One of the ways to be a successful caregiver with someone who has dementia is to understand and know how and when to accept help. This can become overwhelming. Some feel they can do it all by themselves. It's best to not fall into this belief that you can do it all by yourself. There are many resources out there.
You need to know what resources are available. A really good way to find out how to help yourself to become a better caregiver for yourself is by asking people who are going through being a caregiver themselves. I recommend you talk to someone who has experienced care giving
for a longer period of time than you have. You can gain from their knowledge. Knowing the right questions to ask after talking to people can help you to navigate for the help you need.
You will need to have friends to help give you support and an outlet during this challenging time. So will the person with dementia. Encourage socialization during this time of life. A friend encourages people to do simple engaging activities together. Friendships are often formed on mutual activities that you enjoy doing. A person with dementia often does find they recognize best friends.
It's important to include your circle of friends. Continue to do things together. When you stop doing things together the friendships tend to disappear. The more you introduce the friend as a routine the better. However, do be aware that how you engage with the friend may change over time. There might even be a time to change the routine of friendly visits.
When the friend introduces an engaging activity keep in mind how dementia might affect the activity. Often the person will say no to an activity. This is common. Asking a question to join an activity with a yes or no question often ends with a no from the person with dementia. This is an easy way for the person to escape the engaging situation. Request the friend to be inviting. Say "come with me for a walk". This allows invitation and the person is more likely to be engaged.
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