Caring for someone with dementia can be especially challenging because the condition can profoundly change how a person interacts with their loved ones.

(ANN ARBOR, MI) “Families are messy, aren’t they?” a daughter commented during a series of focus groups I ran with caregivers of older adults with memory issues.

Many people would agree with that sentiment. The complexity can be compounded when caring for someone who has a disease such as Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia that impairs their memory, language and sometimes personality.

Originally published on theconversation.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.