What Does It Feel Like to Have Dementia?

Imagine walking out of your favorite local grocery store–maybe it’s Ralphs Fresh Fare, maybe it’s Vons–and suddenly, you don’t recognize anything around you. This same spot that was familiar when you walked inside 30 minutes ago is now a complete mystery. Where exactly are you, and how did you get here again? Everything suddenly feels fragmented and scary, with moments slipping away faster than you can grasp them.

For those living with dementia, moments like this can become a part of daily reality. Dementia, a condition that affects the brain’s ability to control thinking, behavior, and memory, is often isolating and overwhelming, not only for the person living with it but also for their family.

But what if we could better understand what it feels like to have dementia and the challenges that those with it face? Having a strong understanding of dementia and these struggles is the first step to providing compassionate and effective support.

What Is Dementia Like for Someone Living With It?

Living with dementia is a personal experience for each individual. Consider these perspectives of someone who is living with dementia:

• Memory feels unreliable. Familiar faces and places are even hard to recall, sometimes seeming completely foreign, which can lead to fear and confusion.
• Everyday tasks become puzzles. Simple, daily tasks are suddenly complicated. Routine activities like preparing food or getting dressed may become daunting, making personal care difficult and requiring extra time and effort.
• Communication is tangled. Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are sometimes incomprehensible, with sounds and meanings getting lost. Expressing emotions and thoughts can feel overwhelming or even impossible.
• The world seems unpredictable. Feelings of frustration, agitation, or anxiety often arise because the world seems to change in an instant, making it difficult to feel safe.

Because of these challenges, it is hard for someone living with dementia to feel safe in their own world. This is where loved ones and caregivers can play a crucial role in creating a stable and nurturing environment.

Building Empathy and Awareness in Santa Clarita

We are introducing an innovative experience to better help the community understand what it might feel like to live with dementia. Available to the public in January 2025, this immersive opportunity will allow loved ones, caregivers, and community members to better understand life for those with dementia. With that knowledge, we can offer greater empathy and more effective support to local seniors and families affected by this condition.

How We Can Help at Visiting Angels

If your elderly loved one was recently diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, it can be challenging to navigate. Luckily, an in-home caregiving provider, such as Visiting Angels of Santa Clarita, CA, can help. Our compassionate, in-home caregivers provide dementia care services to seniors throughout Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley, CA. From assisting with daily tasks to preventing wandering and ensuring safety, we help families provide the quality care their loved one deserves.

Contact us today at (661) 263-2273 for more information.