How to manage your own mental health when a loved one has Alzheimer’s

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific type of dementia,” said John Ramsay, managing director at Social-Ability. If you look at the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s, you’d see these proteins forming tangled structures that look like black webs.” So how should you manage your mental health when a loved one, close relative, partner, spouse or friend has Alzheimer’s? “Also consider formal support like respite care for caregiving tasks, and informal support from friends or neighbours who might help with activities like going for a walk, a round of golf, or having a cup of tea.” Get a medical diagnosis One of the toughest challenges is “ it’s important to get a formal diagnosis rather than attributing symptoms to stress, ‘a mid-life crisis’, or relationship issues. “It’s easy to get absorbed in your loved one’s journey, but don’t forget to talk about your own feelings and the impact on your wellbeing,” said Ramsay.