- Seek out support: Find support groups and resources from organisations like Dementia Australia and Dementia Support Australia.
- Person-centred care: Focus on your loved one’s specific needs and preferences.
- Maintain your relationship: Keep your relationship strong and make sure to keep doing your favourite activities together.
- Learn about dementia: Research dementia so you can support your loved one more effectively.
- Encouraging independence: encourage your loved one to do as much as possible for themselves, by themselves.
- Make tasks simpler: Begin to scaffold more difficult tasks to make them easier for your loved one.
- Use gentle communication: use simple language, pay attention to nonverbal cues, and reduce distractions.
- Start a routine: Start a structured routine with essential daily living tasks and things your loved one enjoys doing to keep their skills up.
- Manage medications: Help your loved one by setting up reminders for medications.
- Accept and acknowledge your own feelings as a support partner/caregiver: Acknowledge your emotions and ensure you are also supported.
When someone is diagnosed with dementia, they and their loved ones may have many feelings. Grief, guilt, and loss are common.
Seek out support
Try to find support groups or other resources that can give you or your loved one emotional support and guidance. Dementia Support Australia, for example, hosts a wealth of resources and information for caregivers of a loved one with dementia, as well as Dementia Australia, who provide support to people newly diagnosed.
Person-centered care
You should always focus on the person’s specific needs and preferences, adapting your support to meet them best. Your loved one may not need much support at the beginning of their diagnosis, or may even be resistant to support and care. But with the right approach for your loved one, you can help them stay independent for as long as possible. A person-centred approach is the best way to maintain dignity and quality of life.
Find out more about permanent stay at our homes.
Maintain your relationship
In the early stages of a dementia diagnosis, keeping your relationship strong is now more critical than ever. You might live with your loved one, nearby, or farther away. But you can try doing more activities your loved one enjoys together, like cooking, gardening, watching favourite shows, or going out to favourite places or events. Taking part in activities your loved one enjoys will give you opportunities for regular communication and shared meaningful experiences, while also supporting their confidence and independence. Life can still very much continue with meaning and purpose post-diagnosis, for you and your loved one.
Find out about our flexible respite, a form of temporary care.
Learn about dementia
When you learn more about dementia, you’ll not only have a better understanding of the condition, but you’ll also be better placed to support your loved one. So, research more about the condition to reduce feelings of frustration and guilt on both sides. Our Rementia Together and Demystifying Dementia retreats are a great way to learn about dementia.
Encourage independence
As much as it is easy to try and take over, you should encourage and support your loved one to continue to do as much as possible for themselves independently. This includes things like getting dressed, as well as general tasks like shopping and gardening. You can provide gentle guidance when needed as your loved one’s trusted partner or
family member.
Make tasks simpler
If you notice your loved one beginning to find specific tasks a little more difficult, you can always provide support by making them more straightforward. Modifying a wardrobe to include more straightforward, easier-to-wear clothing, like clothes with zips rather than buttons, or trousers with elasticated waistbands rather than a complicated belt, will mean your loved one can still look put-together and feel good, long before those actions become frustrating.
Find out more about how we help support independence with our care services.
Use gentle communication
Early in your loved one’s diagnosis is the perfect time to begin using more gentle communication. This means using simple sentences, asking one question at a time, and looking for non-verbal clues to your loved one’s feelings. Getting familiar with your loved one’s behaviour, facial expressions, and gestures will help you a lot.
Be sure to give your loved one plenty of time and reduce distractions, such as background noise. Your loved one may try to communicate feelings rather than just facts.
Start a routine
Starting a more structured routine with somewhat consistent times for things like personal care, favourite activities, outings, and meals will reduce any confusion and provide comfort and reassurance to your loved one. Regularly doing activities your loved one enjoys is also important – these things don’t need to stop with a diagnosis. You can even begin using reminders to make your routine easier to follow, no matter how your day unfolds.
Manage medications
It’s difficult to manage multiple medications, from remembering to take them at the right time to incorporating new ones in and being aware of potential interactions. Then you have to remember to pick up medications before they run out. So, setting up a reminder system and having regular reviews with your doctors are great ideas. You could try an app on your phone. Find out what your doctor recommends.
Accept your feelings as a support partner
After a dementia diagnosis, it’s normal for you and your loved one to experience anger and grief. Acknowledging these emotions is the best thing you can do. Seeking support from a carer support group or calling a helpline, such as Dementia Australia’s National Dementia Helpline, will give you the support you need. And practical help from respite services, day centres, or training from family carer organisations will provide you with the rest and expertise you need.
Plan things early
With an early diagnosis of dementia, your loved one gets the chance to plan how they want things to go when they’re no longer able to make decisions. Address legal and financial matters such as Power of Attorney, wills, and financial and healthcare directives early on in your journey with professional advice. You should also discuss preferences for future care settings, such as at home vs. in facilities, while your loved one can still make these choices.
You will need to get permission in advance to talk to your loved one’s doctor or lawyer. If you’re asking questions about care, a health insurance claim, or even a bill, you may not be able to get the information you need without consent.
Contact us to learn more about the care we offer and the different ways we can help you and your loved one.
