Caring for someone with dementia can bring new questions and decisions over time. Explore these resources for practical information about daily care, planning, support, and caregiver well-being.
Start with a Care Roadmap
Care Roadmaps offer practical guidance to help families and caregivers decide what to focus on now and prepare for what may come next. They bring key caregiving information and resources together in an illustrated format you can explore at your own pace and return to as needs change.
Behavior & Personality Changes
Dementia can cause changes in behavior and personality that may be difficult for family members and caregivers to understand. These changes reflect changes in the brain and can vary depending on the areas affected.
Tips for Daily Life
Care needs for people with dementia evolve over time:
- Instrumental Activities: Early in the disease, the person may struggle with complex tasks like managing medications, paying bills, shopping, preparing meals, or driving. Personality or behavior changes may affect their judgment, requiring supervision for safety and function.
- Personal Care Activities: As the disease progresses, the person will need help with basic activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and using the toilet. Hands-on care becomes increasingly necessary.
Professional Care
Many caregivers eventually decide that professional help is needed. Options for home care range from assistance with daily tasks to skilled medical care.
- Palliative Care: Focuses on easing pain, symptoms, and stress caused by a serious illness. It can be provided at any stage of the illness, even at the time of diagnosis, whether at home, in assisted living, or in a hospital.
- Hospice Care: A type of palliative care for patients expected to live six months or less. Hospice focuses on improving comfort and quality of life and can be provided at home, in assisted living, a nursing facility, or a hospital.
Medical, Legal & Financial Planning
Planning ahead is essential for everyone, regardless of health status. Putting legal and financial documents in place early can clarify your wishes and help loved ones navigate difficult decisions. These documents can identify who will make medical and financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Families often appreciate addressing these questions early rather than during a crisis.
Caregiver Well-Being
Caring for someone with dementia can be physically and emotionally demanding. Your health and well-being matter, too. Asking for and accepting help can make caregiving more sustainable over time.
Working with Your Family
Family and friends may rely on caregivers for information and guidance. Learning about dementia can help you answer their questions, but you may need to explain things differently to children or navigate changing family dynamics. Being prepared for different reactions can help reduce tension and conflict.
Finding Support
Support groups can help caregivers connect with people who understand their experiences. They can provide space to talk about emotions such as anger, grief, and guilt, while offering practical strategies, resources, and peer support.
Tips for Hospitalization
Surgery and hospital visits can be stressful for patients with dementia and their families, often leading to negative outcomes. UCSF’s Partner With Me project helps caregivers and health care providers work together to improve the experience and care of patients with memory impairment.