Chapter 22
Ten Tips for Caregivers, Friends and Families
In This Chapter
Keeping things ticking along as usual
Using professional carers as necessary
Making sure you also look after yourself
Being the partner, friend or relative of someone with dementia often throws you into the role of caregiver. And the closer you are to the person, the more likely you are to be involved.
People with dementia aren’t always easy to care for, no matter how much you love them. Unfortunately, dementia not only affects people’s intellectual functions like memory and planning, but it also invariably changes their mood and behaviour. And what’s more, you may not ever have considered yourself to be carer material in the first place. You may feel that your life is too busy, you don’t have the patience and you can’t bear cleaning up after other people. But you may nevertheless be thrown, kicking and screaming, into that role.
So here are ten tips for the novice caregiver to help make life not only as easy as possible but also fulfilling.
Make Life as Normal as Possible for as Long as Possible
In the early stages of the disease, soon after someone has been given the diagnosis, she may well be able to continue ...
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