Rethink Dementia

The ‘Rethink Dementia’ campaign encourages people to continue doing the things they always did with friends or relatives diagnosed with dementia. Created in collaboration with a National Dementia Lived Experience Panel, the campaign emphasises the importance of maintaining relationships with those living with dementia. Research has shown that making this effort to stay in contact and include individuals in social activities can help alleviate symptoms of depression, agitation, sleep disturbance, anxiety and apathy that can often come with dementia.

Dementia affects an estimated 90,000 people in Scotland and 3,000 of whom are under the age of 65. Insight informing the campaign highlighted that many people associate dementia with the later stage of the illness and therefore change their behaviour towards a friend or family member who has been diagnosed, some even step away. 

The Rethink Dementia campaign will play a key role in getting friends and family to think differently about a dementia diagnosis and provide simple ways they can help a friend or loved one live fulfilling lives with dementia and help them stay well for longer.

Daniel Murphy (72), married father of four is living with Alzheimer’s. Joan Murphy (73) is Danny’s wife and primary care partner, and the couple live togetherin Stirling.

Click here to read Danny & Joan’s full story.

You can access their story on film here.

For more information around supporting someone with a dementia diagnosis, please visit nhsinform.scot/RethinkDementia