domestic abuse & dementia
Responding to domestic abuse and supporting people living with domestic abuse & their carers.
There are around 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK.
The majority of social care for people living with dementia is delivered informally by unpaid family members and partners. And while most provide excellent care and support, power dynamics in the relationship can shift and the boundaries between care and control can blur.
People living with dementia can also experience changes in their mood and behaviour – sometimes leading to verbal or physical aggression. Aggression may have been happening pre-dementia. Or it could be a completely new behaviour. Domestic abuse isn’t always easy to recognise.
By 2035, it’s estimated that 5.5 million older people will have care needs. That means care providers will play a pivotal role in identifying and responding to domestic abuse.
Our dementia toolkit
Our dementia toolkit will help you tackle domestic abuse whilst supporting people living with dementia and their informal carers.
Learn how to spot the warning signs that indicate domestic abuse might be taking place behind closed doors. And get guidance on responding appropriately when someone discloses abuse.
Dementia domestic abuse checklist
In the downloadable toolkit above, you’ll find a dementia domestic abuse checklist to use for guidance when supporting an individual in the community and at home/in a care home.
The 14-point checklist will help you identify concerns regarding domestic abuse. Just mark an X next to the relevant column and give detail about your specific concerns.
Remember to be:
AWARE:
Aware that abuse is all around us
Watch for the potential signs of abuse
Advocate for a future without abuse
Respond to seeing signs of abuse
Encourage people to speak up and talk about dementia and abuse.
For more information, just drop us an email.