Home is such an important place for us all - without a home we can feel lost or insecure, with it we can have a place of refuge and comfort. And our home contains so many memories, objects, relationships that contribute to our sense of who we are.

As we age, our needs change and living independently can become more challenging. This may be due to changes in our physical mobility. It may be because we are now alone and feeling isolated and or lonely. Maybe people who are important to us have moved far away.

Faced with a potential move, there are a range of dilemmas -

• where should I move to?
• what should I take?
• what do I want to take?
• how do I want to live this next stage of my life?

When we are living in the later stages of our lives, these are important questions to address if we are not to live with regrets. And if we are living with memory loss, it’s important that we have the chance to make decisions for ourselves rather than leaving them to others, however well meaning they are. Living with memory loss can also affect our sense of identity and contribute to a lack of confidence in ourself. Having a diagnosis of dementia makes it even more important to have a sense of control over decision making.

Moving home is known to be one of the most stressful experiences that we have to face, so it makes sense to try to do some preparation for this whilst we can. This is what My Home Matters (MHM) is about.

The booklet that we have created is for you to fill out in your own way with your own thoughts. It has been designed so that you can interpret the chapters or headings as you wish. Guidance accompanies each page with explanatory notes and suggestions to help you have ideas.

This is your MHM. It belongs to you. It contains your memories, your wishes and hopes. You might find that other people contradict your memory of some events. If this is the case, remember that your memories are the important ones here. This is your booklet. And you have the right to decide what is important to you. And what goes into this booklet.

This workbook is for older people who:

• May be facing a potential move away from home
• Are finding that their needs have changed and the current home is not so suitable any more
• Have relatives or friends who are suggesting that ‘it’s time for a move’
• Want to think about what is important to them
• Are thinking about housing options
• Have someone who is helping them think about the future