You may not be able to prevent feelings of guilt entirely, but try to be kind to yourself to avoid becoming overwhelmed by these feelings.
Reassure yourself that you’re only human and that it’s normal to sometimes feel angry, distressed or resentful.
Remind yourself that it’s simply not possible to care for someone on your own 24 hours a day – and that you’re doing the best you can.
Try to think about what the person with dementia would do if the roles were reversed and they were caring for you. What would you want them to do for you? And would you want them to feel guilty or upset if they were finding their caring role difficult?
If circumstances change, and you need to use paid carers or respite services or move the person you care for into a home, try not to see this as a personal failure, or as letting the person down.
You did not ask for this job and have not been trained for it – and seeking professional support can actually relieve you of some of your caring responsibilities so you can focus on enjoying your time with the person with dementia.