Dementia symptoms will change and affect relationships in many ways. Relationships and social connections of all kinds can be a key factor in maintaining a sense of self and well-being for a person living with rare dementia.
Relationships with family and friends can be a way for people to create shared meaning in the face of the changes that a dementia diagnosis brings. Positive relationships with co-workers or an employer can help to maintain a connection to a person’s professional identity for as long as possible.
There are factors relating to dementia diagnoses that can create challenges in relationships. In the primary relationships of family and friends, these challenges can include:
balancing new roles with one another alongside other demands such as work and/or caring for children
ambiguous loss and associated grief for those who are affected by the diagnosis
the need to develop new coping strategies and to ask for help as the disease progresses
In relationships with work colleagues and employers, challenges can include:
communication regarding accommodations to support changing physical or cognitive needs
the effects of stigma and misunderstandings on job performance or a decision to retire
A diagnosis of rare dementia brings with it a guarantee of change. This unexpected change can pose challenges to:
There is an intersection between family functioning and the provision of physical and emotional care to an individual living with dementia. This will be unique to each individual, family or circle of friends.
Within the realm of personal relationships as someone comes to terms with a rare dementia diagnosis, it is usual that support may be needed along the way. We know that support strategies oriented to different transition points along the progression of the disease may be an important factor in helping relationships between people. This might mean increased social, emotional, physical or practical support at key points of change.
Immediately after a diagnosis, many people wonder how and when to tell others. The Young Dementia Network (UK) have prepared a helpful video that highlights the voices of people living with young onset dementia discussing different strategies and approaches to telling others. Family, friends and other people living with dementia can be an important part of post-diagnostic support and help you to tell others when you are ready. Planning communications to friends and family can also be done with the help of our support team.
Who to Tell, How to Tell (Young Dementia Network in UK)
