What does “living well with dementia” look like?

Figure out your stress baseline: how stressed are you and how can we dial it back/what are coping strategies that work for you when it comes to stress, etc. Next, think about how well you’re sleeping. What’s your sleep pattern? Sleep deprivation is high risk for developing dementia, so understanding your baseline for sleeping is essential as well. Again, it goes back to compatibility as well, because you have to see where you are compared to the person with dementia because if someone is an early bird and the other is a night owl, the sleeping schedules don’t line up and this could become a distressor. You should also think about your own support system. Who do you have to talk to? Who can you share it with? Who can you vent to, celebrate with, etc.? Additionally, having a third party of authority figure you’re close to is helpful as well, like someone with a more holistic perspective who can give advice and act as a mediator. Scope out your options, because in the medical fields at least, when doctors are discouraging or “take away an option,” the next progressive step would be finding what options you do have. You should also think about what you’re doing that’s good for your brain health, body, and wellness. Ask yourself, “What are we doing that’s good for our bodies?” How often are you exercising? How are you stimulating your brain? What are your dietary habits? By finding your baseline for each one, and essentially doing an inventory, you develop better/healthier habits