NNHC Resource Center
Dementia Caregiver Resources
Practical tools for families supporting a person living with dementia, with an emphasis on safety, routine, communication, caregiver recovery, and knowing when more help may be needed.
Dementia Is a General Term
Dementia describes a decline in memory, thinking, judgment, or other cognitive abilities that interferes with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is one cause, but not the only cause. New, sudden, or rapidly worsening confusion needs medical evaluation because some causes can be urgent or treatable.
A Safer, More Predictable Day
Care often becomes easier when the environment and routine do more of the work.
Simplify the Environment
Reduce clutter, improve lighting, keep frequently used items visible, and remove or secure objects that could create safety risks.
Keep a Consistent Rhythm
Use familiar routines for waking, meals, bathing, medications, activity, and bedtime whenever possible.
Use Visual & Written Cues
Labels, calendars, simple signs, photographs, and one-step reminders may help the person understand what happens next.
Communication That Preserves Dignity
The goal is not to win an argument. The goal is to reduce distress, preserve dignity, and help the person feel safe.
Approach Calmly
Get the person’s attention, use their name, speak in a calm tone, and avoid rushing.
Offer Simple Choices
Two clear choices are often easier to process than open-ended questions or several instructions at once.
Redirect Rather Than Confront
When a belief or concern cannot be corrected without causing distress, reassurance and a gentle shift in attention may work better than repeated correction.
Safety & Wandering Planning
Some people living with dementia may become disoriented, leave home unexpectedly, or lose the ability to judge risk. Planning before an incident occurs is safer than improvising during one.
Secure High-Risk Items
Consider safe storage for medications, cleaning supplies, tools, firearms, car keys, and other potentially dangerous items.
Prepare Identification
Keep recent photographs and emergency contacts available, and consider identification or medical-alert options appropriate to the person’s situation.
Know When to Call 911
If a person with dementia is missing and you believe they may be in danger, treat the situation as urgent and contact local emergency services.
Create a Caregiver Handoff Sheet
A short, current handoff document helps family members, respite caregivers, aides, and healthcare professionals understand what matters most.
Include: preferred name and communication style; daily routine; mobility and transfer needs; food and swallowing considerations; toileting routine; medication schedule; allergies; calming strategies; triggers; wandering history; sleep pattern; emergency contacts; healthcare contacts; and what a good day usually looks like.
Keep this document secure because it may contain sensitive health information. Share only with people who need it for the person’s care.
Caregiver Respite & Support
Family caregivers need backup. Both North Carolina and South Carolina have caregiver-support programs that may help eligible families access counseling, education, respite, and other services.
North Carolina Family Caregiver Support
North Carolina’s program serves eligible unpaid caregivers, including adult caregivers supporting a person of any age with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders.
South Carolina Family Caregiver Support
South Carolina offers information, counseling, caregiver training, respite, and supplemental services through local aging networks.
SC Dementia Care Navigation
South Carolina’s dementia programs include statewide coordination, caregiver education, and support navigation through the Department on Aging.
When More Help May Be Needed
A change in care level may be appropriate when safety, health, mobility, behavioral symptoms, caregiver exhaustion, or supervision needs exceed what the current plan can safely support.
Useful next steps can include speaking with the person’s healthcare provider, requesting a home-safety or therapy evaluation, discussing respite or in-home care, reviewing benefits and payer options, and creating a backup plan before the primary caregiver reaches a crisis point.
How NNHC Can Help
NNHC can discuss home-care and nursing options that may support a person living with dementia and their family, including personal care, companion support, respite, and skilled services when clinically appropriate and authorized.
Resource notice: This page is educational and does not replace medical advice, emergency services, legal advice, or individualized care planning. External programs and eligibility requirements can change. Resource links reviewed September 18, 2026.