Some health concerns are simpler to manage. The simplest ones are those that manifest pain and can be managed by medicine or treated with surgery. Recovery and healing follow, and then you’re back to normal. Some health concerns take longer to treat and heal, but with proper planning, guidance, and medical experts on board, the road to healing is still attainable.
Dementia, on the other hand, is silent. It doesn’t manifest physically right away, but you’ll see it right there mentally. And what makes it more challenging is that the person diagnosed with it may not even know it.
Managing a loved one with dementia can be very challenging. As a person, we have innate abilities, and as we mature, we acquire skills to survive and learn traits that help us in life such as efficiency, responsibility, and thrift, as well as managing relationships. Since we are wired with all this, this all becomes second nature, and something that doesn’t align with these traits may be considered a setback.
To understand a person with dementia, you have to look beyond these and prioritize patience, understanding, and flexibility in your reasoning. The worst thing that you could do is to argue, debate, and tell them they’re wrong. That only hurts them, and they could distance themselves from you, which makes things more difficult to handle.
Dementia is not just about forgetfulness. One part is understanding what they’ll forget and what they’ll remember. Long-term memory goes a long way. Talking about events, people, and places that happened decades ago are things that trigger a pleasant conversation and also reveal what they fondly remember. Short-term memory isn’t reliable, so it’s best to anchor these moments with care and compassion.
And because of these factors, whatever routine is comfortable and convenient for loved ones with dementia shouldn’t be changed. It’s hard for them to adapt to any new habits or cater to change. Working around their existing routine can help ease any minor changes.
One other thing to expect is that it doesn’t get better. For most primary forms of dementia, current medical treatments cannot reverse or cure the underlying brain cell damage. With this in mind, it’s best to plan ahead for loved ones. Know how dementia progresses and adapt to their needs, and be more understanding of their condition.
I’m not an expert, but from the experiences I’ve had caring for my loved one, I know that learning never stops. For anyone navigating this path: be patient with them, but please remember to be patient and flexible with yourself as well.
I wish you all the patience and understanding you’ll need to care for them.
Dementia, on the other hand, is silent. It doesn’t manifest physically right away, but you’ll see it right there mentally. And what makes it more challenging is that the person diagnosed with it may not even know it.
Managing a loved one with dementia can be very challenging. As a person, we have innate abilities, and as we mature, we acquire skills to survive and learn traits that help us in life such as efficiency, responsibility, and thrift, as well as managing relationships. Since we are wired with all this, this all becomes second nature, and something that doesn’t align with these traits may be considered a setback.
To understand a person with dementia, you have to look beyond these and prioritize patience, understanding, and flexibility in your reasoning. The worst thing that you could do is to argue, debate, and tell them they’re wrong. That only hurts them, and they could distance themselves from you, which makes things more difficult to handle.
Dementia is not just about forgetfulness. One part is understanding what they’ll forget and what they’ll remember. Long-term memory goes a long way. Talking about events, people, and places that happened decades ago are things that trigger a pleasant conversation and also reveal what they fondly remember. Short-term memory isn’t reliable, so it’s best to anchor these moments with care and compassion.
And because of these factors, whatever routine is comfortable and convenient for loved ones with dementia shouldn’t be changed. It’s hard for them to adapt to any new habits or cater to change. Working around their existing routine can help ease any minor changes.
One other thing to expect is that it doesn’t get better. For most primary forms of dementia, current medical treatments cannot reverse or cure the underlying brain cell damage. With this in mind, it’s best to plan ahead for loved ones. Know how dementia progresses and adapt to their needs, and be more understanding of their condition.
I’m not an expert, but from the experiences I’ve had caring for my loved one, I know that learning never stops. For anyone navigating this path: be patient with them, but please remember to be patient and flexible with yourself as well.
I wish you all the patience and understanding you’ll need to care for them.
- Friday, July 24, 2026
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