Part 2 – Coping Tips for Caregivers: Dementia, Boundaries, and Sexuality

🧭 Coping Tips: Dementia and Sexuality

This is Part 2 of a two-part series on dementia and sexuality. 

If you missed Part 1, you can access it here. https://thecaregiverlifestyle.blogspot.com/2025/05/when-dementia-blurs-boundaries-part-1.html

Here are gentle, research-informed ways to navigate this painful terrain:

✔️ Understand the Cause

This behavior is not intentional. It’s the result of brain changes, especially in the frontal lobes, where impulse control, memory, and inhibition live. Recognizing this doesn’t erase the discomfort, but it helps release misplaced shame.

✔️ Set and Hold Clear Boundaries

You have a right to say no.
To redirect. To leave the room. To call in support.
You are not required to “absorb” inappropriate behavior in the name of caregiving.

✔️ Use Nonjudgmental Redirection

If your loved one speaks or acts inappropriately, calmly shift focus.
Offer an activity, play music, or guide them toward something that soothes and distracts without escalating shame or confusion.

✔️ Modify the Environment

Keep private areas covered with layered clothing.
Provide structure and calming routines to reduce agitation and boredom, which can trigger impulsive behavior.

✔️ Get Professional Help

Some medications may help reduce disinhibition.
A neurologist, geriatrician, or dementia-trained psychiatrist can help determine what’s safe and appropriate.

✔️ Find Emotional Support

This is not something you should carry alone.
Join a support group. Speak with a dementia-informed therapist.
Talk to someone who understands the emotional impact of caregiving in this exact space.

💬 Reflection Prompt

Have you ever experienced a caregiving moment that left you emotionally shaken or unsure of what to do?
What helped you move through it—or what kind of support would have made a difference?

🛣️ You Are Not Alone

If this has happened to you, please know:

You are not weak. You are not failing. You are human.

Caregiving asks us to hold the sacred and the deeply unsettling at the same time.
But no one signs up to have their boundaries crossed, their identity blurred, or their sense of safety shaken by someone they love.

So here’s the truth:

👉 You can love someone and still feel disturbed by their behavior.
👉 You can show up with compassion and still need space.
👉 You can care deeply and still feel grief for what’s been lost.

📣 If this post resonated with you, please share it with another caregiver.
You never know who’s quietly sitting with this same discomfort—wishing someone else would say it first.

👉 The Caregiver Lifestyle Blog: https://thecaregiverlifestyle.blogspot.com
📩 Follow me on Facebook – The Caregiver Lifestyle for more real talk, gentle wisdom, and weekly support.

📚 Sources:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Letting Go of Guilt: Reframing the Past as a Caregiver

Image
“Reframing the past” evokes several interconnected themes, especially relevant to caregiving. It touches upon forgiveness, letting go, personal growth, and healing. The truth is, the past doesn’t always rest quietly behind us. For caregivers especially, it tends to trail along—tugging at our emotions when we least expect it. There are moments we wish we could relive—and others we wish we could erase. Things we said in exhaustion. Things we didn’t say at all. Choices we made under pressure, or from a place of fear, that now feel heavier in hindsight. But what if, instead of trying to rewrite the past, we learned to reframe it ? Reframing doesn't mean pretending everything was okay. It doesn’t mean erasing pain or pretending we had it all figured out. It simply means allowing our perspective to evolve. Maybe we showed up imperfectly—but we showed up. Maybe we didn’t have all the tools—but we kept learning, adjusting, and loving through the chaos. Maybe we lost parts of ourselves—bu...
Read more

Kindness: The Invisible Force That Transforms Lives

Image
  I never really imagined I would become a caregiver. Life had been moving along as expected—busy, full of responsibilities, and sprinkled with plans for the future. Then, my dad’s needs changed everything. Making decisions became a problem. Suddenly, I was making medical decisions, juggling appointments, and learning how to assist with daily tasks I had never given much thought to before. Life changed and the weight of my responsibilities to him and myself increased and felt more than I could handle at time. One evening, after a particularly difficult day, my dad reached for my hand and said, “Thank you for being so kind to me, what would I do with you?” I was taken aback. I hadn’t done anything extraordinary—just sat beside him listening and reminiscing about shared travel and walking moments. Also taking time to see that he feels valued and heard. In that moment, I realized something profound: kindness wasn’t about grand gestures. It was about presence, about softening the...
Read more

🌍The Caregiver’s Guide to Fighting Loneliness (Without Adding Another “To-Do” List)

Image
    You ever realize how hard it is to keep up with friends as life gets busier? One day, you’re texting memes back and forth, and the next, you’re wondering when you last had a real conversation. 😳 As caregivers, this happens a lot . Not because we don’t care, but because life gets in the way. Between doctor’s appointments, daily tasks, and trying to keep ourselves semi-functional (hello, coffee ☕), friendships can take a backseat. But here’s the thing: Human connection isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s a “must-have.” Research says social isolation can mess with our mental health, increase stress, and even affect our physical well-being. And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather avoid adding more stress to my already full plate. So how do we stay connected when we barely have time to breathe? 💡 Here’s what’s working for me (and might work for you, too): ✅ The "Lazy" Text: A quick “Hey, thinking of you! ❤️” takes 10 seconds and keeps friendships alive. Bonus points if you sen...
Read more