Carers of people with dementia
There are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK and the numbers are set to rise rapidly as our population ages. According to the Alzheimer's Society, unpaid carers supporting someone with dementia save the economy a staggering £11 billion every year.
Caring for someone who as dementia can be a challenging experience. It is common for carers to feel frustrated and guilty. Many carers feel they're not doing a good job but it's really important to remember that there is no such thing as a 'perfect carer'.
Looking after someone with dementia
As dementia progresses there are some things which can help manage day-to-day living.
- If communication becomes challenging, you might find simple things like using shorter sentences help.
- Keeping your house dementia friendly can also make life easier - and help you worry less. For example, have good lighting and try things like brightly coloured cloths and towels.
- You also may want to think about ways to keep the person you care for safe.
Looking after yourself
People often say that receiving a dementia diagnosis for a loved one is an enormous shock but it's important to remember that people with dementia can continue living well. However, it's crucial that you take care of yourself too and make sure you are accessing everything you need.
- Eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise will all keep you feeling more positive about your situation. But if you do find you're struggling it might be worth speaking to your GP.
- It can be particularly tiring caring for someone with dementia, especially as their condition progresses. Try to prioritise all the tasks you need to do. What's more important? What can you pass to others? Is there anything you can just not do? Acknowledge you are just one person. Help is out there, please ask us.
- Getting practical things sorted - like looking into an Attendance Allowance, having a Carers Assessment done, and registering with your GP as a carer - will ensure you are accessing the support you're entitled to.
Register as a carer here.
Useful links
The
Dementia Carers Support Group is run by our Caring for Carers team. The person you care for will be supported in another room so that you are able to have some 'me time' but stay close to the person you are caring for too.
Memory Matters Dementia Training is a course which helps individuals and professionals to support people with dementia. Memory Matters provide these training sessions either face-to-face or on Zoom.
