Dementia is an umbrella term rather than a specific disease. Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells which impacts these brain cells’ ability to communicate correctly with each other. The different types of dementia are caused by damage to brain cells in different areas. For example, Alzheimer’s, the most common type of dementia, is due to a high level of proteins inside and outside of the brain cells which inhibit those cells’ ability to remain healthy and communicate properly.

A lot of our practice is spent discussing the legal ramifications associated with an individual developing dementia. However, we do not often talk about caring for those with dementia. This is not an easy undertaking, and it is something that many of our clients are involved in, either by being a supportive friend or family member, or through their role as attorney for property or personal care.

This blog post will focus on ways that people caring for someone with dementia can support and educate themselves in order to best support the person with dementia.

It is important for caregivers to ensure they are maintaining their own health and wellbeing as well as that of the individual they are caring for. Ways to do this are to plan ahead for times when you might need to rely on support more heavily, build a network of people who can support you and a network of other caregivers who understand what you’re going through, ask for help and be willing to accept help when it’s given, rest when needed, try not to take things said or done by the person living with dementia too personally, and stay healthy through maintaining a healthy lifestyle and visiting your doctor.

It is also important for a caregiver to educate themselves so as to better understand the disease and what may be required of them as the individual’s disease progresses. The better educated a caregiver is, the better they’ll be able to support the person living with dementia and deal with the progression of the disease. By accessing resources and educational tools online, caregivers may be able to get a better understanding of what the person is going through, why they are exhibiting certain behaviours, and how to best deal with and care for these behaviours.

There are many resources online, specifically on the Alzheimer’s Association website, that cover a wide breadth of topics and span what to expect during the various stages of dementia. Below are links to some of these key resources:

• Alzheimer’s Association Helpline: 800-272-3900
• Database of information for caregivers which includes information on what to expect, various supports for caregivers, daily care for the individual with dementia, and long-term care planning: https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving
• An online community which is free for anyone to join and assists people with dementia, and their friends, family, and caregivers to answer their questions and find support. There is also a search function to help locate support groups in your area: https://www.alz.org/events/event_search?etid=2&cid=0

Thanks for reading!

Darien Murray