What can I do for a

Dementia Care Partner

The most important thing you can do to help someone is listen-what they need most may seem surprising for someone who isn’t living with it every day.

Offer your time

  • Offer an opportunity to socialize (with and without the loved one)

  • Visit over your lunch break (a ten minute visit will brighten a loved one's day and allow a caretaker to take care of a small task, like a shower)

  • Take a night shift (let caretaker sleep uninterrupted)

  • Assist in attending spiritual events

  • Provide a break: sit/visit with their loved one while they…

    • Go out

    • Run errands

    • Do something for themselves/personal care

    • Take a walk

    • Take a nap

    • Attend appointments

Provide transportation

  • Medical appointments

  • Social engagements

  • Errands

Shopping

  • Medical equipment

  • Special furniture

Financial Support (directly assist or help raise money)

  • Basic needs

  • Paying bills

  • Medical treatment

  • Gas cards or bus tokens

  • Legal services

  • Adult daycare

  • Respite care

  • Pay for pet sitting/kennel stay/grooming

Organize

  • Help prepare a to-do list

  • Household organizing (closets, etc.)

  • Will

  • Medical directives/living will

  • Insurance information

  • Medical records

Help create a support network

  • Friends, family, neighbors, coworkers

  • Create a schedule of tasks to be done regularly

Help filing out forms

  • Financial Aid

  • Insurance claims

  • Taxes

  • Hospital forms

Research/Locate resources (offer to look for information/online research/phone calls)

  • Community support services

  • Help find professional assistance

  • Transportation, home care, adult day care and Residential respite programs

  • Insurance options/info

  • Legal resources/services

  • Look into getting something donated

Assist related organizations & nonprofits who support

  • Donations

  • Volunteer

  • Serve as a board member

  • Write legislators in support of

  • Share social media pages and websites

  • Support efforts to redesign public policies to support caregivers

  • Moods are contagious. People living with dementia are particularly sensitive to the moods of others around them so people need to come prepared with their A- game. Fake it if necessary.

  •  Approach these individuals with a compliment and a handshake, not a question. "Hi Bob. Wow, you have such a strong handshake!"  Or, "Gosh, Betty, you look so pretty in that nice blue sweater! Blue is such a nice color for you.

  •  Remove the word "remember" from your vocabulary unless you are reminding the individual of something you are fondly remembering at the moment.  "Duane, I remember when we used to go hunting together. You were such a great shot!"  Or, 'Betty, I remember your famous chocolate chips cookies! You are a fantastic baker!"  

  •  Remind the person of their greatness and their successes in life - career, family, marriage, hobbies etc

  •  Don't correct them, just go along with whatever they are saying or whatever time period they are living in at that particular moments.

  •  Humor helps. Find things to joke and laugh about...movies, cartoons, YouTube videos of babies laughing, dog tricks etc

  •  Attend Memory Cafe educational events to learn more effective ways to respectfully engage and communicate with individuals living with dementia. 

  •  Follow us on fb and/or instagram

  • See our website: www.MemoryCafeRRV.org