Advice

Supporting people with dementia during distressing news events

When news events like conflict, natural disasters, pandemics and other tragedies reach our screens, it can cause a lot of anxiety and even a sense of hopelessness.

For people living with dementia, the constant stream of images on the news may cause additional worry and feel overwhelming. This may also prompt personal memories of their own distressing experiences, such as living through previous times of conflict or tragedy.

These are a few ways you can help look after the mental health of people with dementia, and yourself as a carer.

Limit how much distressing news you watch

When big news events happen, the 24-hour news cycle both on television and online tends to be overtaken with distressing images and speculation about what might happen next, which makes it difficult to switch off from what is happening. 

While watching or reading the news can help people feel informed, it can also increase anxiety and fear. Social media images and videos can be particularly graphic and distressing.

Limiting how often you check the news and social media will allow you to focus on other things and give you a chance to relax.

If you or the person that you are supporting don’t want to switch off the news or social media altogether, perhaps check just the headlines once a day only, and try to avoid specific subjects or social media groups.

Take care of your mental health

Dementia itself often brings daily challenges and many people affected by it struggle with anxiety and depression at times. Scenes of traumatic world events could cause these feelings to get worse.

While anxiety impacts each person differently, people who have lived through trauma or conflict in the past may find that distressing memories or feelings resurface.

If you or someone you support is struggling with stress or anxiety that is affecting your ability to function properly, or you are feeling very low, then contact your GP for help. Or if you’re feeling lonely and would like to have a chat with someone, call our Dementia Support Line to talk to one of our Dementia Advisers.

The NHS Every Mind Matters website has more information and tips for coping with stress and anxiety while at home. Our advice on anxiety may also be helpful.

Supporting someone experiencing time-shifting

Time-shifting is when a person temporarily believes that they are living at an earlier time in their life. They may become disorientated and confused about the current time and place.

To understand what is happening now, the brain uses information from the senses and then interprets it in the context of all the person’s memories – both recent and from the more distant past.

Without recent memories, it’s much harder to make sense of what’s going on now.

Instead, the brain tries to fill in these gaps with older memories, which tend to be better preserved. This can cause the person to confuse what’s happening right now with events that happened much earlier in their life. These old and new events can also get jumbled up with each other.

As a result, there’s a risk that being exposed to news may cause distress to someone living with dementia who is experiencing time-shifting, particularly if they have lived through a similar, distressing experience in the past.

Listen to the reality of someone experiencing time-shifting

Try not to dismiss the person’s experiences or simply tell them they’re mistaken. Listen carefully to what the person is saying and doing as this will help you to understand their reality.

Listen carefully for the feelings they are trying to express. Acknowledge their worry and explain that you will try to help. 

Understand the person with dementia's past

It can help be helpful to speak to the person experiencing time-shifting about their past. Understanding their lived experience may help to understand how they are interpreting the information coming from news bulletins and social media.

It may also help with understanding any questions they ask and behaviour that seems odd. 

Try to be careful and be sensitive and only speak to them about their past if and when the time feels right. Stop if it seems to be making the person more upset.

Support services from Alzheimer's Society

Alzheimer’s Society is here for you, whatever your question. We can answer queries about all aspects of dementia and offer advice and support for all associated challenges, including dealing with anxiety and overwhelm.

If you need additional advice or support, we are here for you. 

• Call our Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456.
• Connect with other people affected by dementia via our online community Dementia Support Forum.
• Order from our full range of free publications.
• Find local, online and telephone services through our dementia directory.