Many people live alone and wish to continue to do so following a diagnosis of dementia. Depending on your personal circumstances, type of dementia, other health conditions and support available, good planning for now and for the future may help you live at home for longer.
Developing a support system of friends and family and formal supports through NDIS, Aged Care Services, your GP, other health and social care services and support through Peers and Dementia Friendly Communities are key to remaining at home for as long as possible.
Practical considerations
Living safely and well on your own with dementia requires planning. Start with considering the things that are difficult to manage independently, or things you are concerned about. Consider the people, services and things that provide you with support. Making a list like this may feel overwhelming, so start by making a list of things you are concerned about right now.
To get you started here are some common concerns people living alone with dementia have told us about:
These are only a few ideas. It can be helpful to discuss your concerns with supportive family, trusted friends, health care professionals and especially other people living with dementia who have found solutions to addressing concerns about living alone.
You might want to attend peer support groups and connect with others locally or online. See here for peer support run by Dementia Alliance International, and here for Dementia Australia’s ‘Connecting Peers’ program.
You may also like to use the ‘My life plan worksheet’ to help you identify goals and work out strategies to help you stay at home.
Andrew used the Dementia Australia Peer Support program to talk with another person with younger onset dementia about living alone. He found many solutions to living independently he had not considered.
Doreen was had lived in her home for forty-years and has great neighbours. She hung her towel out in the sun on her back porch each morning after her shower. This was also a message to her neighbour, who could see her porch, that she was up and about. If the neighbour did not see the towel, she would come over to check on Doreen.
Stay connected with technology
Technological solutions to help you live alone are rapidly developing. Technology can help set daily reminders, find lost items, automatically alert someone if you fall, improve your in-home and out-of-home safety, and help you stay connected socially. You can explore the huge range of technologies through the National Equipment Database here and Smarter Homes Australia here
Important actions
Use the Circle of Friends worksheet to help work out how and when to share your diagnosis.
Use the My Life Plan worksheet to help you identify goals and work out strategies to overcome barriers
Apply early for services. Getting services is not a quick process. Read Section 5 of this website to know about, plan and use services. Starting early is key to finding a service provider who you can work with, and can help you to move forward positively.
Watch this video on creating dementia friendly homes. This video gives practical tips on adapting your home to better support you when living alone.
Photo: Abstral Official via Unsplash.
