Serving Older Veterans: Dementia Caregiver Video Series
An estimated 36% of rural Veterans have a service-connected disability that may impair or disrupt functioning, relationships, or independence — often requiring a caregiver to help manage day-to-day tasks. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are common conditions that place significant responsibility on family caregivers to provide consistent, complex care.
Rural caregivers of Veterans with dementia face particular barriers to getting help. They are less likely to use formal support services such as home health or caregiver support groups. Rural communities also tend to lack medical providers to offer advice and counseling to those seeking care. Without these resources, the family caregiver often becomes the sole provider of informal care for their Veteran. The Dementia Caregiver Video Series was developed to help bridge this gap, offering practical guidance for caregivers wherever they live.
These videos were developed by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH) Veterans Rural Health Resource Center – Salt Lake City (VRHRC-SLC), New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Bedford VA Medical Center and VA Caregiver Support Program. The Dementia Caregiver Videos have been viewed almost 100,000 times since their original release in 2015.
Medication Issues for People with Dementia*
Pain and generalized discomfort are often overlooked sources of irritability and aggression in people with dementia. This video portrays methods caregivers can use to recognize the signs of pain or discomfort, monitor pain and the side effects of pain medications, and manage pain without medications when possible.
Recognizing and Managing Pain in People with Dementia*
People with dementia lose their ability to plan things on their own, leaving caregivers to help engage their loved one in activities that are meaningful. This video encourages caregivers to establish a consistent but flexible routine, set realistic expectations, and discover activities that provide a sense of accomplishment for the person with dementia.
Engaging People with Dementia in Meaningful Activities*
People with dementia lose their ability to plan things on their own, leaving caregivers to help engage their loved one in activities that are meaningful. This video encourages caregivers to establish a consistent but flexible routine, to set realistic expectations, and to discover activities that provide a sense of accomplishment for the person with dementia.
Minimizing Inappropriate Behavior in Dementia*
Going out in public with someone with dementia can be challenging because your loved one may say or do things that are embarrassing, strange, or unpredictable. This video portrays a wife taking her husband out in public to enjoy a meal together. The husband has dementia and makes several rude and inappropriate comments to strangers. The wife explains that his behavior is because he has dementia. The video highlights tips to remember when taking someone out in public, especially when your loved one may behave inappropriately to others.
Preventing Financial Mismanagement in Dementia*
From missed bill payments to impulsive spending and possible financial exploitation, this video portrays some of the challenges a person with dementia may encounter when they manage their finances independently. This video provides tips for dementia caregivers on how to protect assets, like sharing responsibility for managing money and limiting access to money. It also offers tips for fraud prevention.
Addressing Major Safety Risks in Dementia*
Oftentimes there are safety hazards that family members don’t recognize as potential problems in the home of someone with dementia. This video portrays a couple identifying and addressing safety concerns after the spouse with dementia attempts to prepare food on the stove and starts a kitchen fire. Safety tips are provided to address common safety issues around the home, including safe storage of firearms.
How Much to Help in Dementia*
Changes to cognition and memory affect what individuals can do independently. For people with dementia, completing familiar tasks, like cooking or managing medications, becomes more difficult. It can be hard for family members to know when they should take over or provide assistance. This video illustrates some examples of how to balance promoting independence for your loved one and knowing when to step in to help.
Intimacy in Dementia*
The behavioral changes that come with advancing dementia can have a huge impact on relationships, especially as emotional closeness slowly changes due to both dementia itself and the demands of caregiving. The effect of these changes on intimacy can be especially difficult for a spouse or partner. This video portrays ways to maintain non-sexual intimate connections with your loved one.
Improving Communication in Dementia*
It can be difficult to have a meaningful conversation with someone who has memory or language problems because of dementia. However, there are ways to make communication easier. This video highlights some practical tips to improve communication with a person who has dementia.
Questions about the Caregiver Video Series?
Contact:
VHA Office of Rural Health (ORH)
Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Salt Lake City (VRHRC-SLC)
ORH-WR@va.gov
Note: Emails sent to this email address are not secure. Please do not include social security numbers, medical information or other personal data.
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