Clear answers about dementia and caregiving
Practical help for the day to day, and plain explanations of the medical side. Every article is written for families and backed by trusted sources.
Browse by topic
Understanding dementia
What dementia is, its types, and what causes it.
4 articles
Symptoms, early signs & diagnosis
Spotting early signs and how dementia is diagnosed.
5 articles
Genetics & risk
Family history, inherited risk, and what you can control.
3 articles
Stages, progression & life expectancy
How dementia progresses and what to expect over time.
1 article
Prevention & brain health
What the evidence says about reducing risk.
Coming soon
Caregiving & daily life
Practical, lived-experience help for day-to-day care.
Filtering by this topicCaregiving & daily life
Show all articles
Caregiver burnout: what are the signs, and how do you cope?
Caregiver burnout is deep exhaustion from prolonged stress. Warning signs include constant tiredness, irritability, sleep problems, pulling away from friends, and neglecting your own health. It is common and not a failure. The way through is regular breaks, accepting help, respite care, and support from others.
What do you do when someone with dementia won't eat or bathe?
Refusing food or washing is usually about fear, discomfort, or loss of control, not stubbornness. Offer simple choices, break the task into small steps, keep a calm routine, and pick the person's best time of day. Small, familiar meals and a warm, private bathroom make a real difference.
How do you handle aggression in someone with dementia?
Aggression in dementia is almost always a reaction to an unmet need, pain, fear, or confusion, not something deliberate. Keep yourself safe, stay calm, avoid arguing, and look for what triggered it. Rule out pain first, since it is one of the most common hidden causes.
How do you respond when someone with dementia asks the same question over and over?
When someone with dementia repeats a question, they have genuinely forgotten asking it, and the question often carries a feeling like worry or insecurity. Answer briefly and calmly, reassure the feeling underneath, and gently redirect to an activity. Avoid saying "you already asked me that."
When is it time to consider memory care?
Consider memory care when safety is at risk, when the person's needs are more than can be met safely at home, or when caregiving is seriously harming your own health. Wandering, falls, aggression, incontinence, and caregiver exhaustion are common turning points. It is a safety decision, not a failure.
Caring for someone with dementia at home: a practical guide
Caring for someone with dementia at home comes down to a few things done consistently: a steady routine, a safe space, calm communication, and support for you. This guide walks through each, with links to deeper answers on the hard moments.
How do you communicate with someone who has dementia?
Keep it simple and calm. Use short sentences with one idea at a time, approach from the front and use their name, and give plenty of time to respond. Answer the feeling behind the words rather than correcting the facts.
What is sundowning, and how do you manage it?
Sundowning is a pattern of increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation in the late afternoon and evening. You can ease it with a steady daily routine, more light during the day, less caffeine and late napping, and a calm, quiet lead-up to bedtime.