Four sentences slip out of almost every caregiver’s mouth, and all four ask a brain to do something it can no longer do. Here’s what’s happening underneath each one, the words I’d say in their place, and why there is no single right answer for your loved one.
Hey Mom, do you remember who this is? It sounds harmless. It is really a test your loved one is set up to fail. That is one of six habits I see loving Careblazers fall into every day, and here is what I would say in place of each one.
Your loved one insists they already ate breakfast. They swear they spoke to a sister who died ten years ago. It is not lying, because lying requires knowing the truth. Here are five dementia behaviors that look like character flaws, and the specific thing happening in the brain behind each
If your loved one with dementia has been pulling back from things they used to do, it’s not always apathy. Sometimes they know they’re struggling, and that awareness is what makes them stop. Here’s how to tell the difference, and how to help them stay engaged without pushing them past
If your loved one with dementia is calm until the second you pick up the phone or leave the room, you are not imagining it. This is not jealousy, manipulation, or their personality. It is separation anxiety, and it comes from a real change in the brain. Let me walk
Your loved one was just diagnosed with dementia. Here are 4 places to get help in the first 90 days, plus the one thing you should not wait on.
When your loved one with dementia is upset with you, it is easy to decide you are failing them. You are not. Trying to keep them happy all the time costs their safety, costs you your capacity, and costs you the most human moments you could share. Here is what
If dementia caregiving feels harder than anyone warned you, it is not because you are failing. Three things about dementia care are built backwards: the care plan leaves you out, help only shows up after a crisis, and even the best behavior advice ignores the grief underneath. Here is what
Many caregivers expect relief when a loved one moves into memory care or a care facility, then feel exhausted after even a good visit. Dr. Natali Edmonds explains the nervous system, grief, and recovery science behind post-placement exhaustion, and what actually helps once you understand what your body has been
Caring for someone with dementia is hard. You shouldn’t have to do it alone.
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