Experienced caregivers

Advice for caregivers at home

If you have been caring for a loved one living with dementia for some time, you will have different questions from one just starting the journey. Although every person’s situation is unique, St. John’s has the practical experience to provide a perspective that can be useful to you.

Throughout this website, you will find caregivers we have interviewed who will tell you about their experiences. They also talk about their strategies for keeping their loved ones engaged, ways they have been able to find joy for themselves and their loved ones, and how to recognize and deal with change, the one constant as the dementia journey progresses. You will also find links to other resources, including our blog, which includes articles of interest to caregivers at home.

Licensed clinical social worker Sybil Prince explains why dementia care of a loved one is particularly stressful—because the person is physically present, but his/her personality is dramatically changing, resulting in a sense of loss for the caregiver.

When to consider a move to residential living or skilled nursing care

As dementia progresses you will need a care plan for the sake of your loved one and for your own physical and mental health.

Communicating with people living with progressing dementia

As dementia progresses, communicating with a person living with dementia can become more challenging because s/he may have trouble finding the right words, may lose the thread of the conversation, and may have emotions about which s/he is unable to speak.

Bathing and personal care for people living with dementia

Bathing can be the hardest part of personal care for your loved one living with dementia. As the dementia advances, bathing can become even more challenging, so it is good to know and keep in mind your loved one’s bathing preferences, before dementia was an issue.

Pain management for persons living with dementia

There are an estimated 35 million people with dementia across the world, of whom 50% experience regular pain.¹ In early stages of dementia, your loved one will experience pain just as s/he has through life.

Preparing for a telehealth visit: a caregiver’s guide

These days a phone call or a video meeting may be the best way to check in with your loved one’s physician—for a routine checkup or a non-life-threatening condition.