Imagine for a moment that you were diagnosed with dementia.
I know… not a particularly comfortable thought!
But if you were, wouldn’t you want the people caring for you to understand what was happening to you?
Wouldn’t you want them to have the knowledge, support and practical strategies they needed to care for you — and themselves?
I know I would.
And that’s exactly why I provide Dementia Coaching for Carers and families.
Because dementia isn’t just about memory loss.
It can change communication, emotions, behaviour, relationships and everyday life — and sometimes the behaviour we see on the outside doesn’t tell us what’s really happening on the inside.
Let me give you an example.
What do you think is happening when someone with dementia asks the same question over and over again… sometimes within just a few minutes?
Frustration? Absolutely
Confusion? Definitely
Anxious? Of Course
And let’s be honest — as a carer, you may feel annoyed, impatient, stressed, powerless or even helpless. And that doesn’t make you a bad carer. It makes you a normal human.
Now imagine this.
What if you had a feeling that something important needed to happen but you couldn’t remember what it was?
You couldn’t remember where you needed to be.
You couldn’t remember what time it was.
Then someone tells you — and moments later, that information has disappeared.
How would you feel?
Perhaps anxious, frightened, confused and perhaps you’d need reassurance.
And knowing that changes the way we look at the repeated question because sometimes the question being asked isn’t really the question that needs answering.
The dementia behaviour is always communicating something.
And this is where dementia coaching can make such a difference.
I can help you understand what may be behind a particular behaviour, and then work with you to develop practical, individualised strategies for that specific person and situation.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to dementia because
Every person is different. Every relationship is different. And every situation is different.
Coaching can provide you with useful information that changes how you see your loved one. It can help you understand the changes you’re both experiencing.
It can give you a safe space to talk about the grief and loss that accompany the dementia journey.
Most importantly, coaching can provide practical, doable strategies to help you manage difficult behaviours, reduce stress and maintain connection — whether your loved one is living at home or in an aged-care facility.
I believe carers deserve support too.
You shouldn’t have to navigate this long and often unpredictable journey feeling that you have to work everything out on your own.
So if you’re caring for someone living with dementia or you’re visiting a loved one in aged care and finding certain behaviours difficult to understand then…
Please reach out - I’m Elaine, your Dementia Coach.
I’m passionate about helping carers understand the person behind the behaviour — because there really is often more going on than meets the eye.
And sometimes, a small change in how we understand something can change everything.
If this sounds familiar, send me a message. We can have a chat about what’s happening and see whether dementia coaching could help you. Phone Elaine on: 0414 32 12 12 Email: omglifecoach@gmail.com or visit Facebook page: Omg Elaine
