Hold on to connection: How partner, parent and family relationships can change

So much changes when someone you love is diagnosed with dementia and often the most difficult adjustment can be coming to terms with how it affects your relationship. 

You might still be parent-and-child, romantic partners, siblings, but you’ll also have to step into a new role entirely as a carer.  

For Col, this feels like ‘taking his turn’. His wife Shirley took on much of the caring work when they were raising kids together, and now Col and the kids are looking after her.  

For Sanna, who cared for her mother, the relationship shift was much more dramatic. After being diagnosed, Sanna’s mother didn’t recognise her at all and it looked, for a little while, like their connection might’ve disappeared altogether... 

Dementia changes things and it will change your relationship with the person you’re caring for – but you can take steps to ease the change for both of you.  

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Hold The Moment is a podcast from Dementia Australia, produced by Deadset Studios and hosted by Jim Rogers and Hamish Macdonald. For support, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 (24 hours a day, seven days a week). The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government.   

Follow Dementia Australia on Facebook and Instagram or find support resources on our website. 

This episode was produced by Gia Moylan and Liam Riordan, with sound design by Ryan Pemberton. The executive producers are Gia Moylan and Kellie Riordan. Production manager is Ann Chesterman. 

Dementia Australia and Deadset Studios acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.