Dementia care is a long journey: families need to care for themselves too
Overseas statistics indicate that around four-fifths of adults with dementia receive care at home. Many caregivers are women, and some provide care for four years or longer. This reminds us that home care can be a long-term commitment. Families should prepare emotionally, share tasks, arrange regular health checks and consult professionals when problems arise rather than coping alone.
Machine translation of our Chinese article, without human translation review. Suggestions concerning China remain specific to China.
Chinese fact summaries and suggestions for China (not a full translation)
Original: Caregivers of a Person with Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Dementia | Caregiving | CDC · Original language: en
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Facts from the sources
Approximately 80% of adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias receive care in their own homes. View source
More than 11 million US adults provide unpaid care for someone with a form of dementia. View source
In 2023, caregivers provided approximately 18.4 billion hours of care to people with dementia. View source
Nearly a third of family caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias provide care for four years or longer. View source
Approximately two-thirds of dementia caregivers are women. View source
Approximately a third of caregivers are aged 65 or older. View source
For older people and families
Dementia care may continue for years. Plan for the long term rather than struggling alone.
Women in the family are often the main caregivers. They also need time for themselves, regular blood-pressure measurements and health checks.
Older caregivers especially need rest. Seek medical attention promptly for fatigue or palpitations.
Siblings can share a rota, even if each can only help for half a day each week.
If the older person’s condition changes, ask the doctor first rather than increasing medication or changing approaches yourself.
Record changes in sleep, eating and mood to share with the doctor at follow-up appointments.
Feeling tired, frustrated or tearful is normal. Talk with family or friends.
See what care and community teams can do
Overseas data showing that most people receive care at home can inform community caregiver support groups, but assess local needs first.
Caregiver training should cover long-term planning, stress support and basic first aid, with courses reviewed by healthcare professionals.
Before providing respite care to temporarily relieve families, arrange appropriately qualified staff and establish the recipient’s health needs and home risks.
Home services must assess cognition, medication and the home environment before developing an individual care plan.
When using overseas statistics in publicity, identify the country, year and source. Do not present them as describing China.
Care diaries and simple rating forms can be designed, but geriatric medicine or rehabilitation professionals must validate them before use.
Consider working with local disease-control services and community hospitals on caregiver health follow-up, piloting it when conditions are ready.
What needs local assessment
These statistics were published in the United States and describe US dementia caregivers, not current circumstances in China or every individual patient and caregiver. Proportions describe population trends, not individual risk. Care support, community services and medical insurance policies vary across China; consult information from recognised local hospitals, community health centres and civil affairs authorities. Medical decisions, medication changes and home safety adaptations, including slip resistance and load capacity, require on-site professional assessment and guidance. Do not simply copy online information. Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The original materials are freely available on the CDC website. This site and its suggestions for China are not endorsed by the CDC, HHS or the US government. Their images and logos have not been reproduced.
Sources
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Was this article helpful?
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