Becoming a caregiver for someone with dementia often happens without warning. One day you notice your parent forgetting familiar names, struggling with routine tasks, or displaying unusual behavior changes. Suddenly, roles reverse—and you become the caregiver. In Malaysia, where over 50,000 people currently live with Alzheimer’s, and Singapore, where caregivers dedicate an average of 217 hours monthly to dementia care, understanding this journey is vital.
Understanding Your Role as a Dementia Caregiver
Caregiving for persons with dementia extends far beyond basic assistance. Your responsibilities evolve as the disease progresses, encompassing physical care, emotional support, medical coordination, and safety supervision. Singapore’s Agency for Integrated Care identifies key caregiver roles including managing nutrition, hygiene needs, sleeping habits, and learning how to communicate sensitively with someone whose personality and behaviour may change dramatically.
Research from Malaysian health professionals emphasizes that caregivers should be actively involved and supported in dementia management, including regular assessment of caregiver burden. Recognizing that this role carries significant physical and emotional weight is the first step toward sustainable caregiving.
Essential Caregiving Skills and Strategies
Managing Behavioural Changes
Persons with dementia may display depression, anxiety, hallucinations, aggression, or wandering behaviour. These behavioural and psychological symptoms require patience and specialized approaches. Singapore’s SingHealth recommends validating their feelings rather than arguing with their reality, maintaining consistent routines, and identifying triggers that cause agitation.
Daily Care Fundamentals
Practical caregiving involves assistance with activities of daily living—toilet visits, eating, bathing, dressing, and medication management. As dementia progresses from mild to severe stages, the brain becomes increasingly damaged, requiring higher levels of support. Creating structured daily routines provides security and reduces confusion for PWD.
Communication Approaches
Effective communication becomes crucial as cognitive abilities decline. Speak slowly and clearly, use simple sentences, maintain eye contact, and give one instruction at a time. Non-verbal communication—gentle touch, facial expressions, and body language—becomes increasingly important in later stages.
The Reality of Caregiver Burden
The Dementia Singapore 2024 study revealed sobering statistics: caregivers averaging just 6.1 hours of sleep daily, with care hours increasing to 292 monthly for severe dementia cases. Care costs rise sharply with disease progression, reaching a median of S$4,081.30 monthly before subsidies for severe cases
Beyond financial strain, caregivers lose social connections, career opportunities, and personal time. Malaysian research highlights that caregivers lack sufficient support, particularly in areas with scarce dementia care resources. Nearly 90% of surveyed Singapore caregivers believe more support is needed.
Practicing Self-Care as a Caregiver
As one experienced caregiver emphasized: “It’s not about managing them. Caregivers must learn how to manage themselves, because if you don’t manage yourself as a caregiver—you have lost the plot”. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s essential for sustainable caregiving.
Connect with other caregivers who understand your journey. Sharing experiences makes the road less lonely and provides practical insights. Take advantage of respite care services, accept help from family and friends, and don’t hesitate to seek professional counseling when feeling overwhelmed.
Moving Forward with Support
Caring for someone with dementia represents one of life’s most challenging responsibilities, but it can also be deeply meaningful. Educate yourself about dementia progression, prepare for changing care needs, and build your support network early. Remember that seeking help demonstrates strength, not weakness.
Connect with us today. Whether you’re just beginning your caregiving journey or feeling overwhelmed by current responsibilities, professional guidance can make an extraordinary difference. Your loved one needs you, but you must care for yourself first to provide the best possible care for them.
