Caring for a Parent with Dementia While Raising Your Own Kids

Caring for a Parent With Dementia While Raising Your Own Kids

Caring for a parent with dementia is one of the most emotional and demanding experiences a family can face. When you are also raising children at the same time, the responsibility can feel overwhelming. Many adults in this situation feel pulled in two directions, trying to be a strong caregiver for a parent while still being present, patient, and loving with their children.

This stage of life is often called the sandwich generation. You are caring for the generation that raised you while raising the next one yourself. It can be exhausting, emotional, and deeply personal. Yet many families find themselves navigating this path without much guidance or support.

This article explores what it truly looks like to care for a parent with dementia while raising children and offers practical ways to manage stress, protect your family relationships, and know when it is time to ask for help.

Understanding the Emotional Weight of Dual Caregiving

One of the hardest parts of this journey is the emotional load. Dementia slowly changes the parent you have always known. You may grieve their loss even while they are still physically present. At the same time, your children still need attention, reassurance, and structure.

It is common to feel guilt in both directions—for not doing enough for your parent, and for feeling distracted or short-tempered with your kids. These emotions are normal and shared by many caregivers.

What often helps is recognizing that this situation is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about doing the best you can with the time, energy, and resources you have.

Talking to Your Children About Dementia

Children notice more than we think. They can sense stress, changes in routines, and emotional shifts in adults. Avoiding the topic of dementia often creates more confusion and fear.

Use simple and honest language that matches your child’s age. You might explain that grandma or grandpa has an illness that affects memory and behavior and that it is not something they caused or can fix.

Encourage questions and allow your children to express feelings. Involving them in small ways—drawing pictures, reading together, sitting quietly with a grandparent—helps build understanding and compassion.

Managing Time When Everyone Needs You

Time management becomes one of the biggest challenges for caregivers in this situation. Appointments, school schedules, meals, medications, and household tasks can quickly pile up.

Creating predictable routines helps everyone feel more grounded. Prioritize what matters most each day and allow less urgent tasks to wait.

When possible, share responsibilities. Friends, family, or professional caregivers can help lighten the load. Accepting help is not a weakness—it is a necessary part of sustainable caregiving.

Protecting Your Relationship With Your Children

Children may feel they are competing for attention. Even short moments of undivided focus can make a big difference.

Set aside small pockets of time for your children, even if it is just ten minutes of conversation, reading, or play. Let them know they are still a priority.

Modeling compassion and resilience teaches valuable life lessons. Your children are learning empathy, patience, and responsibility by watching how you manage this stage of life.

Caring for Yourself Without Feeling Guilty

Caregiver burnout is very real—especially when supporting both a parent and children. Ignoring your own needs eventually affects everyone.

Self-care does not have to be complicated. It could be fresh air, a hot shower, or a good night’s sleep. Watch for signs of burnout like constant exhaustion or irritability. These are signals that you need support.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. Caring for yourself allows you to better care for others.

When In-Home Dementia Care Becomes Essential

Many families reach a point where managing everything alone is no longer realistic. As dementia care needs increase, so does the complexity.

In-home dementia care offers professional support with daily routines, personal care, safety monitoring, and companionship. It enhances—not replaces—family involvement and provides peace of mind for caregivers.

How RIGHT ACCORD Supports Families Like Yours

At RIGHT ACCORD, we understand how challenging it is to balance caring for a parent with dementia while raising children. Our nurse-led team provides personalized in-home dementia care designed to support the entire family.

We focus on safety, dignity, and emotional comfort while giving families the breathing room they need to stay present and connected. Our caregivers are trained to support dementia clients with patience, compassion, and consistency.

We proudly serve families in Sarasota, Venice, and Manatee County.

You Do Not Have to Do This Alone

Caring for a parent with dementia while raising children is one of the hardest roles a person can take on. It is okay to feel overwhelmed. It is okay to ask for help. And it is okay to choose support that protects your family’s health and happiness.

📞 Call RIGHT ACCORD at 941-366-0801
🌐 Visit www.rightaccordhealth.com

RIGHT ACCORD is honored to walk beside families through every stage of dementia care with compassion, respect, and expertise.