Caring for a loved one with dementia
Learning that a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia can change your life. The realities of the condition are difficult to fully understand at the beginning—for you and your loved one.
Allow time to process
Giving yourselves time to process the diagnosis is the first step on what can become a long and difficult journey. Start by reassuring your loved one that they do not have to face their illness alone. In the early stages, you can provide support by:
- Encouraging your loved one to stay involved in activities they enjoy
- Finding new things you can do together
- Connecting your loved one with others who have the same condition
Understand your role at each stage
Most people in the early stage of dementia can still function independently. One of the biggest challenges for the caregiver in the early stage is not knowing how much assistance to provide. Your role may simply be to provide support and companionship—and to help plan for the future.
The middle stage requires more help with daily tasks and can last for many years.
As the disease progresses to the late stage, intensive, 24/7 care is often necessary and depending on your situation, it may be time to move your loved one to a dementia care facility.
Recognize your feelings
As a caregiver, you may be experiencing many different emotions, including fear, anger, denial, anxiety, and even grief. Learning to understand your feelings can help you better meet the challenges you and your loved one both face.
Dementia is the one of the most prevalent conditions that requires the assistance of a family caregiver—and it has been shown to be one of the most demanding as well.
Many caregivers still have to go to work and take care of their own kids. They also have to keep a close eye on the family member with dementia to make sure they don't grab the car keys and head for the door or leave the stove on and walk away. It's a lot for anyone to handle.
Learn as much as you can
The more you know about the disease, the more confident and prepared you will feel about providing care for your loved one with dementia. Connect with resources in your community early on to help you at every stage.
Dementia Care Coordination Program
To help our Medicare Advantage members and their caregivers, BCBSRI and The Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter, developed the Dementia Care Coordination Program which provides information, support, and resources to those affected by a dementia-related diagnosis.
The 6-month referral-based program provides a personalized plan, tips, and strategies for caregivers. It's designed to help members safely remain at home and not be separated from a spouse or loved ones. A plan summary is sent to the member’s primary care provider (PCP) to coordinate care and improve outcomes.
The Dementia Care Coordination Program was created based on a Veterans Administration study that showed interventions like this improved patient health and decreased emergency medical care. It helps caregivers manage behaviors, safety concerns, and other issues that come with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Providing help early on can hopefully avoid health or safety incidents and prevent caregiver burnout.
Have questions? Call your primary care provider for a referral or contact the Medicare Concierge team at 1-800-267-0439 (TTY: 711).