New to Caregiving​

Advice for caregivers at home

If you are early in your journey as a caregiver of a person living with dementia, you will have questions. Though everyone’s situation is unique, St. John’s has many of the answers that may help you along the way.

Throughout this website, you will find caregivers similar to yourself who will tell you about their experience. They will also talk about strategies for keeping their loved one engaged, finding joy for themselves and their loved one, and how to recognize and deal with change. You will also find useful links to other resources, including our blog, where you will find articles of interest to caregivers at home.

Sybil Prince, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, advises caregivers at home on the need for support—from family, friends, and the professional community—and from other caregivers.

Resource Category

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.

Games, activities, and useful technology for caregivers at home

As part of your Joy Plan, include a variety of stimulating and restful experiences based on your loved one’s life-long preferences

Caregiver online training recommendations

St. John’s is working on some new online training that is relevant to home caregivers of persons living with dementia. If you would like an email when this online training becomes available, contact us.

Caregiver support groups

When you talk to other caregivers of persons with dementia, the importance of support always comes up. Pre-COVID, our groups were live and on campus, but now and for the foreseeable future our caregiver support groups are all online or via the phone.

Support for dementia caregivers: It is available, it is often free of charge, and it is essential

If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, you know it requires you to be the best you can be.

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. Because bathing is so personal, your loved one may not be comfortable with any kind of assistance.

Sleeping with dementia

As you care for your loved one be on the alert for changes in his/her sleep patterns. These can indicate many things, ranging from health issues requiring a physician’s attention to a need for medication to assist in the sleep process.

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.
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