Top Tips for Working Alongside Families and Unpaid Carers
Dementia Action Week takes place from 18th – 24th May 2026.
Why This Matters
Families and unpaid carers often carry emotional, practical and decision‑making responsibilities long before dementia is formally recognised.
They may feel exhausted, worried or unsure whether they are doing the right thing, even while being a vital source of continuity and knowledge.
During Dementia Action Week, it is important to recognise carers not simply as helpers, but as people who need understanding, partnership and support in their own right.
This Week’s Top Tips
Noticing
- Notice signs of strain, guilt or uncertainty in family members and carers
- Remember that carers may be balancing multiple roles and pressures
- Be aware that past experiences shape how families approach support
Responding
- Acknowledge carers’ expertise without assuming they have all the answers
- Create space for carers to speak openly, including about difficulties
- Avoid judgement about coping strategies or decisions made under pressure
Creating the conditions
- Share information in manageable amounts and revisit it over time
- Signpost support early, not only at points of crisis
- Treat carers as partners while respecting the person’s rights and wishes
A Gentle Reminder
Supporting someone with dementia means supporting the network around them. Carers do not need perfection; they need understanding and collaboration.
Over to You
You might like to reflect on one way you could make contact with a carer feel more supportive and less transactional this week.
Dementia Action Week reminds us that we can all take small actions to support families and unpaid carers of people with dementia. An authentic, heartfelt question such as “how are you feeling?” can go a long way.
Over to You:
Release Your Potential
- Do any of these things ring true for you and can you picture yourself putting these tips into action?
- What would it look, sound and feel like if you put some of these tips into action – for you and others?
- What barriers might you come against when putting these tips/ideas into action? How might you overcome them?
- Who could give you support and how?
- Have you tried these tips and ideas out and, if so, what have you learned?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, reflections, gut reactions, perceptions, experiences and wisdom.
Remember that sharing our experiences can help others, so your thoughts and comments are always welcome.
