Careblazer,
When life gets hard, it’s natural to wish things were easier.
But here’s the tricky part:
Wishing often makes it feel even harder.
Hard times don’t usually change through hoping, ignoring, or venting.
They begin to shift when we face them—with understanding, honesty, and small, intentional actions.
I get the desire for someone to come in and “fix” it.
To rescue us.
To hand over the perfect solution.
To make the pain go away.
But the truth?
The only person who can truly create that change… is you.
There are rarely quick fixes in dementia care.
But the more we accept this truth—not fight it—the more peace we can find in the middle of it all.
That’s the irony, isn’t it?
👉 Wishing for it to be easier often makes it harder.
👉 Accepting that it’s hard… is what makes it easier.
Choose wisely.
Q: This week’s question comes from Jane, who writes:
“How do encourage taking a shower and washing their hair?”
A: I’m afraid you’re not going to like the answer to this question. But it’s the one we all need to hear if we ever want to make progress and positive change. I hope you’ll be open to hearing the message even though it’s hard.
Behavior Breakthroughs: A 5-Day Live Experience
If you’re tired of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or totally unsure what to do next when behaviors flare up…
You don’t want to miss this.
Join me July 7–11 for “Behavior Breakthroughs”—a live experience where I’ll walk you through exactly what’s behind dementia behaviors and how to respond with confidence, even when nothing else seems to work.
5 Common Caregiving Mistakes Most Caregivers Don’t Realize They Are Making
There’s no such thing as perfect caregiving.
We will all make mistakes
But knowing about some of the most common mistakes can help us avoid them in the future.
Click HERE to see which of the 5 most common caregiving mistakes you’re making.
🧰 Careblazer Favorites: A Helpful Tool at Mealtimes Struggling to hold a fork or spoon can make mealtimes frustrating—for both the caregiver and the person with dementia.
That’s why adaptive utensils can be so helpful. Whether it’s shaky hands, weak grip, or limited range of motion, the right tool can make all the difference in helping your loved one eat more independently.
Here are two caregiver-approved options:
🍴 Angled & Weighted Utensils – great for those who use a strong grip and need help getting food from plate to mouth.
🍴 Straight Weighted Utensils – perfect for people with hand tremors who benefit from extra stability.
🙌 Foam Grip for Many different uses – This is a super cheap foam gripping you can put around markers, razors, tools, and utensils. Super practical with a lot of different uses.
And remember, switching to finger foods is always okay too. Whatever supports dignity and reduces stress at mealtime is the right choice.
Sending love,
Curious what I’ve been up to this week? Click HERE to take a peek.
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