Dementia and Family Interactions: The Benefits Go Both Ways

Families with loved ones living with dementia often find themselves struggling to find a meaningful path forward that doesn’t isolate their loved one from the family dynamics. They work to include their loved one in family visits and events, knowing that it is beneficial to their loved one’s cognitive and emotional health. What they often don’t recognize, however, is something even more powerful – the benefits these interactions bring to the entire family.

We hear often from family members who come away from a get-together that includes their loved one with dementia pleasantly surprised that they feel less stressed and more connected with each other than ever before. And we know this is true because we’ve witnessed it ourselves. At our Anthem communities, we have seen firsthand the magic of family interactions every day. We love observing how they bring smiles and laughter, uplift spirits, strengthen bonds, and bring comfort to the entire family.

Here is how family interactions with a loved one living with dementia can benefit your entire family:

• Shared Strength in the Journey. Every conversation, every family get-together reinforces a sense of sharing the experience as a family. Walking the care journey together fosters unity, resilience, and a sense of support as families face challenges side by side.
• Stronger Relationships. When families can focus on simply spending time together and conversing about things other than caregiving, their moments together feel more meaningful and connected. Regular family interactions also keep family members more attuned on a regular basis to their loved one’s condition, which can lead to better cooperation and support for one another.
• Less Stress and Anxiety. Family interactions that include the loved one with dementia can help family members feel less anxious, bringing opportunities to enjoy the interactions just as family members. The more frequent these interactions are, the more connected each family member is. That can help relieve the stress caused by the fear of the unknown and future and keep everyone tuned into the present.
• Better Overall Health. Concerns about ongoing care for a loved one with dementia, especially as the disease progresses can take a physical toll on family members, leading to high blood pressure, fatigue, and other health issues. Positive family interactions that include the loved one with dementia can ease emotional strain and, in turn, support better overall health for everyone.

It isn’t hard to see how the benefits of family interactions with their loved ones living with dementia go both ways to provide a deeper, more meaningful connection for all family members. And it is a connection that goes far beyond a smile or hug to provide significant emotional and physical benefits.

At Anthem Memory Care, we love bringing families together. From special dinners to meaningful activities, we create opportunities for loved ones to connect and share time together. Families are not just visitors, they’re valued partners in care, and their presence is always welcomed, whether joining a program, an outing, or simply stopping by to say hello.

We invite you to reach out to any of our communities or just drop in for a visit. You’ll likely find other families spending time with their loved ones too, because here, community means supporting one another every step of the way.

(Don’t you love our header image? This lovely impromptu family photo was taken at a recent Porter Place Memory Care Family Night event in Tinley Park, Illinois.)