Alzheimer’s Isn’t the Hardest Part — Navigating Care Alone Is
- jenna624
- Dec 22, 2025
- 4 min read
Jenna Fralick, BScN RN
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month Is About More Than Awareness
It’s about what families are actually living through.
Every January, we see the same headlines. “Know the signs.”“Early diagnosis matters.”“Memory loss is not normal aging.”
All of that is true. But for families already living inside Alzheimer’s disease, awareness is not the problem.
The problem is burnout, confusion, and silence.
It’s the daughter who hasn’t slept through the night in months. The spouse quietly managing medications, wandering, and mood changes. The adult child Googling dementia home care services near me at 2 a.m., unsure who to trust.
And too often, families believe they’re supposed to figure this out alone.
They’re not.
Dementia Home Care Isn’t Just About Memory
It’s About Daily Living, Dignity, and Survival
Dementia home care is not just about memory loss.It’s about activities of daily living — bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility, and safety. It’s about emotional regulation, routine, reassurance, and preventing crisis.
As dementia progresses, the brain loses the ability to organize daily living activities independently (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2023). Without support, families take on roles they were never trained for — often while juggling work, parenting, and their own health.
Research consistently shows that caregiver burden increases significantly when dementia care is provided without adequate formal support (Gaugler et al., 2019). Women — particularly daughters and spouses — carry the majority of this unpaid labour (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2022).
This isn’t a personal failure.It’s a systems issue.
“Is It Time for In-Home Care for Seniors with Dementia?”
The Question Families Ask Too Late
One of the most common things we hear at Remember When HealthCare is:
“I wish we had started sooner.”
Families often wait because:
They think home care is “only for seniors”
They believe dementia care means institutional care
They’re afraid of Alzheimer’s home care cost
They don’t know what’s covered, funded, or flexible
They feel guilty asking for help
In-home care for seniors with dementia is not about giving up independence — it’s often what preserves it longest (Hébert et al., 2018).
Early dementia home care can:
Reduce falls and hospitalizations
Stabilize routines and behaviours
Support medication management
Reduce caregiver burnout
Delay long-term care placement
And importantly: RWHC also supports persons living with disabilities, not only seniors. Dementia does not exist in isolation — many clients live with physical disabilities, chronic illness, or neurodivergence alongside cognitive change.
The Cost Question Everyone Is Afraid to Ask
Let’s Talk Honestly About Alzheimer’s Home Care Cost
Families deserve transparent conversations about money.
We hear it daily:
How much does home care cost in Canada?
How much does private home care cost?
How much do home care services cost per hour?
Is private home care worth the cost?
The truth: Alzheimer’s home care costs vary widely, depending on:
Hours per week
Level of care required
Overnight or 24-hour home care for dementia patients
Type of support (companionship vs. personal care)
Weekend or holiday care
Geographic location
In Nova Scotia and PEI, private home care pricing is typically hourly with RW HealthCare.
However, many families don’t realize there are funding options, tax credits, insurance benefits, and direct funding programs available.
The cost of dementia care at home must also be compared honestly against:
Caregiver burnout
Lost wages
Hospital admissions
Emergency placements
Cost comparison: home care vs retirement home
In many cases, home care is cheaper than assisted living, especially when introduced strategically rather than reactively (CIHI, 2021).
👉 If you want a plain-language breakdown of funding and affordability, our Homecare Funding Guide for Nova Scotia is available on Amazon and walks families through options step by step.
Dementia Care Is Emotional Labour — Not Just Physical Care
And That’s Why Respite Matters
Dementia care is emotionally heavy.
Caregivers grieve someone who is still alive.They manage fear, anger, repetition, wandering, and sundowning.They absorb emotional outbursts that are neurological, not intentional.
Research shows that caregiver stress is one of the strongest predictors of institutionalization, not the severity of dementia itself (Brodaty & Donkin, 2009).
This is where respite care is not optional — it’s essential.
Respite allows:
Sleep
Recovery
Perspective
Safety
Sustainability
As a nurse-led home healthcare company, we see respite not as “time off,” but as preventive healthcare for caregivers.
👉 Learn more about how respite fits into dementia home care
Why “Experienced Caregivers for Dementia” Matters
Not All Home Healthcare Companies Are the Same.
Dementia care requires specific training, emotional intelligence, and consistency.
Experienced caregivers for dementia understand:
Validation vs. correction
Behaviour as communication
Environmental triggers
Trauma-informed care
Non-pharmacological interventions
How to support families, not replace them
At Remember When HealthCare, our nurse-led model ensures dementia home care is planned, monitored, and adjusted — not just scheduled.
Families don’t need more chaos. They need structure, reassurance, and partnership.
👉 Learn about our approach to Respite Care for Families
FAQ
What Is Private Dementia Home Care?
Private dementia home care provides flexible, personalized support for individuals living with dementia in their own homes. Services may include companionship, personal care, memory care support, medication reminders, overnight supervision, and respite for family caregivers. Care is tailored to the person — not a system.
How Much Does Private Dementia Home Care Cost in Nova Scotia?
Private dementia home care is typically billed hourly. Costs depend on hours required or if 24-hour care is needed. Many families combine private care with funding programs or insurance benefits to make support more affordable.
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month Is About Changing the Conversation
Not Just Raising Awareness
Alzheimer’s disease home care is not just a service.It’s a lifeline.
Families don’t need more brochures.They need honesty, education, and support without judgment.
At Remember When HealthCare, we believe:
Care should be human, not transactional
Families deserve clarity, not pressure
Dementia care must include caregivers
Disabilities matter
Early support changes outcomes
👉 If you’re navigating dementia care and don’t know where to start, explore our resources and guides here on our Resources Page
You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re doing something incredibly hard — and you don’t have to do it alone.