Caring for someone with dementia
2-minute read
Caring for someone with dementia is a big responsibility. It can be very rewarding, but it can be physically and emotionally challenging as well. It may affect your lifestyle and life choices. You will also need a lot of patience, compassion and understanding every day.
As a carer of a person with dementia, you will want to do everything you can to support and reassure the person you care for, while helping them to be as independent as possible.
Planning ahead can help minimise the stress on you and your family. It can help you know what might be coming, so you can have strategies in place to deal with particular situations.
Your planning might include organising regular respite care so you can have a break from your caring role, because it is important to look after your own needs as well.
It might also include working out what will happen to the person you care for if you are no longer able to continue in your caring role.
Are you a carer or helping someone out?
Carers are everyday people who provide unpaid and ongoing care and support to someone they know who has a disability, mental illness, drug or alcohol dependency, a chronic condition, terminal illness or who is frail.
Support for carers
Find practical information and useful resources for carers on Carer Gateway. You can also learn more about carers' support and services in your state or territory through Carers Australia.
Talking about your situation and feelings with health professionals and other carers may help you to cope better. Some organisations run support groups where carers can meet and share their stories.
Everyone’s dementia journey is different, but there is information and support available to help make that journey easier.
Help for dementia carers - expert advice
It is important that carers have access to a range of support such as financial, emotional and physical assistance. Watch the video below about the importance of help for dementia carers.
Read the related video transcript
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: October 2018
Recommended links
-
Dementia(opens in a new window)
carergateway.gov.au
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
I am a carer, family member, or friend | Dementia Australia
Information and ideas for carers, family members, and friends. Activities for people with dementia Advance care planning Caring for someone who lives alone
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Diseases - Carer Library
Find information and resources to help you care for a person with cancer, dementia, motor neurone disease (MND), Parkinson’s or had a stroke.
Read more on CarerHelp website
Help with Dementia | Dementia Australia
Help with Dementia is an online support portal for people living with dementia, their families and carers
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Dementia services - NT.GOV.AU
Top End and Central Australia Memory Service and memory clinic information.
Read more on NT Health website
Dementia care | Dementia Australia
Research into quality dementia care and the best ways of supporting carers provides important insights into improving quality of life of people with dementia, their families and carers. Research into improving quality of life for people with dementia While there is currently no cure for dementia, research has shown that there is much scope to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia through management of symptoms and providing a supportive environment. Person centred care is considered important.
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Hygiene | Dementia Australia
Types of hygiene issues Causes of hygiene issues Further information It is quite common for people with dementia to lose interest in, or forget about, personal hygiene. Although this can be upsetting for families and carers, working out ways of coping without argument or confrontation can be worthwhile.
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Personal care | Dementia Australia
Continence This page explains incontinence and some of the reasons that it may occur in people with dementia. It suggests ways that families and carers can manage the problem. Read more. Dental care Information about caring for the dental health of people with dementia. It discusses some of the possible causes of dental problems as well as practical advice for maintaining the best possible dental health.
Read more on Dementia Australia website
The later stages of dementia | Dementia Australia
People with dementia differ in the rate with which their abilities change. But because dementia is a progressive condition, their abilities will deteriorate. Most people in the later stages of dementia need total care and usually receive this in a residential facility. Some families and carers though do choose to care for the person at home.
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Tips for carers, families and friends of people living with dementia | Dementia Australia
Be mindful of the symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19 such as fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness and shortness of breath. If you display any of these symptoms, contact your doctor for advice or call the Coronavirus Health Information Line for advice on 1800 020 080.
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Hallucinations and false ideas in dementia - myDr.com.au
People with dementia sometimes experience hallucinations and delusions which seem real to them, but there are ways that families and carers can deal with them.
Read more on myDr website
Top results
Purposeful Engagement & Activities for People with Dementia
This article will provide carers with a foundational understanding of purposeful engagement and activity design, to ensure their clients with dementia receive effective person-centred care.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Bereavement - Synthesis
Detailed summary & identified gaps from research on the bereavement & grief of older persons in aged care & their families.
Read more on palliAGED website
Depression in dementia | Issue 6 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
People with dementia of any type have a high incidence of major depression.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
A Day in the Life of a Patient With Dementia
Molly wakes up in and hears her husband making breakfast. She gets out of bed and walks into the kitchen, where she sees a stranger in the place of her husband. This sounds like the script for a murder mystery movie; instead it is dementia, and it affects 342,000 people in Australia every day.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Managing behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia | Issue 4 | Volume 39 | Australian Prescriber
Behavioural and psychological symptoms are perhaps the commonest complication of dementia syndromes.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
Psychological treatments for depression and anxiety in dementia and mild cognitive impairment | Cochrane
Authors' conclusions: We found evidence that psychological interventions added to usual care can reduce symptoms of depression and clinician-rated anxiety for people with dementia
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Communicating with Someone Who Has Dementia | Ausmed
A series of practical tips on how you can engage respectfully with clients affected by dementia, to best ensure their care needs are met and fulfil the expectations laid out in the Aged Care Quality Standards.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Family Carers - Synthesis
Detailed summary & identified research gaps on support strategies for carers, family members & friends of older persons receiving palliative care in aged care.
Read more on palliAGED website
Rivastigmine for people with Alzheimer's disease | Cochrane
Authors' conclusions: Rivastigmine (6 to 12 mg daily orally or 9
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Education - Community, Family, Carers - Synthesis
Detailed summary & identified gaps from research on palliative care training & education for unpaid carers & families of older persons in aged care.
Read more on palliAGED website
Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline
24 hour health advice you can count on
Government Accredited with over 140 information partners
We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice
