Caregiving for someone with dementia is very difficult to predict. As the illness advances, caregivers have to deal with changes in memory, communication, behavior, and personality—all while coping with their own grief, stress, and uncertainty.
Modupe Rotimi has been working in the field of dementia and memory care leadership for over ten years. In her capacity as a Dementia Care Strategist and Educator, she assists senior living communities and care organizations in setting up dementia-ready systems which in turn boost caregiver confidence, reduce burnout, and enhance the support given to people who have dementia.
In this interview, Modupe shares the difficulties caregivers encounter, explains the value of active listening, stresses the need for continuous education, and describes how organizations can offer real support at every stage of the dementia caregiving process.
Keep reading to discover her insights.
The biggest challenge caregivers face is often the combination of emotional stress and the day-to-day unpredictability of dementia care. As the disease progresses, caregivers are not only managing memory loss but also changes in communication, behavior, and personality, managing the life of the person living with Dementia and trying to learn what it all means along the way. This can create a whirlwind of physical and emotional strain.
The communication strategy that has the greatest impact is active listening, which enables someone to be thoughtful when they speak.
The one thing that can cause agitation for someone living with Dementia is mental overload, and people wonder why there are unexplainable “behaviors.”
In a practical sense, no one likes being cut off over and over again as they are trying to process a thought or register what you just said. You would react unfavorably as well.
Allow extra time to respond, validate feelings, and avoid correcting or confronting so communication feels respectful and meaningful.
– Modupe Rotimi, Dementia Care Strategist & Educator
Organizations can better support both professional and family caregivers by offering clear care navigation and respite options so their employees can take care of their loved one without fear of losing their job behind it. Regular access to Dementia focused support groups and expert guidance as part of the employee benefit for all employees would help significantly. Dementia impacts the homes of people working at the grocery store just as well as someone who is in mid- to senior-level management. This type of support should be standardized in America given the fact that 7.6 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s according to recent statistics.
Ongoing dementia education helps reduce caregiver burnout by increasing confidence, improving problem-solving, and helping caregivers understand what to expect as the disease changes over time.
However, the key is having someone continue to support with implementation. It allows them to rely less on their fight-or-flight mode and recognize what control they actually have in the situation. Reassurance provides a bit of comfort and relief that they are on the right track.
One piece of advice I would give someone just beginning their dementia caregiving journey is that the person may change, and there will be a period of grief, anger, and disappointment as you witness it, but don’t forget to create moments of connection when you can. Dr.Jennifer Stelter’s Dementia Connection Model has provided evidence that connections can be maintained. I teach the curriculum to people and have implemented it myself.
As Modupe pointed out, it takes more than just dealing with memory loss to support someone who has dementia; caregivers also need practical education, continuous guidance, emotional support, and chances to keep up meaningful connections.
Modupe Rotimi is a Dementia Care Strategist and Educator with more than a decade of hands-on experience in dementia care and memory care leadership. Through The Mindful Approach, she helps senior living communities and care organizations transform overwhelmed care teams into confident, dementia-informed professionals.
Her work includes dementia care assessments and program audits, communication and behavioral support training, dementia-focused program design, interactive workshops, caregiver support series, and tailored training programs. She works with senior living leaders to strengthen dementia care systems and with employers seeking to support team members caring for loved ones with dementia at home.
Modupe is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT), Dementia Connection Specialist Certified Trainer (DCSCT), and Certified Dementia Support Group Facilitator (CDS).
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