Make Healthcare Appointments Dementia-Friendly by Providing Quiet Spaces
The Issue
For over 10 years, I cared for my mum after she was diagnosed with dementia.
As her condition progressed, something as simple as attending a GP or hospital appointment became incredibly difficult. Busy waiting rooms, loud conversations, bright lights and long waiting times often left her feeling confused, anxious and overwhelmed before she had even seen a healthcare professional.
As her daughter and carer, I would do everything I could to reassure her but sometimes the environment itself made that impossible.
It made me realise that while healthcare professionals provide incredible care, the places people with dementia are asked to wait are not always designed with their needs in mind.
Simple changes could make a life changing difference.
A quiet waiting space, a calmer appointment time or somewhere away from the noise could help reduce fear, distress and confusion not only for the person living with dementia but also for the family member supporting them.
That is why I am calling on NHS Trusts, GP practices, hospitals and healthcare providers to make healthcare appointments more dementia friendly by:
• Providing access to quiet waiting areas where possible.
• Offering quieter appointment times when available.
• Allowing carers to wait in calm spaces with their loved one.
• Training staff to recognise when someone with dementia is becoming overwhelmed.
• Reducing unnecessary noise and sensory stimulation wherever possible.
These are not expensive changes.
They are compassionate changes.
I have started this petition because I don't want other families to experience the distress that we did. My mum's journey inspired me to create Holding On With Love, a community dedicated to supporting family carers and improving the lives of people living with dementia.
If enough of us stand together, we can encourage meaningful change and help make healthcare appointments calmer, kinder and more dignified for everyone living with dementia.
Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can make a real difference.
48
The Issue
For over 10 years, I cared for my mum after she was diagnosed with dementia.
As her condition progressed, something as simple as attending a GP or hospital appointment became incredibly difficult. Busy waiting rooms, loud conversations, bright lights and long waiting times often left her feeling confused, anxious and overwhelmed before she had even seen a healthcare professional.
As her daughter and carer, I would do everything I could to reassure her but sometimes the environment itself made that impossible.
It made me realise that while healthcare professionals provide incredible care, the places people with dementia are asked to wait are not always designed with their needs in mind.
Simple changes could make a life changing difference.
A quiet waiting space, a calmer appointment time or somewhere away from the noise could help reduce fear, distress and confusion not only for the person living with dementia but also for the family member supporting them.
That is why I am calling on NHS Trusts, GP practices, hospitals and healthcare providers to make healthcare appointments more dementia friendly by:
• Providing access to quiet waiting areas where possible.
• Offering quieter appointment times when available.
• Allowing carers to wait in calm spaces with their loved one.
• Training staff to recognise when someone with dementia is becoming overwhelmed.
• Reducing unnecessary noise and sensory stimulation wherever possible.
These are not expensive changes.
They are compassionate changes.
I have started this petition because I don't want other families to experience the distress that we did. My mum's journey inspired me to create Holding On With Love, a community dedicated to supporting family carers and improving the lives of people living with dementia.
If enough of us stand together, we can encourage meaningful change and help make healthcare appointments calmer, kinder and more dignified for everyone living with dementia.
Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can make a real difference.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 23 July 2026