The book is a first of its kind drawing on over a decade of research evidence conducted by the IDEAL programme alongside the perspective and voice of people with living dementia and their carers. This new book outlines the findings and learnings of the largest study of dementia in the community in Great Britain and tells us about the things that will make a difference to the quality of life for both people with dementia and their carers. 

The voice of those with the lived experience is presented alongside the research team, exploring the different aspects of how lives interconnect to make people feel content and included or distressed and excluded. Each chapter builds towards an evidence-based  statement so that the volume ends by providing a manifesto for the changes necessary for living with dementia to be truly reconsidered. 

This books foundations are deep within the largest study of living with mild-to-moderate dementia in the community in Great Britain: the IDEAL programme. Funded by NIHR and ESRC from 2014 to 2018, and as an Alzheimer’s Society Centre of Excellence from 2018 to the end of 2023, IDEAL has a sustained a significant professional and public following for its work. IDEAL are known for high-quality academic outputs as well as arts-based projects, the Living with Dementia Toolkit and accessible presentations. 

The book is IDEALs opportunity to collaborate with Open University Press and the Reconsidering Dementia Series to gather together all the learning in one place and give back the findings to those that need it most.

‘Living with Dementia Reconsidered’ is not just for those personally or professionally involved with dementia, but for all those that care for, support, or have the condition themselves.