At this stage, caregiving can become quite challenging. It is important to take breaks, learn strategies, and rely on your support network. If you have not yet created an advanced care plan, it is very important to do so now. Plan for future care options, including resolving financial and legal issues.
Your caregiving role is dependent on the needs of the person with dementia. In the middle stages, a person with dementia may have significant challenges performing everyday tasks. They may be resistant to help and have difficulty expressing their needs. They may also have new symptoms and behaviours.
The following activities are for consideration only and offered as a guide.
Remember, you do not need to do everything yourself!
Education and Support
1. Contact the Dementia Society – Register for education sessions and caregiver support groups.
2. Connect with your Dementia Care Coach to learn strategies for coping with the middle stage of dementia.
3. Visit the Dementia Society’s Dementia Learning Hub.
4. Contact Ontario Health atHome (OHaH). Set up in-home personal support and
create an individualized care plan.
5. Talk to your OHaH Care Coordinator about:
Adult Day Programs
The Respite House at the Perley
In Home supports for personal care
6. Read These Fact Sheets:
Preparing for In-Home Help and Support
Care for the Caregiver
Communication
7. Plan activities for the person with dementia that are appropriate, promote satisfaction, and promote achievement.
8. Develop alternative driving/transportation plans if necessary.
Planning for a Day When You Can No Longer Drive toolkit is available
Healthy Ageing Canada offers a Driving and Dementia Road Map.
9. Ask for help from your support system.
10. Make your own health and wellness a priority.
Caregiving can be stressful and place a burden on physical and mental health. Tell your own doctor that you are a caregiver of a person with dementia.
Engage in activities that are meaningful to you.
11. Register for Remote Care Monitoring: Click Here and for Medic Alert® Safe and Found®for the person with dementia at 1-855-581-3794 or Click Here
12. Fill out My Life’s Story. Include key facts about the person’s life to share with care workers who come into the home.
13. Assess living arrangements.
Talk to your Dementia Care Coach if you need help deciding when to move to assisted living (Retirement Home or Care Facility)
Read the Dementia Society’s How to Plan and Talk about Moving fact sheet.
Legal and Financial
1. Plan for the future. The Advance Care Planning Ontario website offers a guide.
2. Review income tax benefit options.
3. Become familiar with the long term care application process.
Watch the Dementia Society’s “Considerations for Long-Term Care” webinar series.
Learn about Finances and Long Term Care.
4. Assess financial resources against the cost of increasing in-home support to keep the person in the home as long as possible.
5. Watch a Dementia Society webinar about Financial Information for Caregivers.
6. If Relocating to Assisted Living or a Care Home, work with an Ontario Health at Home Care Coordinator.
Determine if, when, and where relocation will take place.
Day of the move, go with the person and stay until they settle.