Welcome to the Graphic Caregiver Guides. The number of people with memory loss or dementia increases as the global population ages. By 2050, the United Nations (www.un.org) projects that one out of every six persons will be 65 or older and the World Health Organization (www.who.int) suggests that, by that time, the number of people with dementia will have tripled.

Initially people with memory loss or those living with dementia are usually cared for by members of their families. As the memory loss increases, the burden on the carers increases, whether these carers are family or paid caregivers. In addition, there is very little training available for the carers, and what training there is focuses on practical skills such as bathing or lifting the person.

There is very little information that focuses on the needs of carers themselves or on ways to communicate with those they care for. These guides are designed to provide simple and useful information both to help carers look after themselves and to help them interact more fruitfully with the people for whom they are caring. They focus on compassionate care – both for the carer and for those cared for and it is suggested that they may help to lessen elder abuse.