04/08/2026
Such a powerful visualâand such an important reminder.
In dementia care, what we see is often only a small part of the story. Beneath the surface are layers of emotionâfear, grief, anxiety, overwhelmâthat can shape how someone experiences the world moment to moment.
This is something we talk about often with our team at Hospall, and that we learned from our partners at the Alzheimer Society of York Region:
"All behaviour has meaning."
What may look like agitation or withdrawal is often a form of communicationâan expression of something deeper that hasnât yet been understood or supported.
This is why training, patience, and relationship-based care matter so much. When we take the time to look beyond the surface, we can respond with empathy instead of reactionâand truly support the whole person, not just the symptoms. We also require all our caregivers to have GPA certification and now, we are adding U-First. So that the families we work with can be confident that our team members are following the highest standard in dementia care.
To families and caregivers walking this journeyâyou are navigating more than whatâs visible, and that matters. It is also a great reminder that there are amazing resources and supports in the community for the caregivers, especially as behaviour can change with the progression of dementia.
đŹ If you were to add to this iceberg, what would others not see beneath the surface?
Dementia symptoms like forgetfulness and confusion are a little easier to spot. But there are a whole host of challenges that a person can also experience that arenât immediately obvious. This can include things like anxiety, depression and overwhelm, to name but a few.
Sometimes this experience can be likened to an iceberg, as illustrated here, showing that what is visible to others is often only a small part of someoneâs reality.
If youâre living with dementia, or care for someone with dementia, what would your dementia 'iceberg' look like?
[Image description:A blue illustrated iceberg graphic with a title that reads: 'Dementia can look like...'. Text overlays the centre of the iceberg which reads: 'What people see' followed by an upwards arrow and 'What people don't see' followed by a downwards arrow. Words are placed around the top of the iceberg that read: Forgetfulness; Irritability; Impulsivity; Agitation; Repetition; Confusion; Apathy; Disinterest. Disorientation. Words placed around the bottom of the iceberg read:Depression; Anxiety; Overwhelm; Fear; Paranoia; Delirium; Grief; Stress; Low self-esteem; Delusions.]
