Helping Milly Stay Connected Through Every Stage of Dementia

Milly* is a warm and sociable lady who had always lived independently in her beloved home. But as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, so did concerns for her wellbeing. With no close family nearby and a progressive diagnosis of dementia, Milly was becoming increasingly isolated — and slipping through the cracks.

The Challenge

Milly’s GP surgery and neighbours raised the alarm. She had lost a noticeable amount of weight, was struggling with daily life, and had become visibly withdrawn. Meals on wheels had been arranged, but she was often forgetting to eat them. Behind closed doors, bills were going unpaid and even her electricity had been disconnected.

Her solicitor reached out to Thrive to help assess how best to support and safeguard Milly’s welfare — and to explore how she could continue living at home safely and

meaningfully.

The Approach

Our first visit with Milly revealed not only practical challenges, but something deeper: loneliness. She said she would love some company, and that was our cue.

We introduced a Thrive Health & Wellbeing Associate a few hours a week — not just for support, but for real connection. Milly quickly warmed to the relationship, enjoying meaningful conversations and gentle companionship. At the same time, we worked closely with her solicitor to get her utilities and heating oil back under control, relieving a significant source of stress.

However, it became clear that Milly needed more consistent support. She was regularly forgetting to eat and her safety was becoming a concern. We discussed live-in care, and Milly embraced the idea wholeheartedly. In no time, she’d formed a close bond with her live-in carer.

During this period, Milly truly flourished. She enjoyed a rich routine of daily walks, chats over lunch, trips to the local shop and hairdresser, and support getting to and from dental and eye appointments — all while continuing to live in the place she loved.

But as her dementia progressed, so did her needs. After a series of falls and hospital admissions, Milly began to lose recognition of her home and with her agreement she moved to a local dementia nursing home for ongoing care.

For consistency and to help her settle into her new surroundings, Thrive continued to support Milly with companionship visits, a familiar face bringing continuity, comfort, and trust.

The Outcome

Through thoughtful, collaborative support, Milly went from being at risk in her own home to receiving empowering, relationship-led care at every step of her journey.

In the final stages of her dementia, Milly was still enjoying one-to-one companionship, warm moments of connection, and the security of knowing she was never alone. Her companions also supported the care home team by spotting early health concerns, and helping coordinate timely interventions.

We even helped a close friend of Milly’s, who had mobility issues, to visit regularly — ensuring that connection with friends continued.

For further information on how we support people living with dementia visit our dementia services page.

*Please note names have been changed for privacy.