Dementia Action Week 2026 runs from Monday 18th to Sunday 24th May, and at Twelve Trees Care, we’re proud to join the Alzheimer’s Society in raising awareness of a condition that affects nearly one million people across the UK — and the families who love them.
This year’s campaign, united around the Forget Me Not Appeal, is a reminder that no one should face dementia alone. It’s a sentiment that sits at the very heart of what we do every day — in our Sheffield and Leeds care homes, our visiting home care in Sheffield, and through our live-in care service across England.
Dementia Action Week is the Alzheimer’s Society’s annual national awareness campaign. Each year it brings communities, care providers, families, and individuals together to act on dementia — through raising awareness, challenging stigma, and pushing for the timely diagnosis and specialist care that every person living with dementia deserves.
One of the most important messages this week is stark: one in three people living with dementia in the UK do not have a formal diagnosis. Without that diagnosis, families cannot access the support, treatment, or planning guidance they need. Early diagnosis changes outcomes — it gives people the time to prepare, to make decisions, and to access the right care at the right time.
Dementia is not one single condition. It is an umbrella term for a range of progressive neurological conditions — including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia — each of which affects the brain differently and progresses in its own way.
What they share is the profound impact they have on the person living with the diagnosis and on those who love and care for them. At Twelve Trees Care, we work alongside families at every stage of this journey — from early-stage support and planning conversations, through to specialist residential and live-in care as needs increase.
A recent Dementia UK report highlighted that just 28% of people with a dementia diagnosis had been supported by a professional to plan for future care needs. At Twelve Trees, care planning is built into everything we do from day one — because we know that preparation is one of the greatest gifts a family can receive.
Our two care homes offer specialist residential dementia care in warm, person-centred environments. Both are CQC-rated Good, meaning families can have confidence in the quality and consistency of care their loved one receives.
Twelve Trees Care Home, Sheffield — Located on Priory Road in Nether Edge, our Sheffield home provides residential dementia care in a peaceful, leafy setting. With beautiful gardens, an experienced specialist team, and a programme of meaningful activities tailored to residents’ interests and histories, it is a place where people living with dementia genuinely thrive. Explore our Sheffield care home →
Twelve Trees Meadowbrook Leeds — Our Leeds care home in Garforth offers the same commitment to person-centred dementia care in a modern, purpose-designed environment. The team at Twelve Trees Meadowbrook understand that dementia care is about knowing the whole person — their story, their preferences, and what brings them joy. Explore Twelve Trees Meadowbrook Leeds →
Both homes also offer specialist day care for people living with dementia — and it’s a service that makes an enormous practical difference to families. It provides a structured, stimulating, and sociable day for the person living with dementia, whilst giving the family carer genuine breathing space to rest, work, or simply take care of themselves. We also provide transport to and from both homes, removing one of the biggest practical barriers families face when considering day care as an option. If you are caring for someone with dementia and haven’t yet looked into day care, it is well worth a conversation.
When a family carer needs a break — whether planned or urgent — there are two ways we can help, and both are designed to cause as little disruption as possible.
Respite care at home means a specialist carer comes to you. They move in temporarily and take over the care of your loved one in their own home, in their own routine, surrounded by everything familiar. There is no unfamiliar building, no change of environment, no upheaval. For people living with dementia especially, this matters enormously — familiarity and continuity are not just comforting, they are genuinely important to wellbeing. Home-based respite is often the option that works best precisely because the person with dementia barely notices the transition.
Residential respite at our Sheffield or Leeds care homes offers a comfortable short-term stay with 24-hour specialist support, for families who would prefer that option or who need a longer break.
Explore respite care options →
For many families, home is where a person with dementia feels most safe and settled. Familiar surroundings, established routines, and beloved belongings can all help to reduce the anxiety and disorientation that dementia can bring. Our live-in dementia care service provides dedicated, one-to-one support from a trained specialist carer, available 24 hours a day, in the comfort of home.
Our live-in care team supports people across the country — from Yorkshire to London, from Sussex to the Cotswolds and Berkshire. We carefully match each person with a carer who understands not just their care needs, but their personality, history, and daily preferences.
Explore our live-in dementia care →
For those living in Sheffield who need support at home but are not yet ready for live-in care, our visiting home care service provides flexible, responsive support across postcodes S7, S8, S10, S11, and S17. Our Sheffield team can assist with personal care, medication management, companionship, and daily routines — building the kind of trusted, consistent relationship that matters so much to people living with dementia.
We support families dealing with all types of dementia and all stages of the condition, including:
If you are caring for someone with dementia, this week is for you as much as anyone. The emotional and physical demands of dementia caring are significant, and the research is clear: family carers need support too. Whether that means a day care place with transport included, a live-in respite carer coming to you at home, a short residential stay at one of our care homes, or simply having a conversation with someone who understands — we are here.
Thirty years of experience has taught us that no two dementia journeys are the same, and that the right support looks different for every family. Whatever stage you are at, the first step is always just a conversation.
📞 Call us on 0330 164 9900 🌐 Or visit twelvetreescare.co.uk/dementia-care
This Dementia Action Week, wear your Forget Me Not. Talk to someone. And know that when you’re ready, Twelve Trees Care is here to help.
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At Twelve Trees Care, we believe great care starts with real connection. Since 1996, we’ve been supporting families across South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire with high-quality, CQC-regulated care services — always delivered with heart, respect, and a personal touch.
Our Live-in Care offers far more than just daily assistance. It’s a complete support solution designed to give individuals comfort, safety, and dignity — all within the familiarity of their own home. Here’s what you can expect:
At Twelve Trees Care, we offer a complete range of professional care services tailored to meet individual needs.
CQC regulates Meadowbrook Manor Ltd to provide care at Meadowbrook Manor Ltd
