Social Life

People need people. We are social beings. We need each other to survive, but to thrive in life we also need emotional contact, nurturing and love between ourselves and other people.

Social relationships and their roles change throughout life. An individual may have close contact with some people for a period of their lives and with other people during other periods.

As a relative/carer, you may experience feelings of powerlessness and a feeling of being overwhelmed. The new tasks and the many decisions you make alone may take up much of your everyday life. Seeing the changes to your loved one will be painful.

If you suffer from feeling such as these it may be useful to get support in a relative support group. The group can provide a network of people in the same situation where shared problems can be discussed and experiences can be shared. The fellowship helps you gain a sense of control of the situation and of your emotions. Groups can help to revitalize hope that the future will be tolerable, and that life can bring new challenges and joys. It’s best to be involved in a support group as soon as possible.

Many relatives doubt whether a support group is right for them. Experience shows that this support often relieves stress and provides important emotional support.

By participating in a group, you can get:

• Professional guidance on how to provide support to a person with dementia.
• More information about dementia.
• Support from other people in a similar situation.