Looking after someone with dementia at home isn’t just hard; it’s heavy. Some days are tender. Some are heartbreaking. And others feel like they stretch on forever. As the illness deepens, even basic things, like getting dressed or eating breakfast, start to feel like climbing uphill.
What’s tougher? Watching someone you love slowly fade. They forget names. Get lost in their own house. They change. And it hurts.
If you’re the one caring for them – maybe a spouse, a daughter, or a son – you already know: this road is long. It calls for more than love. It asks for grit. Patience. A kind of strength you didn’t know you had.
And yet, it’s easy to forget your own needs while meeting theirs.
So let’s pause. Let’s look at what caregiver burden in dementia really feels like and how you can keep standing without falling apart.
Caring for someone with dementia hits you in ways you don’t always expect. Not just in your schedule or your sleep, but deep in your body and mind.
Caregivers, especially women and spouses, are more likely to deal with:
You might notice more headaches. More sickness. Forgetting things yourself. Needing more coffee just to stay awake. Needing something stronger just to sleep.
And when you feel stuck, like you can’t leave, can’t stop, can’t cope, it only gets harder. That’s when people start thinking, maybe it’s time for a nursing home. Not because they want to, but because they don’t know what else to do.
It’s not always the physical stuff. Helping someone bathe or get dressed can be exhausting. But often, the toughest part is the behavior.
One day, they’re calm. The next, they’re angry. They wander around at night. Say things that sting. Act out in ways that are hard to understand or explain. Sometimes they forget your name. Sometimes they forget their own.
And when the person you love changes in front of you, it messes with your heart and your head.
Here’s the truth nobody says loud enough: you have to take care of yourself.
Because if you fall apart, the whole system falls apart.
Here’s how to start.
Say yes when someone offers. Make a list of simple tasks, such as grocery runs, staying with your loved one for an hour, or driving you to an appointment. Keep that list ready.
You will mess up. You will snap. You will feel like giving up. That doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means you’re human.
Big tasks are heavy. Break them down. One thing at a time. Stick to routines. Say no to things that stretch you too thin (yes, even family dinners and holiday hosting).
Join a support group. Online or in person. Anywhere you can talk freely. Somewhere you can laugh, cry, rant, and ask for help without judgment.
You need people. Even a short walk with a neighbor or a 10-minute phone call can remind you that the world is still out there, and you’re still part of it.
Eat something green. Stretch. Take a deep breath. Drink water. If you’re not sleeping, that’s common; talk to your doctor about it. Sleep matters more than we admit.
Don’t put your health on the back burner. Go to your appointments. Get your screenings. Tell your doctor you’re a caregiver, it changes the conversation.
You don’t have to do it all. Consider meal services, transportation assistance, and home care aides. These services exist for a reason; use them.
We’re not just about helping the person with dementia. We’re here for you, too.
When decisions feel too big, like care plans, long-term options, or how to keep the peace in the family, we’re here to walk through it with you. Our counsellors listen, guide, and help lighten that emotional load.
You don’t have to bottle this up. Our group gives you space to be real. Ask anything. Say everything. Share wins, frustrations, and honest truths. We also bring in experts to answer the tough questions.
You might be holding in a lot: anger, guilt, numbness, and total exhaustion. That’s normal. But it’s not something you should face alone. We offer support to help you manage stress and protect your mental health while you continue with your work.
Caregiver burden in dementia care might sound negative. But caring for someone with dementia comes from the heart. It becomes a burden when it wears you down. Quietly. Slowly. Until you’re running on nothing but fumes.
Here’s the truth: you can’t give what you don’t have. Not for long.
You matter too: your sleep, your sanity, your health, and your joy.
That’s where we come in to help you alleviate the caregiver burden in dementia care.
At Samvedna Care, we don’t just see the patient; we see you.
Whether it’s someone to talk to, a support group that actually gets it, or help with the day-to-day—we’re here to walk with you, not behind or ahead, but beside.
Reach out to be free from caregiver burden in dementia. We’re here.
Samvedna Care, G-7 Oriental Villas, Sushant Lok III, Sector 57, Gurgaon
Samvedna Care, C-13 Anand Niketan, New Delhi
+91 74280 97301
