“Sometimes the people we think are lost are simply living in a world we don’t understand yet.”
Our team had the privilege and heartbreak of walking alongside over 500+ individuals with dementia.
Not just as mental health professionals, but as silent observers of their fading memories, flickering moments of clarity, and deeply human moments of confusion.
And if there’s one truth we have learned, it’s this:
Dementia isn’t just a disease of forgetting. It’s a powerful mirror that teaches us what truly matters.
Most caregivers start out with a task list:
Did they eat? Take their meds? Use the bathroom?
But here’s what we have seen again and again:
A moment of silent eye contact does more for a dementia patient than a perfectly executed care plan.
They don’t remember what you did. They feel how you made them feel.
When you sit with them, truly with them —you’re telling them, “You still matter. Even now.”
You’ll repeat the same answer ten times.
You’ll watch them forget your name, then call you “Appa” or “Amma.”
You’ll help them eat, then forget they ate, then get angry that they’re hungry.
It’s easy to get frustrated.
But here’s a shift: They’re not testing your patience. They’re inviting your compassion.
Every time they forget, you have the sacred chance to remember —for both of you.
One of our patients, a retired Tamil teacher, hadn’t spoken in months.
One day, her caregiver was singing an old folk song in the kitchen and she quietly hummed the last line.
Goosebumps.
Behind the silence, the blank stares, the fumbling…
There is still a spark. There is still someone inside.
And when we pause, connect, and care as if they’re still fully there —something beautiful happens.
Sometimes, they respond. But always, we grow.
You’re witnessing the slow unfolding of a life.
Not just managing decline, but honouring existence.
When you hold their hand, sing their favorite song, or help them put on a dress with dignity, you’re doing sacred work.
You are saying: “Even now, you are worthy of love.”
That, in itself, is a form of healing.
If you’re tired, if you’re doubting, if you feel invisible, please know this:
You are seen.
You are doing something extraordinary.
You are holding space for another human being when they need it most.
And if you shift your perspective from “I have to care” to “I get to connect” - it will transform you, too.
We offer emotional support, care planning, and guidance for families and caregivers. To seek professional support from the best psychiatrist for Dementia treatment in Coimbatore, call 8940800500.
