Maybe you’re trying to repay them after everything they’ve done for you. Or maybe you’re hesitant to trust someone else with their care. Or maybe your loved one just flat-out refuses additional help from a memory care community. Whatever the situation, being the primary caregiver for a family member with dementia is hard. And feelings of guilt are likely to creep in along the way.

What is Caregiver Guilt?

Caregiver guilt is an extremely real and painful experience, and it comes in many different forms. Feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities of caregiving, feeling impatient with your loved one, or even blaming yourself for things that have happened are common. Guilt can often lead to feelings of shame, depression, anxiety, anger, and even resentment towards the person you’re caring for.

The realization that you are no longer able to care for your loved one with dementia is an unsure and overwhelming process. It’s tough to let go and turn to additional support, especially when your loved one is refusing. Caregiver guilt can have real consequences for the relationship with your loved one if it goes on too long. But at the end of the day, you must do what’s best for both of you. Their health and safety matter most, and so does your well-being .

How to Cope

A dementia diagnosis flips your world upside down and realizing that you can no longer care for your family member is a lot to bear. Fortunately, there are ways to cope with the guilt you are dealing with.

• Be kind to yourself: Remind yourself that guilt, shame, and resentment are perfectly normal emotions for caregivers to experience. It’s a challenging process to watch the progression of dementia in your loved one.
• Seek out support: Join a support group or talk to others in similar situations to gain perspective, process your emotions, and learn that you’re not alone in this journey.
• Prioritize self-care: Take time for yourself—it’s not selfish. Participate in your favorite hobbies or consider journaling to alleviate stress and manage your feelings.
• Give it time: Adjusting to a new environment takes time—for both you and your loved one. It’s a gradual process, and it’s okay if it doesn’t happen overnight.
• Believe it’s for the best: It’s never going to be an easy decision to loosen the reins and accept help; however, know that you will be improving the quality of life for your loved one, both medically and socially.

Memory Care

After deciding that additional support is needed, you’ll probably ask yourself: What now?

As dementia progresses into the later stages, it may be time to consider memory care. Memory care communities are designed to meet the needs of individuals facing cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Our team at Buckingham Heights is specially trained to focus on the unique strengths and needs of every resident. Your loved one will receive personalized care and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, grooming, and dressing. Additionally, on-site nursing staff are available to address any health concerns that arise, providing you with both comfort and peace of mind.

Our community is dedicated to creating a warm, comfortable, and safe space where your loved one can feel right at home. We also offer around-the-clock memory care activities schedule intended to stimulate the mind and ensure that every resident is left entirely fulfilled. Some of these activities include daily exercise programs, music and pet therapy, social gatherings, happy hours, and holiday parties.

At Buckingham Heights, our memory care community offers more than just a place to live — it’s a new beginning filled with meaningful possibilities. We understand that the transition into memory care can be a challenging and emotional decision. That’s why we’re here to walk alongside your loved one on their dementia journey, offering compassionate support every step of the way. Contact us today!

A dementia diagnosis can be very intimidating to individuals and their families. It signals a decline in cognitive abilities, and there isn’t a cure for most memory disorders. Many also fear that the individual affected will no longer be able to engage in activities for their enjoyment or benefit.

People with memory care disorders at all stages can still enjoy activities, even if that participation looks different. Dementia is a memory disorder that refers to the loss of memory, language, and cognitive abilities that affects the ability to function in everyday life. It’s important to know the stages as well as the activities and levels of participation that are best for each stage.

Early-Stage Dementia:

Individuals who are impacted by early-stage dementia may still be able to function independently. Although individuals may still participate in their daily routine, you may start to notice signs of memory decline, like misplacing their keys. Symptoms start to have some impact on the person’s life. Other common symptoms include:

Memory lapses: forgetting or losing items around the house, frequent difficulty finding the right word in conversation, inability to recall recent events

Difficulty in planning and problem-solving: confusion is more common, and individuals affected by dementia have trouble planning and making complex choices

Increasing irritability or anxiety: mood changes may arise at this stage, where anxiety and depression become more common. Signs of these mood changes include withdrawal from hobbies or socialization and lack of self-confidence

In the early stages, most individuals can still participate in regular recreational activities. Memory impairment may become evident, especially with memory-related games. Activities that are most helpful at this stage involve storytelling, memory activities such as word searches and puzzles, and self-expression activities such as painting or singing along to music. Though practicing memory activities may seem counterintuitive, it can be beneficial for people with dementia to help jog their memory.

Middle-Stage Dementia:

The middle stage of dementia presents changes and symptoms that become much more noticeable, especially to family and friends of those affected. At this point in the disease, many individuals need either reminders or physical assistance with completing activities of daily living (ADLs). Common ADLs include bathing, dressing, and toileting. Symptoms include:

Memory decline: Individuals who experience dementia have more difficulty recognizing people in their lives at this stage, and repetition of the same question is common. They may also forget basic information about themselves, such as their phone number, age, and home address

Confusion increases: People with dementia at this stage tend to get more easily confused about where they are and the time of day, and this may lead to wandering

Hallucinations and delusions: Middle-stage dementia often presents issues related to paranoia and seeing or hearing things that are not real. Common delusions among individuals with dementia are that someone is stealing from them or that a lover is cheating on them

During the middle stage of dementia, many people still desire to participate in recreational activities but may need prompting to start or continue engagement. The best activities for this stage include cognitive skills (such as daily living tasks like folding laundry), easy physical activities such as guided walks, memory activities like watching an old movie, and sorting.

Late-Stage Dementia:

This stage of dementia causes a very significant impact on the lives of those who have dementia, and often on their caregivers as well. At this point, individuals require full-time, 24/7 care, available around the clock, and need physical assistance with every activity of daily living. It’s very common to see drastic personality changes and a loss of ability to control their movement or respond to most of the world around them. Symptoms include:

Difficulty or loss of ability to communicate

Increased emotional distress, restlessness, and fear

Physical immobility: difficulty walking, eating, and swallowing, and incontinence is common at this stage

Individuals who are at the severe stage of dementia have limited abilities to communicate and experience increased emotional difficulty due to memory loss. At this stage, activities should be focused on providing sensory comfort and gentle stimulation to impacted individuals. Even if individuals are unable to communicate, they can still enjoy sensory activity participation, meaning that engagement is important at this stage.

Activities that best support individuals at this stage are gentle stretches, pet therapy, holding hands, and looking at old photos. Social interaction is still important at this stage, regardless of the affected individual’s ability to talk. Friends, family, and caregivers can accomplish this by telling stories or reading to the individual as well.

Despite the challenges that dementia brings, people with dementia can still find comfort and enjoyment from participating in recreational activities that are fun and mindful of their abilities. It is important to consider that some activities may have to be significantly modified to meet the needs of individuals with moderate to severe dementia, as their cognitive and physical abilities will decline over time. In addition, during the progression of the disease, they may show disinterest in hobbies they’ve previously enjoyed, so new activities may have to replace old ones.

Though a dementia diagnosis can be challenging for individuals and their families, recreational activities are a great way to navigate those difficulties and provide stimulation and enjoyment. By utilizing activities that play to the individual’s strengths and capabilities, memory care patients and their caregivers will see positive outcomes. Memory care facilities can offer great assistance for dementia patients and their families, providing activities that are tailored to the needs and capabilities of individuals with dementia. Buckingham Heights in Glastonbury CT offers 24/7 recreational activities for its memory care residents, providing a variety of entertainment and engagement that has something for every resident. If you or your loved one is struggling with a memory care disorder, we can help. Reach out to us today to book a tour!