When I think about dementia as a problematic aging situation, I realize how deeply it can affect every part of a person’s life, as well as the lives of their loved ones. Physically, dementia makes it difficult to manage daily tasks such as taking medication, maintaining hygiene, or remembering to eat. Over time, these challenges increase the risk of health problems due to reduced activity and poor nutrition. Emotionally, dementia can bring feelings of confusion, frustration, and fear. Losing the ability to complete simple tasks, forgetting important memories, or not recognizing loved ones can lead to sadness and loneliness. Socially, friends and even some family members may stop visiting because they find it overwhelming to see a loved one in that state, and not knowing how to help often creates distance. This leaves the person with dementia at risk of isolation. Financially, dementia can also be a heavy burden. Medical care, assisted living facilities, and in-home support are expensive, which can cause significant stress for families and jeopardize financial security.

My initial feelings about dementia are fear and sadness. I imagine how frustrating it must feel for your body and mind to change in ways you cannot control. The thought of losing cherished memories or not recognizing my own family feels overwhelming. It would be extremely difficult not only to experience personally but also for loved ones to witness.

In a previous blog, I described aging as freedom. I imagine myself living independently, enjoying time with family and friends, staying active in my community, traveling, shopping, passing down traditions, and sharing stories with younger generations. A dementia diagnosis, however, would drastically change that vision. Independence would likely be the first thing I lose, since I would need help with daily tasks and decision-making. As the disease progresses, I might require around-the-clock care. Socially, my role would shift from being a host at family gatherings to becoming dependent on my loved ones as caregivers. The one thing I believe would remain the same, though, is the love and support of those closest to me. Even if I could not recognize them, I trust that my family and friends would still be there, helping me through every stage.

Thinking about the CARA model and generalized resistance resources, I know several supports could help me manage dementia and achieve resilience. Having strong connections with family and friends would give me both emotional comfort and practical assistance, while helping me cope with memory loss and reducing isolation. Faith and spirituality would give me peace, hope, and a sense of meaning despite the challenges. Reliable medical care, therapies, and memory support programs could help slow the disease’s progression and maintain my quality of life. Finally, financial planning would be important so that neither I nor my family would have to constantly worry about the costs of care.

Resilience in this situation would mean continuing to find joy in daily life, even if it looks very different from what I originally imagined. Life often throws curveballs, and while dementia would alter my plans for the future, it would not erase my ability to find happiness. Resilience would mean choosing to focus on the things I can still do rather than only on what I have lost, and finding meaning in the love and support around me.

The article I read, Antonovsky’s sense of coherence and resistance resources reduce perception of burden in family carers of people with Alzheimer’s disease (Turró-Garriga et al., 2020), helped me connect these ideas to research. In the study, 308 participants, including both caregivers and people with dementia, were evaluated for factors such as sense of coherence, coping strategies, self-efficacy, and social support. The results showed that a stronger sense of coherence was linked to a lower perception of caregiver burden. Resistance resources such as self-efficacy, instrumental support, and social support helped reduce stress, while greater dependence and behavioral symptoms of dementia increased caregiver burden. The authors concluded that strengthening coherence and specific resources can reduce stress and improve resilience for families facing dementia.

This article taught me that resilience can be strengthened through GRRs. Before this module, I thought dementia could not be managed, but now I understand that strategies like improving coping skills, strengthening support systems, and addressing symptoms can make a real difference. This new knowledge showed me that resilience is not about avoiding dementia, but about learning how to adapt and still live in a way that you’re happy, even if your vision of  older adulthood  doesn’t match your reality.

Reference
Turró-Garriga, O., Conde-Sala, J. L., Viñas, V., Turon-Estrada, A., Cullell-Juncà, M., Calvó-Perxas, L., Juvinyà-Canal, D., Mioshi, E., & Garre-Olmo, J. (2020). Antonovsky’s sense of coherence and resistance resources reduce perception of burden in family carers of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Aging & Mental Health, 24(10), 1717–1725. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1667297