Stay safe and well
Everyday independence
Using the telephone, making a cup of tea, going shopping: there are lots of everyday activities which are important for our wellbeing and help us feel we are in control. Being able to keep doing these everyday activities is what allows you to stay independent. In health research, this is called your ‘functional ability’.
Being independent means being free from outside control or support. You can be independent by using approaches or equipment that enable you to do what you can.
On this page we:
- explore what our research tells us about the importance of everyday activities for people living with dementia
- provide some strategies for staying independent
I want to try to remain as independent as I can for as long as I can in my own home.
A person with dementia speaking to our researchers
Why are everyday activities important?
Continuing to manage everyday activities is linked to better wellbeing. In this animation, Dr Anthony Martyr explains our research findings and how you can adapt or use strategies to manage activities as they become difficult.
Click on the image below to watch the video. It is 2 minutes long.
If you would like to read an accessible summary of the research:
In the video below, you can hear some real-life examples of how to maintain everyday independence:
Click on the image below to watch the video. It is 3 1/2 minutes long.
Top tips for people with dementia to maintain everyday independence
- Discuss and agree how much support is OK for each of the activities that are important to you.
- Focus on being more independent in activities that make you feel you are still ‘you’: that provide you with your sense of identity and control.
- Have a few acceptable ways of explaining how important it is to you to do an activity yourself. For instance, try saying, “only step in if you see me getting frustrated”.
- Be ready to accept help when you need it or to save your energy for the activities that are most important to you.
- Pace your activities so that you are not demanding too much of yourself.
- See if you can simplify an activity rather than needing someone to support you to do it. For instance, buy a cake mix rather than have someone take over baking a cake that needs measuring of raw ingredients.
- Use lists and pictures to help you to follow through the steps of an activity if it will help you.
For lots more ideas about using strategies to continue with your favourite activities, visit the Setting yourself goals page.
In her video about walking, Wendy advises "It’s just getting used to things. I always say to people: if you’re hesitant, then go out with someone, but use the map in your head and you lead the way, so that you’re the one getting the confidence."
Top tips for carers to enable people with dementia to maintain everyday independence
It’s difficult for everyone when everyday activities are hard to do. As a carer, you might be tempted to take over and do things for the person you support. Often, though, it’s better for the person with dementia to stay as independent as possible. You can encourage this by being ready to step in and help when things get difficult, rather than taking over. For example, you could:
- offer assistance in dialling a telephone number if needed, but then step back so that the person with dementia can make the call
- remind the person with dementia to take their medication (if needed) and/or check that the medication has been taken
- accompany a person with dementia to the shops but only help when needed; for example, be ready to help with counting out exact change.
How could we improve this page? Visit the Contact us page to let us know.
Everyday independence
You can print a paper version of this resource by clicking the button below.
