Life as a dementia carer

Looking after a loved one? Here’s how to get the help you need…

- FAYE M SMITH

Just the idea of a close friend or family member being diagnosed with dementia can strike fear into many of us. Yet, that is the daily reality for the UK’s 700,000 unpaid carers who are looking after loved ones. ‘It’s almost like a bereavement,’ says psychiatrist Dr. Arghya Sarkhel. ‘You’re losing your near and dear ones, and yet they are fully conscious and can talk, even if they don’t make sense at times. Helplessness, sadness and anxiety are all common emotions to experience.’ We asked the experts how to help make things a little bit easier…

Prioritise your wellbeing

‘Taking regular time out, without apologising, will help to build your resilience,’ says Kelly Feehan, service director at CABA. ‘By establishing a routine, you can start to build new healthy habits, even if it is just 10 minutes, without questioning whether you should be doing something else. For example, try to enjoy a few pages of your book before bed, or even take a bath every Sunday. You can also turn everyday chores into “me time”, such as watching an episode of your favourite series when washing up. Build these habits into your day or week.’