00WHAT THE GUIDANCE SAYS

A note in
the right place.

A blank yellow sticky note on the wall beside a front door, above a small table with a large bowl for keys — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Small written prompts can do a lot of remembering.

Memory loss and confusion can make it hard to remember where things are and what needs doing. NHS, nidirect and Age UK guidance keeps coming back to simple aids: notes where a task happens, labels on cupboards and doors, and a list or board for the day.

NOTE ITwhere it happensUpdated 16 October 2026

Find a spot

01Principles

Label what is inside
Prompt at the door
One board for the day
Simple aids, everyday places

02THE SHORT ANSWER

Put the reminder
where it is needed.

Three ideas that run through
UK dementia guidance for the home.

FRONT DOOR

A prompt on the way out

The NHS suggests notes at certain points, such as one by the front door saying “check for your keys”. Age UK adds locking the door.

Find a spot

CUPBOARDS

Show what is inside

Labels on cupboards and doors can help, and so can a photo of what is inside, such as cups on the kitchen cupboard, or see-through doors.

Make a label

ROUTINE

One board for the day

A weekly timetable on the wall or fridge, or a whiteboard of tasks like taking the bins out, helps keep a regular routine.

See the numbers

General information only, not medical advice. For advice about your own health, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional.

03A QUICK HOME CHECK

Where could
a note help?

Pick a spot in the home to see what UK guidance suggests putting there. The bar shows how much the guidance leans on a written or picture prompt in that spot.

Based on NHS, nidirect and Age UK guidance on dementia-friendly homes. This is general information, not medical advice.

Home check

Choose a spotBy the front doorKitchen cupboards and drawersThe kitchen wall or fridgeNext to the phoneFamily photos

By the front doorA note for keys

A note by the front door such as “check for your keys”. Age UK suggests a prompt at eye level to remember keys and locking the door.

Kitchen cupboards and drawersLabels or photos

Label cupboards and drawers, or stick on a photo of what is inside. Some people use see-through doors or remove cupboard doors.

The kitchen wall or fridgeA weekly timetable

The NHS suggests a weekly timetable on the wall or fridge, with activities scheduled for when you usually feel better, such as mornings.

Next to the phoneHelpful numbers

Keep a list of helpful numbers by the phone, including who to contact in an emergency.

Family photosNames and relationships

Age UK says photos can be comforting and help trigger memories, and suggests labelling them with names and relationships.

Sources: NHS Living well with dementia and How to make your home dementia friendly; nidirect; Age UK At home with dementia (June 2025).

04TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

Many homes,
many reminders.

Two NHS figures on how many people
in the UK are living with dementia.

944,000+

People in the UK with dementia

The NHS says research shows there are more than 944,000 people in the UK who have dementia, and estimates the number will be more than 1 million by 2030.

UK TOTAL · NHS

1 in 11

People over 65 in the UK with dementia

The NHS says 1 in 11 people over the age of 65 in the UK have dementia, and that numbers are rising because people are living longer.

OVER 65s · NHS

The NHS also notes that memory can be affected by stress, tiredness, some illnesses and medicines. If someone is becoming increasingly forgetful, particularly over 65, it suggests talking to a GP.

05FOUR WAYS TO MAKE IT WORK

Clear, low
and in the right room.

nidirect gives three tests for a sign, and Age UK and the NHS add where to put prompts. None of this needs special equipment.

Keep it clear
Signs should be clear, with words and pictures that contrast with the background.
Mind the height
nidirect suggests placing signs slightly lower than normal, as older people tend to look downwards. Age UK suggests the door prompt at eye level.
Use pictures as well as words
A photo of cups on the cupboard shows what is inside at a glance.
Pair notes with routines
Keep keys in an obvious place such as a large bowl in the hall, and keep a regular routine the notes can support.

A kitchen wall with a weekly whiteboard planner, coloured magnets and a large clock beside it — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

06BEYOND PAPER

Clocks, phones
and reminders.

Kitchen cupboard doors with small photographs on them showing the cups and plates kept inside — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

The NHS lists aids that do the reminding for you: clocks that show the day and date as well as the time, pill dispensers that prompt at set times, and appointment alerts.

Phones and tablets can help too, with alarms, notes and reminder functions, and some apps are designed for people with dementia and their carers. A pharmacist can help with a pill organiser box, and a council needs assessment can point to other support.

07Questions

Questions people ask

Do sticky notes really help people with dementia?

NHS and nidirect guidance says notes placed at certain points around the house, such as one by the front door saying “check for your keys”, can serve as useful reminders.

What should a sign or label look like?

nidirect says signs should be clear, with words and pictures that contrast with the background, and placed slightly lower than normal because older people tend to look downwards.

How can I help someone find things in the kitchen?

Label cupboards and drawers, or put a photo of what is inside on the door, such as cups on the cup cupboard. See-through cupboard doors can also help.

Are there aids that remind automatically?

The NHS lists clocks showing the day and date, pill dispensers that prompt at set times, appointment alerts, and phone or tablet reminder functions.

Where can I get more help?

The NHS suggests asking the adult social services department of your local council for a needs assessment, soon after a diagnosis. A pharmacist can help with a pill organiser box.

08Sources

A note in
the right place.