By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress management for healthcare workers
    3 Tips For Healthcare Professionals: How To Stay Beautiful, Healthy, and Happy
    November 2, 2021
    importance of relaxing on the weekend for your health
    Importance of Relaxing During the Weekend for Optimal Health
    March 25, 2022
    LASIK Eye Surgery
    What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
    May 16, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    The PCMH and Home Care Data: An Interview with Melissa McCormack
    December 19, 2013
    IT Strategy for Health Plans: Interview with ikaSystems CEO Joe Marabito
    August 11, 2014
    A New Kind of Stress Test
    May 26, 2015
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: When is it Time to Seek Professional Support for a Relative With Dementia?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > News > When is it Time to Seek Professional Support for a Relative With Dementia?
NewsWellness

When is it Time to Seek Professional Support for a Relative With Dementia?

Annie Qureshi
Annie Qureshi
Share
5 Min Read
dementia care
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - 1502052020
SHARE

Caring for a family member who has dementia or dementia related disorder can be physically and emotionally draining. While you may be able to manage their care all on your own, there will come a time when you can’t. At that stage, you may want to consider hospice or nurse care.

Contents
What is Dementia?When to Seek Professional Support for Dementia CareEarly-Stage DementiaMiddle Stage DementiaLate-Stage DementiaEnd-of-Life Dementia

What is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term and/or syndrome that describes a group of symptoms that don’t have a definitive diagnosis. It’s common for people to mistake dementia for Alzheimer’s disease, but they aren’t the same. However, Alzheimer’s is responsible for 60% to 80% of dementia cases.

When to Seek Professional Support for Dementia Care

There are several different types of dementia, each of which progresses at different rates. To determine when you should switch to hospice care, let’s examine the stages of dementia.

Early-Stage Dementia

In the early stage of dementia, most people aren’t aware they have it, so your relative has likely progressed beyond this point. Early-stage symptoms include forgetfulness, limited attention span, difficulty concentrating, mood shifts, depression, and mild coordination problems.

More Read

Good riddance: United finally gives up on ACA marketplaces
Walking Every Day Can Lead to a Healthier Life
Where Have All the Independent Hospitals Gone? In Cleveland, Into the Mouths of the Big Guys
How Ordering Your Groceries Online Can Help You Eat Healthier
Exercise Routines That Are All Wet!

You can maximize your relative’s independence by helping them with:

  • Keeping appointments
  • Remembering names and words
  • Recalling familiar people or places
  • Managing money
  • Organizing and planning
  • Keeping track of medication
  • Transportation

If your relative is currently in this stage, try to take care of yourself. You’ll experience a lot of ups and downs with your mental state, so it’s essential to take a break when you need it.

Middle Stage Dementia

In the middle stage, your family member may need help living on their own, but not so much support that you have to be present 24/7. You’ll need to assist them with daily tasks.

This may be the first time you’ve looked up hospice criteria for Dementia, but most companies will take dementia patients when they’re in the end-of-life stage. You may also consider moving your relative into a long-term care home or asking for additional support from your family.

Middle stage dementia can bring forth more challenges, but you can help by:

  • Speaking to a doctor about available treatment options
  • Paying attention to your relative’s daily health (physical and mental)
  • Adapting the same care strategies from the early stage

Your loved one may be in denial, scared, stressed, angry, or depressed more often at this stage. If that’s the case, encourage the person to share their feelings in a journal and spend time doing activities they enjoy. Start attending patient support groups if you haven’t been doing so already.

Late-Stage Dementia

At the late stage, you’ll have to seriously consider hiring a nurse or putting your relative into a long-term care home or hospice care, as it will get increasingly harder to care for them yourself.

The moment you notice your relative speaking incoherently or forgetting to eat, exercise or bathe, contact a medical professional for your next steps. Your relative may not be able to communicate to you that they’re experiencing difficulties, so you’ll have to take charge here.

People with late stage dementia will experience the following:

  • Severe impairments in memory and recognizing time and places
  • Losing the capacity to communicate effectively or speak entirely
  • The inability to go to the bathroom, eat, or walk by themselves

By the late stage, 24-hour care is essential, even if your relative protests. While it’s difficult to go against your relative’s wishes, it’s more important that they’re safe and cared for at all times.

End-of-Life Dementia

If your relative isn’t in hospice care or a long-term care home, you should move them into one of these facilities immediately. Unfortunately, many of the conditions that relate to dementia are terminal, so your relative’s mental and physical health will continue to get worse until they pass.

When the patient is nearing death, the most important thing to do is focus on their comfort and palliative care. Symptom management, pain relief, and quality of life will start to take precedent.

As with the early stage, take some time to pay attention to your own needs. You may feel isolated, depressed, and struggling with grief or loss. Speak to support groups that help family members who care for dementia patients and consult a mental health professional if needed.

TAGGED:dementia supportdementia treatment
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Health careSocial MediaWellness

9 Very Important Signs That It’s Time For An Eye Test

November 28, 2018
mattress sleep health
HealthWellness

Pick the Perfect Mattress to Stop Your Insomnia

October 30, 2024
CBD
Home HealthSpecialtiesWellness

Should You Give CBD Oil to Children?

November 12, 2019

Cancer in Someone Hairier Than Me and You

August 25, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?