Do you have a relative with dementia?

Getting a diagnosis of an illness is not just tough on the people with the illness, it also affects all those close to them and this is particularly true for dementia.   My experience of working in this field has identified some common challenges for people:

• dealing with diagnosis - coming to terms with the news,  what does it mean for you and your loved one, preparing for the future
• caring at home - how do you need to adapt, which coping strategies will help, where can you get support
• full time care - dealing with the change, how you can continue to be involved in care

I offer one to one support and also group work for relatives.  In these sessions we might look at some of the following:

•identity - who you are, how you have adapted, what you feel you have gained/lost of yourself
•guilt – how to minimise the impact of this and make sense of it
•endings – what endings have you experienced, how do you make a good ending
•anger - focussing your emotions towards the illness -  what do you want to say to dementia?
•fear – what this might mean for you and your future
•dealing with friends and extended family – what to say
•managing care with the care home
•your support network


Having the time and space for you to come to terms with dementia and the impact it has on you, your loved one with the disease, your family and friends will make a real difference to the quality of your life.