Caring for Someone With Dementia | How to Strengthen Your Relationship

Are you caring for someone with dementia?

Caring for a loved one who is living with dementia can sometimes feel lonely, and it can have a huge impact on your everyday life.

Here at CHD Care at Home, we understand what you’re going through. That’s why we’ve created this helpful guide; it’ll help you cope with the responsibility of caring, and strengthen your relationship with your loved one throughout this trying time.

Caring for Someone With Dementia: Ask for Help

The most important advice we can offer is to ask for help. Caring for someone with dementia is a huge responsibility, and not something you should have to manage alone.

We understand that you may feel responsible for your loved one's health and happiness, but it's important to remember to make time for self-care, too. Ask a family member or friend to relieve the pressure by sharing the responsibility, or speak to a member of our Care at Home team to find out how we can support your loved one.

It’s important to remember that by asking for help, you’re not failing your loved one. In fact, it’s one of the best things you can do for them in this situation. Here at CHD, we have extensive knowledge and experience supporting those in need of care, and we’ll create a bespoke care plan for your loved one to ensure they receive the very best care.

By implementing help with care, you’ll be able to focus on spending more quality time with your loved one, strengthening your relationship and focusing on making memories.

Caring for Someone With Dementia: Look After Yourself

When you’re caring for someone with dementia, it’s important to take care of yourself, too. Invest some time in self-care; this could involve exercising, socialising, or simply reading a good book.

If you’re struggling to come to terms with their diagnosis, you may also find it helpful to see a therapist or join a support group. Talking about your situation, and connecting with other people on a similar path, can help you work through your feelings.

By taking care of yourself and your mental health, you’re giving yourself the tools to cope better with your loved one’s diagnosis and support them on a deeper level.

Learn More About Dementia

The phrase ‘knowledge is power’ is key when it comes to a dementia diagnosis. The more you know about the causes, signs, treatments, effects and eventualities, the better prepared you’ll be to help and support your loved one.

You could do some research about dementia or speak to your loved one’s GP to help you grasp a better understanding of their diagnosis. Here at CHD, we’d also be happy to answer any questions you may have about dementia and our dementia care plans.

The more you know about it, the more equipped you'll be to deal with whatever comes your way, and the more confident you’ll feel in caring for your loved one. For example, knowing how their behaviours and communication might be affected can enable you to find ways to manage, adapt and cope with any changes more effectively.

If you’d like to speak to our team about getting support when you’re caring for someone with dementia, please contact us.