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Practical support for family caregivers

Caring for Someone With Dementia or Alzheimer's

Good dementia care protects dignity as well as safety. A calm approach, a familiar routine, and attention to possible medical causes of behavior can make daily life more manageable for everyone.

Written and reviewed by Nick Anderson, PharmD · Reviewed September 21, 2026

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About your visit
Three quick medication-safety questions

1. A complete medicine list should include nonprescription products, vitamins, and supplements.

2. It is safe to suddenly stop any medicine that might cause dizziness.

3. A pharmacist can help check for duplicate medicines and interactions.

How confident are you about using a medicine list and asking medication-safety questions?

Privacy: no name, email address, birth date, diagnosis, medicine, provider, or caregiver-record entry is collected. An anonymous code on this device connects the starting and follow-up checks.

Make communication easier

Help the person understand

  • Approach from the front, make eye contact, and say your name.
  • Use a calm voice and one short question or direction at a time.
  • Offer two simple choices instead of an open-ended question.
  • Allow extra time for an answer. Avoid rushing or finishing every sentence.
  • Use gestures, labels, pictures, or demonstration when words are difficult.

Lower distress

  • Do not argue about a mistaken belief or repeatedly test memory.
  • Acknowledge the feeling, offer reassurance, and redirect to a familiar activity.
  • Reduce background noise, crowds, clutter, and competing conversations.
  • If frustration rises, pause and try again later unless the task is urgent.
  • Remember that the disease—not the person—is causing the change.

Support everyday care

Keep a predictable routine

  • Keep waking, meals, medicines, bathing, activity, and bedtime at familiar times.
  • Encourage the person to do the parts of a task they can still manage.
  • Lay out clothes in order and use simple, comfortable choices.
  • Allow enough time for meals; watch for coughing, choking, weight loss, or trouble swallowing.
  • Plan pleasant movement and meaningful activities that match current abilities.

Make the home safer

  • Use bright lighting, handrails, nonslip surfaces, and clear walking paths.
  • Lock medicines, cleaning products, sharp tools, firearms, alcohol, and car keys.
  • Check smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms and set the water heater to a safe temperature.
  • Use identification and a wandering response plan; consider door alerts where appropriate.
  • Do not create locks or barriers that prevent emergency escape.

Use a safe medication system

One plan and one current list

  • Choose one responsible person to oversee refills, changes, and each dose.
  • Keep an updated list of prescriptions, nonprescription products, vitamins, supplements, allergies, and reactions.
  • Record a dose immediately after it is given to prevent accidental repeats.
  • Use a pill organizer or pharmacy packaging only after the list is confirmed.

Ask before changing administration

  • Ask a pharmacist before crushing, splitting, or opening a medicine.
  • Do not hide medicine in food unless the care team has confirmed it is safe and addressed consent in the care plan.
  • Ask whether any medicine could worsen confusion, sleepiness, constipation, urination, or falls.
  • Never stop a medicine suddenly without professional guidance.

Prepare for wandering

  • Keep a recent photo, identification information, and likely destinations available.
  • Tell trusted neighbors or family members about the response plan.
  • If the person is missing and may be at risk, call 911 immediately and explain that the person has dementia.

Care for the caregiver

  • Divide specific tasks among family, friends, and community supports.
  • Use respite care or adult day services before exhaustion becomes a crisis.
  • Keep your own medical appointments, sleep, meals, and social support.
  • Ask the healthcare team, Area Agency on Aging, or support organizations for help.

Open the one-page black-and-white caregiver quick guide or visit the QR Code Print page.

Know when to get urgent help

Call 911 in the United States for immediate danger, signs of stroke, trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, a serious fall or injury, suspected overdose, or a missing person who may be at risk. Contact a healthcare professional promptly for sudden confusion, fever, severe sleepiness, new weakness, inability to drink, or a major behavior change.

Trusted resources

General education only. This page does not replace individualized advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine without guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Finished this guide? Record what you learned

Your anonymous answers help evaluate medication-safety knowledge, confidence, and intended next steps.

Three quick medication-safety questions

1. A complete medicine list should include nonprescription products, vitamins, and supplements.

2. It is safe to suddenly stop any medicine that might cause dizziness.

3. A pharmacist can help check for duplicate medicines and interactions.

How confident are you about using a medicine list and asking medication-safety questions?
What do you plan to do?

After submitting, you can use the same anonymous code for the optional 30-day action check.

Nick Anderson, PharmDClinical referenceNick Anderson, PharmDBCGP certification lapsed · View professional profile

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