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87. Can You Be Ready To Be A Dementia Caregiver?
Do you feel overwhelmed trying to care for a loved one with dementia? You're not alone. Caring for someone with a complex and progressive disease like dementia is incredibly difficult.
But what if understanding the typical path dementia takes could better prepare you for the changes to come?
- 0:06:24 Unpacking the Stages of Dementia
The Stages of Dementia
Dementia does tend to follow some predictable patterns of decline. Knowing these general stages can help you anticipate your loved one's needs before crises hit. Though the course varies by individual, most with dementia will pass through stages going from mild impairments to eventually needing round-the-clock care.
Knowing What to Expect
Understanding how dementia typically progresses is key to proactive caregiving. You’ll worry less when you know changes are common instead of reacting after the fact. For example, once you notice your family member struggling to drive safely, you can have conversations about transitioning away from driving instead of waiting for an accident. When you know what's coming, you can get supports in place ahead of time.
Gain Skills to Communicate Effectively
Another vital skill caregivers must build is learning to communicate in a way your loved one with dementia can understand. Called “speaking dementia,” this involves adjusting your own communication style to match your loved one's current abilities. With practice, you'll learnstrategies to connect better, avoiding situations that lead to distressing behaviors. Mastering this empowering skillset leads to lower stress for everyone.
Join a Caregiver Community
Finally, you don't need to walk this road alone. Connecting with other dementia caregivers provides ongoing education and emotional support. Consider joining a structured, year-long program designed specifically for family caregivers. An expert guide can answer your questions as they come up, with science-based advice to manage challenges with wisdom and compassion.
Dementia caregiving poses immense difficulties, but knowledge and community can ease the burden. What questions about the caregiving journey do you have? How has understanding dementia’s typical course helped in your own caregiving role? Share your insights in the comments.
Enjoy our podcast? Please take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify —it really supports our show!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dementia-caregiving-for-families/id1716187550
Caring for your loved one with dementia doesn't have to be stressful! Join our next free workshop.
https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/wsl
Join our Facebook Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1301886810018410
Become a Founding Member of Our Exclusive Academy!
Only 54 Founding Family Slots Available for Extraordinary Caregivers.
https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/start
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By Lizette Cloete, Christian Dementia Coach
4.9
7777 ratings
Do you feel overwhelmed trying to care for a loved one with dementia? You're not alone. Caring for someone with a complex and progressive disease like dementia is incredibly difficult.
But what if understanding the typical path dementia takes could better prepare you for the changes to come?
- 0:06:24 Unpacking the Stages of Dementia
The Stages of Dementia
Dementia does tend to follow some predictable patterns of decline. Knowing these general stages can help you anticipate your loved one's needs before crises hit. Though the course varies by individual, most with dementia will pass through stages going from mild impairments to eventually needing round-the-clock care.
Knowing What to Expect
Understanding how dementia typically progresses is key to proactive caregiving. You’ll worry less when you know changes are common instead of reacting after the fact. For example, once you notice your family member struggling to drive safely, you can have conversations about transitioning away from driving instead of waiting for an accident. When you know what's coming, you can get supports in place ahead of time.
Gain Skills to Communicate Effectively
Another vital skill caregivers must build is learning to communicate in a way your loved one with dementia can understand. Called “speaking dementia,” this involves adjusting your own communication style to match your loved one's current abilities. With practice, you'll learnstrategies to connect better, avoiding situations that lead to distressing behaviors. Mastering this empowering skillset leads to lower stress for everyone.
Join a Caregiver Community
Finally, you don't need to walk this road alone. Connecting with other dementia caregivers provides ongoing education and emotional support. Consider joining a structured, year-long program designed specifically for family caregivers. An expert guide can answer your questions as they come up, with science-based advice to manage challenges with wisdom and compassion.
Dementia caregiving poses immense difficulties, but knowledge and community can ease the burden. What questions about the caregiving journey do you have? How has understanding dementia’s typical course helped in your own caregiving role? Share your insights in the comments.
Enjoy our podcast? Please take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify —it really supports our show!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dementia-caregiving-for-families/id1716187550
Caring for your loved one with dementia doesn't have to be stressful! Join our next free workshop.
https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/wsl
Join our Facebook Group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1301886810018410
Become a Founding Member of Our Exclusive Academy!
Only 54 Founding Family Slots Available for Extraordinary Caregivers.
https://www.dementiacaregivingmadeeasy.com/start
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