Yes.Dementia is an umbrella term.
It describes a set of symptoms that affect thinking, behaviour, and daily functioning.
People often expect dementia to start with memory loss.
Sometimes it does. Sometimes it starts with language, judgement, or personality change.
Getting the right support starts with recognising patterns and taking action early.
Different types of dementia
Different dementias tend to show different early patterns.
Alzheimer’s disease often involves progressive memory difficulty and problems learning new information.
Vascular dementia relates to changes in blood supply to the brain and may involve slowed thinking, planning difficulties, and step like changes.
Lewy body dementia can involve fluctuating attention, visual hallucinations, and movement related symptoms.
Frontotemporal dementia often begins with changes in behaviour, personality, motivation, or language, rather than early memory loss. (nhs.uk)
A proper assessment matters because it helps explain what you are seeing and what support might fit best.
What dementia can look like in real life
Families often describe a gradual change that feels hard to pin down.
You might notice:
- Repeated questions or stories
- Struggling with familiar tasks
- Word finding problems
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Changes in judgement or social behaviour
- Increased apathy or withdrawal
- Irritability, anxiety, or emotional shifts
- Difficulty managing finances or organising daily life (nhs.uk)
- One sign alone does not prove dementia.
Patterns over time matter.
Symptoms to look out for
If you are concerned, watch for two things:
Change from the person’s usual baseline
Impact on daily functioning
A useful approach is to write down specific examples for two to four weeks.
Date
What happened
What changed from normal
Any safety risks
This helps a GP take your concerns seriously and supports referral decisions. (nhs.uk)
Who to contact and how to arrange care
Start with the GP.
The NHS route usually begins with a GP appointment, followed by memory assessment or specialist referral if needed. (nhs.uk)
At the GP appointment, it helps to bring:
Your notes with specific examples
A list of medications
A family member or friend if possible
Questions written down in advance
If the person refuses to see the GP, this is common.
You can still speak to the GP yourself to share concerns and ask what options exist.
Confidentiality rules mean the GP may not be able to share information back, but you can still give information in. (nhs.uk)
If you are already at the stage of daily care needs, you can also request a needs assessment from adult social care through your local council. (nhs.uk)
Charities and helplines that can support you
These services can help with information, emotional support, and practical next steps.
NHS list of key helplines for carers includes:
Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Line 0333 150 3456 (nhs.uk)
Dementia UK Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline 0800 888 6678 (nhs.uk)
Carers UK Helpline 0800 808 7777 (nhs.uk)
Age UK Advice Line 0800 678 1602 (nhs.uk)
Independent Age Helpline 0800 319 6789 (nhs.uk)
These organisations can also help you understand benefits and financial support options, which often become urgent early on. (Alzheimer’s Society)
Carers support
If you care for someone, you have rights.
You can request a carers assessment via your local council adult social care. (nhs.uk)
A carers assessment can cover:
Your own wellbeing
Respite support
Practical help
Training and advice
Support groups and local services
Carer strain is not a personal weakness.
It is a predictable outcome of sustained responsibility.
When to seek urgent help
Call 999 if there is immediate danger.
Call NHS 111 if you need urgent medical advice and it is not an emergency.
Sudden confusion, rapid decline, or abrupt behaviour change can indicate delirium or another acute problem that needs medical attention, not a wait and see approach.
What this page does and does not do
This page helps you navigate the system and find credible support.
It does not diagnose dementia.
It does not replace medical assessment.
References
NHS. How to get a dementia diagnosis. (nhs.uk)
NHS. Frontotemporal dementia. (nhs.uk)
NHS. Looking after someone with dementia. (nhs.uk)
NHS. Carers assessments. (nhs.uk)
NHS. Getting a needs assessment. (nhs.uk)
Alzheimer’s Society. Dementia Support Line. (Alzheimer’s Society)
Alzheimer’s Society. Benefits for people affected by dementia. (Alzheimer’s Society)
Carers UK. Carers assessment. (Carers UK)