If a parent, spouse or other family member was recently diagnosed with dementia, you and your family are probably grappling with a lot of intense feelings. The emotional impact of a dementia diagnosis, paired with the vast amount of information out there might leave you feeling overwhelmed, confused and wondering “What’s the next step?”
Becoming a family caregiver for someone with dementia is a big life change. If someone in your life has become a family caregiver, here are 10 ways you can support them during this transition.
No matter how much we love each other, family is complicated. When you first got married, you probably never thought about the possibility of your spouse’s aging parent living with you one day. But if you’re in that situation now, or if someone else in your life has become a family caregiver, things might feel like they’re changing, and not for the better. Caregiving can be challenging, but many caregivers find that giving a loved one a better quality of life is extremely rewarding. And you may find that giving the caregiver you love the support they need is a reward in itself.
Self-care is vital to your mental and physical well-being, and this includes finding a support system – a group of people that walk in similar caregiving shoes as you…people that share pain points as well as wins. You do not have to be on this caregiving journey alone. Support can help to prevent burnout!