| 157 6 Table 2. Subthemes as reported by people with dementia and caregivers per country. Australia Canada the Netherlands Poland PwD CG PwD CG PwD CG PwD CG Coming to terms with dementia Feeling like the world has ended X X X X X X X X Start moving forward & accepting X X X X X X X X Navigating life with dementia as a caregiver The difficulty of adjusting to dementia symptoms X X X X Being responsible for the person with dementia X X X X Balancing own well-being with that of the person with dementia X X X X The social network as a source of support Sharing the diagnosis as a first step X X X X The social network as a safety net X X X X X X X The evolving social network X X X X X X X The challenges and realities of formal support Navigating complex healthcare systems X X X X Feeling left on your own X X X X X X X Mixed experiences with using supports X X X X X X Self-caring and preparing for tomorrow Maintaining health and wellbeing X X Making decisions for the future X X X X X Note. X represent presence of data. PwD=People with dementia, CG=Caregivers. Coming to terms with dementia Once a diagnosis was disclosed, people with dementia and caregivers came to terms with dementia, in this complex process they had to deal with difficult emotions and find ways to move forward. Feeling like the world has ended People with dementia described intense and negative emotions, such as isolation and sadness. Caregivers experienced overwhelming emotions such as fear, shock, and grief. In Australia, a diagnosis was even noted as feeling ‘as if the world
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