20th May 2019

A series of videos have been created by the University of Bristol and people with dementia to help friends, family and support workers communicate effectively with those living with the condition.

This represents the first time that people with dementia have been co-researchers on a project of this kind, with the aim being to improve the lives of the 850,000 people in the UK who live with dementia.

The researchers put a lot of emphasis on showing interest, listening and giving people enough time to think and respond, while not finishing their sentences for them and maintaining eye contact.

“We wanted to find out what helps people living with dementia to have an equal voice in everyday interactions. Doing this research alongside people living with dementia was invaluable because they could help guide our research to focus on what was important,” the university’s Dr Joe Webb said.

The videos have been produced to help train support works and other people who are in regular communication with people with dementia, also foregrounding the knowledge and potential that individuals have in shaping the support and care they receive.

Dementia is a syndrome where the memory, thinking, behaviour and ability to perform everyday tasks deteriorates. Stats from the World Health Organization show that Alzheimer’s is the most common form, contributing to between 60 and 70 per cent of cases.

We have two specialist dementia care homes: Haviland House and Linfield House.

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