Caring for someone with dementia can be an act of love, but that does not mean it is easy.
It can bring precious moments of connection, laughter and shared memories. But alongside those moments can be frustration, worry, exhaustion, loneliness and a sense that life has changed in ways you never expected.
This National Dementia Carers Awareness Day, we want to recognise you – the person behind the caring role.
Dementia Carers Count has created a powerful short film, What’s it like to care for someone with dementia? which brings to life the reality of caring for a partner or parent with dementia. The film follows David, who cares for his wife Margaret, and Sarah, who is balancing caring for her mum Elaine with work. While the people and situations are fictionalised, the experiences, emotions and words have been shaped by what dementia carers themselves have told Dementia Carers Count. Dementia Carers Count
Watch the Dementia Carers Count film – What’s it like to care for someone with dementia.
Growing up differently
Young carers often take on responsibilities far beyond their years.
Some help with cooking, cleaning and managing medication. Others provide emotional support to family members living with physical health conditions, mental health challenges, autism, anxiety or complex medical needs. Many juggle these responsibilities alongside education, friendships and planning for their future.
As 18-year-old CJ explains, caring can mean growing up faster than your peers.
When caring becomes your whole day
One of the most striking things about the film is how it shows that caring does not simply happen for an hour or two each day.
For many people, caring starts when they wake up and continues until they go to bed, and sometimes throughout the night too.
There are meals to prepare, medication to remember, appointments to organise and everyday tasks that may once have been taken for granted. There can be changes in behaviour and communication to navigate, repeated questions to answer and difficult decisions to make.
And then there is the emotional side of caring.
You may be watching someone you know well change in front of you. You may miss the relationship you once had, while still caring for the person who is there. You may feel guilty for becoming frustrated, guilty for needing a break, or guilty for wishing things could be different.
You may be exhausted.
You may feel isolated from friends and family who don’t quite understand.
You may even feel that nobody sees just how much you are doing.
These feelings do not make you a bad carer.
They make you human.
Dementia Carers Count’s film highlights this reality, including the exhaustion, repetition and emotional toll that can come with caring around the clock. The Dementia Carers Count 2025 survey found that 54% of dementia carers were providing care 24 hours a day, while 72% said they felt they could not continue providing care.
These figures remind us why recognising and supporting carers matters.
Your wellbeing matters too
When caring for someone, it can feel natural to put their needs first.
Your own needs can gradually slip further down the list.
Perhaps you’ve stopped seeing friends as often. Perhaps work has become harder to manage. Maybe you’re worried about money, your own health or what the future will bring.
Perhaps you can’t remember the last time you had some time entirely for yourself.
But you matter too.
Asking for help isn’t giving up.
Taking a break doesn’t mean you care any less. Talking about how difficult things are doesn’t mean you’re not coping.
Sometimes, having someone listen, someone who understands that caring can be both rewarding and incredibly hard, can make a real difference.
You don’t have to cope alone
At Carers Support West Sussex, we want every dementia carer to know that you are not alone.
We understand that every caring situation is different. That’s why our support is tailored to you and your circumstances. You don’t need to have all the answers, and you don’t need to wait until you are struggling to ask for help.
Once registered with us, carers can access a range of free support, including tailored information and guidance, opportunities to meet other carers, workshops and carer groups.
Sometimes, there is enormous comfort in simply being with people who get it.
People who understand why you might need to talk about the same problem more than once.
People who won’t judge you for admitting that today has been difficult.
People who know that caring can involve love and laughter one moment, and exhaustion and frustration the next.
Our dementia groups provide an opportunity to talk about your caring situation, share experiences and receive support from other carers and our wellbeing workers. Carers Support
You don’t have to know exactly what support you need before getting in touch.
That’s what we’re here for.
This National Dementia Carers Awareness Day, we see you
The message behind the Dementia Carers Count film is an important one: dementia affects more than the person who receives the diagnosis. It affects partners, sons, daughters, families and the people who provide care every day.
So, if you are caring for someone with dementia, please know this:
You are not invisible.
You are not failing.
You are not asking for too much by needing support.
And, most importantly, you are not alone.
Whether you need practical information, help with finances, someone to talk to, or simply the opportunity to meet other people who understand, Carers Support West Sussex is here for you.
You don’t have to carry everything by yourself.
Reach out to Carers Support West Sussex
If you care for someone with dementia or memory loss, you can register with us and access our free support. A dementia diagnosis is not required to access our dementia carer support.
You can call our helpline on 0300 028 8888 or email info@carerssupport.org.uk
You might be surprised by how much lighter things can feel when you don’t have to face them alone.
