Resources

Supporting Dementia Care for Patients, Families, and the Community

Series 4 of 4

Caregivers for those living with Alzheimer's and other dementias face special challenges.

Caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia often involves a team of people. Whether you provide daily caregiving, participate in decision-making, or simply care about a person with the disease — there are resources and support to help.

How can care providers not only help people living with dementia and their families but expand their reach to the greater community?

Offer Support and Education - It truly takes a village to help people living with dementia and their family members.

Your solution could be two-fold:

1. Offer a support group open to people in the outside community that addresses the emotional side of having a loved one with dementia.
2. Offer educational sessions about dementia and what the person and family can expect to happen as the disease progresses.

The support group allows families an outlet for feelings of anger, sadness, or even denial in a safe space with other people going through the same thing. It builds bonds between families and caregivers, and helps them not feel alone.

Regular education sessions can help the family member understand what their loved one is experiencing now and what they might expect in the future. It can also provide valuable insight into how to make visits or have outings with their loved one run more smoothly. This builds even more trust as it means your staff are experts in this disease and can give the family practical help.

This partnership is invaluable for all.