Familiar is good
Keep routines steady
Meals, walks and bedtime at much the same time each day. Predictable days are calmer days.
Keep the same faces
A regular carer becomes a familiar face, rather than a stranger at the door each week.
Keep the home calm and clear
Good light, less clutter and simple labels on cupboards make it easier to find things.
Keep them doing, and keep yourself going
Keep them doing
Folding washing, potting plants, music they love. Joining in matters more than getting it right.
Look after yourself
Caring is tiring. A regular break, even a few hours a week, helps you keep going.
You don't have to work it out alone
Dementia Australia's National Dementia Helpline is free and open to anyone affected by dementia: 1800 100 500.
Their free booklet, The Dementia Guide, is a good place to start after a diagnosis. Find it at dementia.org.au.
