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
Many elders can be hard of hearing due to the normal process of aging, but persons living with dementia can experience sound in different ways due to their dementia.
Eating and drinking for a person living with dementia can be a source of joy, or a health issue, or more likely, both.  Every person’s eating and drinking history and preferences are different, and that is certainly true of those living with dementia.
Communicating with a person living with dementia is sometimes challenging because s/he may have trouble finding the right words, may lose the thread of the conversation, and may have emotions s/he is unable to tell you about.  It helps to have a personal connection, at eye level, with eye contact. 
An interview with St. John’s Dementia Resource Center Chaplain Chava. "When I am talking to caregivers, I remind them to take care of themselves.
At St. John’s, we understand the joys and the stress of providing care for persons living with dementia. Some days are amazing, others are difficult.