they will be able to make a difference, it’s important that they receive updates.'

Recognise when to ask external specialists to help

Groups for people affected by dementia may be free or low cost to access. 

Universities, research agencies and consultants may be able to help you.