Dementia does not just affect memory. It changes the way a person experiences the world, making everyday tasks harder, conversations more confusing and relationships more complicated. It affects not only the person living with it, but everyone around them.

It’s not just “old age”.

Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer’s. It is progressive and incurable. Over time, it affects thinking, judgment, movement, behaviour and independence. And while we cannot stop the condition, we can change how people live with it — and how families cope.

In Bermuda, about 3,000 people are living with dementia — this number is expected to grow significantly as our population ages. Most are supported by family members who take on the role of caregiver — often without training, guidance or relief. In fact, more than 80 per cent of care happens at home, provided typically by an elderly spouse or adult child — two thirds of whom are women.

For many, it is a 24/7 role that stretches on for years. It is exhausting and relentless, even when done with love. Caregivers manage everything from medication and meals to safety concerns and emotional support, while juggling jobs, children or their own health issues. Many families tell us they feel unprepared, isolated or close to burnout.

Yet the formal system is not set up to help. Long-term care beds are limited, waitlists are long and there is a lack of staff trained in dementia care. Our hospital often holds patients with dementia for weeks — not because they need medical treatment, but because there is no safe alternative.

This is the quiet crisis behind closed doors in our community.

But here is what we want everyone to know: support can make a difference.

At Dementia Bermuda, we provide accessible, community-based services for people with dementia and the families who care for them. This includes in-home clinical care, caregiver education, structured weekday activities and group therapy designed to help maintain cognitive function.

Through our In-Home Occupational Therapy programme, we help families to adapt routines, reduce safety risks and plan ahead. We meet people where they are, literally, and help them to stay safely at home for as long as possible.

Support matters not only for caregivers, but also for the person living with dementia. With the right strategies and structure in place, people can continue to do many of the things that bring meaning to their lives — whether that is volunteering in their community, cooking a meal or spending time with loved ones.

Life does not end with a diagnosis, but planning and support are key.

We will not pretend that this journey is easy. Or that early support can erase the grief of watching someone change. But we do know that families who receive help feel more informed, less overwhelmed and better equipped to cope.

This year, as part of World Alzheimer’s Month, we are joining a global call to action:

Ask About Dementia. Ask About Alzheimer’s.

Start the conversation — with your family, your doctor, your community. Talk about what dementia really is. Talk about what kind of support people need. And if you or someone you love is facing dementia, know this — you are not alone.

• Erica Fulton is the executive director of Dementia Bermuda. Learn more about the work we do atwww.dementiabermuda.bm. #AskAboutDementia #AskAboutAlzheimers