Supporting families living with dementia and frailty

Helping families navigate the link between dementia and frailty

When families contact us at Dementia UK, they often tell us they are not sure whether the changes they see in their loved one are caused by dementia, frailty, or both.

That is where my role comes in; as a Consultant Admiral Nurse for Frailty and Physical Health, I help families understand what frailty is, how it relates to dementia, and how we can work together to improve a person’s health, confidence and quality of life.

My background in dementia and frailty care

Over the past 20 years, I have gained valuable experience working in community and hospital settings, and through these roles have supported many families living with dementia and frailty.

I have witnessed first-hand the complex challenges families face, especially physical health issues such as frailty, falls, or delirium. I also appreciate how hard it can be to access timely and appropriate support and advice. My role as a Consultant Admiral Nurse enables me to make meaningful differences in the lives of families at every stage of their dementia and frailty journey.

Why I chose to work in dementia care

I have always been passionate about dementia care. When I was young, my mum cared for my great aunt who lived with dementia. This experience has taught me that dementia doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed, it affects the whole family. The right support and guidance would have significantly eased our journey, not only for my great aunt but also for my mum, by ensuring that appropriate care and support was in place. I want to help make that journey easier for others.

What does your role as Consultant Admiral Nurse for Frailty and Physical Health involve?

In this specialist role, I support families affected by dementia alongside the complexities of frailty by:

• Providing expert guidance: Answering questions, offering tailored advice, and signposting families to appropriate support services.
• Raising awareness: Promoting understanding of frailty and dementia to ensure families receive timely and appropriate care.
• Championing best practice: Leading improvements in the recognition and management of delirium – a common and distressing condition in people living with dementia and frailty.
• Driving quality improvement: Educating health and social care professionals to enhance service delivery and better support families.

Families are referred to the service through Dementia UK’s Helpline or a virtual clinic appointment.

I feel honoured to walk alongside families throughout their dementia journey, offering compassionate guidance and specialist expertise during some of their most challenging times.

What is frailty?

Frailty is a long-term state of health that relates to a person’s physical and mental resilience.

There are five frailty syndromes:

• falls
• immobility
• delirium (sudden confusion)
• incontinence
• susceptibility to the side effects of medication

If a person has one or more of these, it’s likely that they are living with overall frailty.

It is estimated that around 50% of people over the age of 85 are living with some degree of frailty, but it can develop earlier.  Identifying it early helps families and professionals put the right support in place to maintain independence and wellbeing.

What I love about being an Admiral Nurse

There are so many rewarding aspects to this role, and I feel truly privileged to work alongside my colleagues in delivering the Consultant Admiral Nurse service for Frailty and Physical Health. Connecting with families affected by dementia and frailty is an honour, supporting them to better understand the condition and navigate the support available.

Being an Admiral Nurse is something I deeply value. I remember reading about the role and thinking, “This is what I want to do – I want to make a difference in dementia care.”

I take great pride in helping families feel empowered to access the right support at the right time. Families often leave our clinic appointments with a clearer understanding of what steps to take and which services to explore; many of which they hadn’t known about before.

My hope is to help families become confident advocates for their loved ones, equipped with the knowledge and reassurance they need to secure the support that makes a real difference.

My advice to families

If you are supporting someone with dementia and frailty, remember you are not alone.

There is help available – whether through your GP, community health teams, or our Admiral Nurse Helpline.

To speak to a dementia specialist nurse, contact Dementia UK’s Helpline or book a virtual clinic appointment for tailored advice and support.