PODCAST

Hello and welcome to Season 5, the All-Star Season, where I share my favorite episodes from the past…with a fresh take!  Stay for the entirety of this episode to catch my take on answering the question of going home, in 2022.  Original episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eevWRMMGZ4T8zH1XOo3cF

Hey guys, this is our last episode of season 4! Thank you for joining me on this journey. “Wanting to go home” is a really common phrase for people living with dementia. ‘Home’ is not so much a place as it is a feeling. I’m sure you can relate to this. What we don’t want to do is try to convince a person living with dementia that they are already home. Instead, let’s focus on the ‘what’ behind the feeling. The feeling may be that they don’t feel sure, or that they are scared, and just need to be in a place where they are comfortable. Stay for the entirety of this episode for some tips and advice on this issue!

I had many people reaching out to me on Instagram asking about their loved ones doing different kinds of annoying things. The bottom line is, you may not be able to get them to stop doing these things, at least not completely. Eventually, they will stop doing it, but that would also mean that they have progressed in their dementia. What we can do is try to solve for what the underlying issue is, which is what is causing this person to act this way in the first place? Join me in this episode as I share some stories that may help answer this question!

I hear this one a lot. This is typically indicative of someone advancing in their dementia. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is in the late stages of their dementia; it could be a result of a lot of causes. It could also mean that the patient is dealing with some depression or that they are taking some medication that makes them sleepy. Once we rule out the other variables, we do need to consider that their dementia has progressed. We need to be aware of this and not fight it so hard. Stay for the entirety of this episode for some insight on this!

I hear some versions of this question pretty frequently. Having a spouse living with dementia is completely different from having a parent with dementia. The inherent difference in the relationship is what makes it difficult. The biggest challenge is that previously, this person used to make decisions together with you, and now it’s all up to you. So, how do you keep them involved when they really can’t offer too much on a lot of issues? I have a few tips on this, so be sure to tune in and learn more about how to navigate this!

Incontinence is actually a big reason why a care partner may choose to initiate a move to dementia care. Aside from the fact that it’s an embarrassing issue, it can also turn into a big problem because for some care partners, it may begin suddenly. The truth of the matter is, there’s no official timeline for incontinence, so there’s no way of telling when (or if) your loved one will be dealing with this issue. Luckily, more and more adult briefs are becoming normalized in the world of aging in general; and I really appreciate that because it alleviates the stigma around this issue. Stay for the entirety of this episode for some advice on how to deal with this delicate situation.

What’s the difference between lying and Embracing their Reality? I keep hearing people using this phrase incorrectly. There are a lot of people who consider themselves experts in dementia care communication and they are still telling everybody the same thing that you’ve been hearing for years: Validation, Redirection, Distraction. And that’s NOT Embracing their Reality™. It’s also not lying when you are doing what’s true for THEM. Stay for the entirety of this episode where I break down the difference between these two dementia care approaches.

As you probably know by now, you are not going to be able to convince the person living with dementia that they are no longer capable of handling their own finances. One of the main things that people will hold on to with all their might is money. No one wants to feel like somebody else is taking control of their financial affairs. But when you are living with dementia and things are being taken away from you, it can be even more overwhelming. Remember, dementia is not an ask-for-permission group of diseases: You are going to have to take control. Tune in to learn more about how to navigate this!

“What if at some point I say something that completely confuses the person living with dementia? Should I really do this Embracing their reality thing, because what if I embrace the wrong reality and then they get upset?” Here’s the real deal: you are 100% going to say something you shouldn’t have said. We’ve all done it. Especially if this person is living with you and you spend a lot of time together. I have a few stories related to this subject, so join me in this episode for some tips on how to deal with it!