There’s a moment most caregivers don’t talk about. The moment when you realize: “This is harder than I thought it would be.” Not just physically. Emotionally. We’d love to hear from you, please... What has felt hardest lately? (No pressure to have the “right words.” Just real ones.)

If you’re here, something has gotten harder. Maybe it’s the repetition. Maybe it’s the confusion. Maybe it’s the moment you realized… things are not going back to the way they were. We want you to know this first: You are not doing this wrong. You are doing something incredibly difficult—with very little guidance. This space is here to change that. We’ll share practical tools. We’ll talk about the hard parts. And we’ll help you feel a little more steady in the middle of it. You don’t have to carry this alone anymore. If you’re comfortable, tell us—what brought you here?

You didn’t expect to be the only one showing up. But somewhere along the way, the calls slowed down, the help became less consistent, and the responsibility quietly settled on your shoulders. When dementia enters a family, it doesn’t just change one relationship.It reshapes the entire family system. And one of the most painful shifts caregivers experience, is this: Siblings who were previously in your face about every little thing, begin to step back. Calls and visits become less frequent. Decisions fall to you. Support becomes inconsistent or disappears altogether. If this has happened in your family, it can feel confusing, frustrating, and deeply personal. But here is something important to understand: In many cases, siblings don’t withdraw because they don’t care. They withdraw because they don’t know how to stay. Why Siblings Pull Away There are patterns we see again and again in caregiving families. Understanding these patterns can bring clarity and, in some cases, a bit of relief. Overwhelm Dementia caregiving is not intuitive. There are so many moving parts to the equation of dementia including: - medical understanding of the syndrome called dementia - emotional regulation of yourself and your loved one - constant decision making on things you may never have had to address previously - managing behaviors like sadness, grief, anger, frustration, confusion, agitation For someone who is not in the day-to-day role, this can feel overwhelming from the outside. So instead of stepping in imperfectly, they step back entirely. Not because they don’t care. Because they feel unprepared. Emotional Protection Watching a parent or loved one decline is painful. Some siblings cope by staying close. Others cope by creating distance. It’s not uncommon to avoid by - staying busy - minimizing the situation - not engaging in difficult conversations - This is not always a conscious choice. It is often a form of emotional self-protection.

🍀🍀🍀Happy St. Patrick's Day!🍀🍀🍀 Small holidays have a way of reminding us how life has changed. Days like St. Patrick’s Day used to be simple. Maybe you wore something green, shared a meal with friends, or enjoyed a lighthearted moment together. It might not have been a major celebration, but it still felt like a small pause in the rhythm of life. When you are caring for someone living with dementia, even the small holidays can feel different. Sometimes the day passes quietly because caregiving responsibilities take center stage. The routine of medications, meals, appointments, or simply keeping your loved one comfortable may leave little room for celebration. Other times, you may try to bring a small touch of the holiday into the day. Perhaps it is playing a familiar Irish song, sharing a favorite meal, or simply acknowledging the date on the calendar. Caregiving often reshapes how we mark time. What once felt like celebration may now feel like connection in smaller ways. A quiet moment of laughter. A shared memory. Sitting together with a cup of tea. These moments may not look like the holidays you remember, but they still carry meaning. In many ways, caregiving teaches us that the value of a day is not always in how much we celebrate it, but in how we show up for one another within it. If today looks different than it once did, that is part of the caregiving journey many of us share. And sometimes, those quiet moments of presence become the most meaningful part of the day. Reflection for our community How do small holidays look in your home now compared to a few years ago? Sometimes sharing our experiences reminds others that they are not alone in this journey. The information provided by Dementia Caregivers Collective is educational and supportive in nature and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical decisions.

For the Founding Members of this Community we' like to share a quick, handy guide to de-escalating the common aggressive behaviors you may have experienced. You can access in the Classroom tab, or click this link--> https://www.skool.com/dementiacaregivercollective/classroom We’re sharing this openly for now as we build, later it will live inside our paid resources. Thank you for being here early.