4.5 Attend to other health issues

Looking after your physical and mental health is just as important as supporting your person living with dementia. When your body and mind are in good shape, daily life feels easier. Keeping on top of other health conditions, taking regular breaks, and checking in with how you’re really feeling are essential to enable you to continue to support your person with dementia. For the person with dementia, ensuring that other health conditions are identified and well managed is essential to optimising cognitive health.

Many people living with young-onset dementia also live with other health issues like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, or asthma. Carers may have their own health conditions too. Regular check-ups with your GP and specialists help catch changes early and keep treatments on track. A healthy lifestyle – staying active, eating well, and getting rest – supports brain health and helps you manage other conditions more confidently.

It’s also helpful to see health professionals beyond the GP. Dentists, optometrists, audiologists, physiotherapists and podiatrists can help prevent and manage things like vision and hearing changes, tooth pain, or balance issues, which can sometimes make thinking and coping feel harder. If something feels “not quite right,” don’t wait, check in sooner rather than later.

Caring without ‘burning out’

Many people have told us that supporting someone living with dementia can be meaningful and rewarding. It can also be exhausting, especially when it stretches over years. Feelings of guilt are common; carers often think they ‘should’ be able to manage alone or that they’re failing if they can’t. Caring for someone with dementia is a huge responsibility, and it’s difficult to do it on your own. Many carers only realise how tired they are once they feel completely worn down. Accepting support from others is not a sign of weakness, it’s essential to stay well for yourself and your loved one.

Burn out isn’t just feeling tired. It can look like losing interest in things you enjoy, catching colds more often, changes in sleeping or eating, or feeling overwhelmed by small tasks. These are signs your body and brain need care too.

A carer shared his experience:

Arun’s story

“When Meera was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia at 54, I told myself I could handle everything. I didn’t want to worry our daughter or take away her focus from school. Bit by bit, I stopped doing the things that helped me cope – my weekly soccer game, catching up with mates, even sitting down properly for meals. I kept saying we were ‘fine.’ I started getting snappy when Meera repeated questions. Afterwards, I’d feel awful. I knew it wasn’t her fault, I was just exhausted. The wake-up call came when she wandered off at the shops while I was checking work emails. Thankfully someone kind helped her, but I realised I couldn’t keep going like this.

Our GP organised day respite and linked me with a psychologist. I’m learning that taking breaks isn’t selfish, it’s how I stay the husband Meera needs. Now when I show up to care for her, I show up with patience, not fumes.”

Practical steps to take for both of you

• Schedule regular health check-ups and put appointments into a shared calendar.
• If you have other chronic conditions, ask about a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan. This can help access subsidised exercise physiology, physiotherapy, dietetics, and more.
• Share care where you can with family, friends, community groups, day programs.
• Keep an eye on changes (e.g., new confusion, worsening mood, pain, sleep issues) and follow them up early. Note when they happen (date, time of day, etc.) and what was going on at the time. Talk with your/ your person’s GP about any changes.
• Make time for what nourishes you – a weekly class, a café break, a run with a mate. Schedule it like you would any other essential healthcare.