Alzheimer’s disease & dementia – Care and support in a COVID-19 world: Supporting families and care partners of people living with dementia

Topics

• What to do when memory clinics and day care centres are closed
• Should loved ones with dementia still be moved into care homes
• How to try and explain why routines need to be changed
• Should people with dementia be taken to the hospital if they get unwell
• How to handle feelings of helplessness, loneliness and being trapped
• How might a care partner manage 'remote bereavement'

Summary

The recent webinar, ‘Supporting families and care partners of people living with dementia in a COVID-19 world’ addressed some questions that people caring for those living with dementia were asking. The webinar was held on 6th May 2020.

The webinar addressed questions across 4 themes:

• General issues that have been raised
• Questions from people who live together with a person that they care for who has dementia
• Questions from people who live apart but are supporting a loved one with dementia
• Questions from those whose loved one with dementia is a resident of a care home

General issues that have been raised

Questions from people who live together with a person that they care for who has dementia

Questions from people who live apart but are supporting a loved one with dementia

Questions from people whose loved one with dementia lives in a care home

Resources

All links and resources in this document are available below

Care at home and in the community

• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland: alzheimer.ie/about-us/coronavirus-covid-19-update
• Living Well With Dementia Service ​South Tipperary: southtipperarydementia.ie
• Alzheimer’s Society: alzheimers.org.uk/coronavirus
• Alzheimer Scotland: alzscot.org/information-during-coronavirus
• UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care program: uclahealth.org/dementia/caregiver-education

I need to zoom out

• Breathworks free guided meditation and mindfulness practices: breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk/free-meditations
• Padraig O’Morian mindfulness resources: padraigomorain.com

Time to make a move?

• Guide to choosing a private nursing home: hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/olderpeople/residentialcare/nursinghomechecklist.pdf
• dementia.ie
• age UK Choosing the right care home for you: ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/arranging-care/care-homes/choosing-care-home
• Finding care & support services: which.co.uk/later-life-care

Falling sick

• Family Carers Ireland Emergency Care Plan: familycarers.ie/emergency-care-plan

Bereavement and grief

• BC Centre for Palliative Care resources and guides: bc-cpc.ca/cpc/all-resources/hcp-resources/resources
• Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: Advance Care Planning guide
• The Irish Hospice Foundation: hospicefoundation.ie