Looking after someone with dementia at home is tough. There’s no getting around that. It takes patience, flexibility, and more love than you probably knew you had. But here’s the thing — with the right knowledge and support, your loved one really can live well with dementia in their own home.
This guide is full of practical, everyday advice for families caring for someone with dementia in Denbighshire, Conwy, Wrexham, and across Wales. We’ll cover daily routines, making the home safer, communicating better, and knowing when it’s time to bring in some professional help.
Establishing a Daily Routine
Routine is your best friend when it comes to dementia care. A predictable day gives your loved one a sense of security and helps reduce the anxiety that comes with confusion. Here are some tips for building a good routine:
Keep It Consistent
Try to do things at roughly the same time each day — getting up, meals, activities, bath time, and bed. Your loved one might not remember what they did yesterday, but that familiar rhythm of the day can feel comforting and reassuring on a really deep level.
Build in Meaningful Activity
People with dementia still need stimulation and a sense of purpose, just like the rest of us. That doesn’t mean filling every minute — rest matters too — but try to include things they enjoy or used to enjoy. Maybe it’s listening to music, flipping through old photos, a bit of gentle gardening, folding laundry, or a short walk.
The key is to focus on the experience, not the result. It doesn’t matter if the laundry isn’t perfectly folded. What matters is that they feel involved and valued.
Allow Extra Time
Everything takes longer when someone has dementia. Rushing just creates stress for both of you. Build extra time into the day so things can happen at a gentle pace. If getting dressed takes 30 minutes, then that’s how long it takes — and that’s absolutely fine.
Be Flexible
We know this sounds contradictory after talking about routine, but the reality is that some days are better than others. If your loved one’s having a rough morning, it’s perfectly okay to change the plan. Think of the routine as a helpful framework, not a strict timetable.
Communication Tips
As dementia progresses, communication gets harder. Your loved one might struggle to find the right words, repeat themselves, get confused about when or where they are, or misunderstand what you’re saying. Here are some things that can help:
Speak Slowly and Clearly
Keep your sentences short and simple. Ask one question at a time and give them plenty of time to answer. Try not to jump in and finish their sentences or correct them — it’s more important that they feel heard than that every detail is spot on.
Use Non-Verbal Communication
Your facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language become more and more important as verbal communication fades. A warm smile, a gentle touch, or a calm voice can say “you’re safe” even when words aren’t landing. Make eye contact and get down to their level.
Avoid Arguing or Correcting
If your loved one says something that isn’t true — like believing a parent who’s passed away is still alive, or thinking they need to get to work — arguing will only upset them. Instead, try to understand the feeling behind what they’re saying. They might be looking for comfort or something familiar. Acknowledge how they feel and gently steer the conversation somewhere else.
Use Reminiscence
Long-term memories often stick around much longer than short-term ones. Chatting about the past — their childhood, their career, favourite holidays — can be a real source of joy and connection. Old photos, familiar songs, and objects from years ago can spark some wonderful conversations.
Making the Home Safe
Keeping the home safe is really important for someone with dementia. As the condition progresses, they become less able to spot hazards and react to danger. Here are some practical steps you can take:
Prevent Falls
- Get rid of loose rugs and tuck away any trailing cables
- Make sure there’s good lighting everywhere, especially on stairs and in hallways
- Put up grab rails in the bathroom and by the bed
- Keep floors clear of clutter
- Try motion-sensor night lights for those trips to the bathroom in the dark
Kitchen Safety
- Think about a cooker guard, or switch to a microwave for heating food
- Keep sharp knives and cleaning products safely out of reach
- Use a kettle that switches itself off when it’s boiled
- If they’re forgetting to turn the cooker off, you can get an isolation switch fitted
Prevent Wandering
Wandering is something a lot of families worry about. Here are some practical things you can do:
- Fit door sensors or alarms that let you know if an outside door is opened
- Look into a GPS tracking device or app, with the person’s consent where possible
- Make sure they carry some ID with a contact number on it
- Register with the Herbert Protocol through your local police — it stores key details to help find a vulnerable person quickly if they go missing
Bathroom Safety
- Set the water temperature to prevent scalding (a thermostatic mixing valve works brilliantly for this)
- Put non-slip mats in the bath and shower
- Think about a walk-in shower if getting in and out of the bath is becoming tricky
- Lock away medications and cleaning products
Looking After Yourself
We’re putting this here because it really matters — not as an afterthought. If you’re the main carer for someone with dementia, your own health has to be a priority. Carer burnout is real, it’s common, and it’s serious. So please remember:
- Accept help: When people offer, say yes. Even small things — someone sitting with your loved one for an hour while you go for a walk — make a real difference.
- Take regular breaks: Respite care exists exactly for this. A professional care worker steps in so you can rest and recharge. Have a look at our article on what respite care is and how it helps.
- Stay connected: Isolation is a real risk for carers, not just for the people they look after. Try to keep up with friends and do things that are just for you.
- Seek emotional support: Caring for someone with dementia can bring grief, frustration, and sheer exhaustion. Talking to people who get it — whether that’s a local carers’ group, a helpline, or a counsellor — can make such a difference.
- Look after your physical health: Don’t skip your own GP appointments. Eat properly. Move your body. These things really matter.
When to Get Professional Help
There’s absolutely no shame in saying you need some help. In fact, bringing in a domiciliary care provider at the right time can make life so much better for both you and your loved one. It might be time to look into professional support when:
- Personal care like washing and dressing is becoming difficult or upsetting
- There’s a risk of falls, wandering, or other safety worries
- Behavioural changes — like aggression, agitation, or sundowning — are getting hard to handle
- Night-time disturbances are affecting your sleep and health
- You’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you just can’t keep going
- Their needs have grown beyond what you can safely manage on your own
Getting professional care doesn’t mean you’re handing over. It can work alongside the care you already give. Lots of families start with just a few visits a week for personal care and gradually build up the support as things change.
Local Dementia Services in Wales
There are some really good organisations out there that can help people with dementia and their families in Denbighshire, Conwy, and Wrexham:
- Alzheimer’s Society Cymru: They run a Dementia Connect support line, local support groups, and have loads of helpful information. They also do Dementia Friends awareness sessions.
- Memory Assessment Services: Available through Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Your GP can refer you for a memory assessment if dementia is suspected.
- Dementia Actif: A North Wales programme that offers activities and social opportunities for people living with dementia.
- Carers Trust Wales: They provide support, information, and grants for family carers, including those looking after someone with dementia.
- Age Cymru: They’ve got a free advice line and local services, including befriending and help with benefits and care options.
- Dewis Cymru: An online directory of wellbeing services in Wales — great for searching for local dementia support.
Please don’t try to do this all on your own. These organisations are there to help, and reaching out to them isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength.
How Accredilink Can Help
At Accredilink Community Response Taskforce, we provide domiciliary care for people living with dementia across Denbighshire, Conwy, and Wrexham. Our care workers are trained in dementia awareness and they truly understand how much patience, consistency, and genuine warmth matter.
We offer a range of services to support your loved one and your whole family, including regular personal care visits, sit-in companionship services, respite care so you can take a breather, social care and engagement, and emergency care response for urgent situations. We’re regulated by Care Inspectorate Wales and we’re committed to care that’s safe, person-centred, and dignified.
If you’re caring for someone with dementia and wondering whether some professional support might help, we’d love to hear from you. There’s no obligation at all — we’re just here to listen, offer advice, and support you however we can.