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
Last reviewed: November 2016
Recommended links
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Dementia(opens in a new window)
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Counselling and support(opens in a new window)
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Legal information(opens in a new window)
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Carer support groups(opens in a new window)
carersnsw.org.au
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
Information for carers of dementia patients | myVMC
Carers of Dementia Patients: Information for carers of Dementia Patients and caring for dementia patients written and reviewedby Medical Professionals.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Dementia (Alzheimer's disease) carers' information video | myVMC
Caring for people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease is challenging. This video presents practical strategies for caring for Alzheimer's carers.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Dementia Australia | Flexible respite
Flexible respite services for people with dementia and their carers Information for consumers
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Carer Life Course - Dementia resources
Resources: Dementia Aged Care Information Line Single access to government and non government information and services for older Australians 1800 500 853 Alzheimers Australia NSW National Dementia Help Line 1800 100 500 Provides information on dementia and memory loss and on services that exist for carers and sufferers including counselling, social and therapeutic activities and support groups Australian Department of Veterans Affairs For services available to veterans and their families 13 32 54 CALD Information NSW Government printed resources in different languages about helath issues, services, caring and other information in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, English, Greek, Italian, Korean, Macedonian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese
Read more on Carers NSW website
Dementia Australia | Help with Dementia
Help with Dementia is an online support portal for people living with dementia, their families and carers If you or a loved one has dementia and you need information, counselling, support and to connect with others in your situation then this website can help you. Through this website you can:
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Dementia Australia | Free dementia kit
If you fill in this form, we will send you a Dementia Kit from the National Dementia Helpline. There is no cost and no obligation. We will follow-up with a phone call (unless you tick "no" to phone calls in the form). If you have any questions about the dementia kit, call us on 1800 100 500.
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Dementia Australia | Dementia Friendly Home app
The Dementia-Friendly Home app provides carers with ideas to make their home more accessible for people living with dementia. With 70% of people with dementia living in the community, the app enables the home to be made more dementia-friendly. This can allow the person to stay in their own home, enjoy their regular lifestyle activities and remain engaged with their community for longer.
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Dementia Australia | I am a carer, family member, or friend
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
Dementia Australia | For people with dementia
Dementia Australia offers a range of education programs designed to support the specific needs of people living with dementia. Living with dementia program If you are living with early stage dementia or are a family carer for someone with dementia, you are welcome to join our early intervention program. You will get information and support through sharing your experiences with a small goup of others in a similar situation.
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Dementia Australia | Carer support groups
These support groups allow carers to: Receive support and meet others in a similar situation Receive relevant dementia education and information Enjoy the benefits of a social outing Share ideas, management tips and techniques with other carers Learn about local community services for people with dementia and their carers Learn how to cope with issues such as loss and grief, guilt, resentment, anger, relief and other emotions which may arise
Read more on Dementia Australia website
Top results
Efficacy and experiences of telephone counselling for informal carers of people with dementia | Cochrane
Caring for a person with dementia often has a negative impact on an informal carers mental and physical health and social life. Therefore, these informal carers should be offered support. They are usually family members and care for the person with dementia at home.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Cognitive reframing for carers of people with dementia | Cochrane
There is some evidence that cognitive reframing interventions for family carers of people with dementia are effective.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
No evidence that homeopathy is effective in treating dementia | Cochrane
Dementia is a distressing illness that has major implications for individuals with the disease and their carers. Homeopathy is a popular type of complementary medicine. It is however controversial because although there is some evidence that it is not just a placebo, no one understands how it could work. The researchers did not find any good quality trials and so cannot say whether it is or is not effective for treating this condition. As no information is available on how much homeopathy is used for dementia, it is difficult to say whether it is important to conduct more trials.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Inconclusive, but promising evidence for the efficacy of functional analysis interventions for challenging behaviour in dementia | Cochrane
Inconclusive, but promising evidence for the efficacy of functional analysis interventions for challenging behaviour in dementia
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Case management approaches to home support for people with dementia | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) 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
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
Ageing, disability and carers publications (AIHW)
Ageing, disability and carers publications
Read more on AIHW – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website
Family Carers - Synthesis
Family Carers - Synthesis
Read more on palliAGED website
Education Community Family Carers - Synthesis
Education Community Family Carers - Synthesis
Read more on palliAGED website
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