People with dementia can live well

People with severe dementia can live well if they are treated with kindness and respect, says a UK expert on ageing.

With the right support and care, even someone with severe dementia can experience a sense of wellbeing, says Professor Julian Hughes.

They need a healthy environment with a balance between their medical and emotional needs.

"If someone is nice to them. If somebody takes the time to talk or to simply show them some sort of compassion, that can instil a sense of wellbeing at that particular moment and over the course of their day," 

says Prof Hughes, who is pushing the idea of supportive care being a broader model than palliative care alone.

He wants people to think seriously about all stages of dementia and start planning their care as early as possible.

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