PODCAST
Dementia care is not black and white. It’s an artform that takes practice and education to improve.
Explore 5 seasons of expert dementia care advice, recommendations, and resources!
This podcast is for anyone who knows an individual living with dementia. You’ll get tangible, accessible tips and techniques to solve your biggest dementia challenges. Through storytelling, humor, and real-life experience, you’ll gain important insights into dementia care communication.
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“How do I know if I’m getting burned out?”
This is a great question! But, unfortunately, this is a question that most caregivers don’t ask until they are deeply burned out. Sometimes people don’t give themselves enough space and time to take care of their own things. Actually, I used to be that kind of person until I got more serious in hiring other people to help me with my business because I realized that I can’t do everything myself. When it comes to taking care of a person living with dementia, the same thing goes – you can’t handle it all by yourself; especially when the person living with dementia starts needing more and more help. Stay for the entirety of this episode for some tips and advice on how to avoid burnout!
“But won’t agreeing with their delusions make them sicker?”
‘What if my mom believes something that’s not true, and I keep embracing her reality… won’t that eventually make her more confused?’ You’ve probably already guessed this one, and the answer is NO. There’s no scientific evidence that letting a person believe they are correct will make them worse. In fact, if you are constantly correcting a person about their beliefs, that actually will be a lot worse.
“When should I move her into memory care?”
I get this question all the time! For starters, I don’t like the term “memory care.” Why? Because not all people living with dementia have issues with their memory. So, how do you know when it’s time? Don’t wait until they tell you it is time, because…they aren’t going to. While there’s no official answer to this question, the truth is that if you are thinking about moving your loved one, it’s probably time. I suggest reading my first book, “When someone you know is living with dementia” as a complementary piece to this episode.
Why is she having trouble understanding me?
This question is more common than you think, and it’s usually related to doing different tasks around the house that we all take for granted, attributing them to annoying chores we have to do. However, for someone living with dementia, these little tasks can actually seem difficult and overwhelming. Why? Well, it’s called task switching. Task switching is the ability to move from one task to another seamlessly – something we do all the time. But for someone with cognitive impairment, this is a really hard thing to accomplish. Tune in to learn more about how to navigate this!
“Why is he having trouble speaking?”
This one usually comes along with, “Is he going to lose his ability to speak altogether?” The answer is, like everything else with dementia…maybe. Aphasia is a communication-related issue that happens when the person loses his ability to communicate verbally. There are different kinds of aphasia and, although it is common in dementia patients, it doesn’t happen to all of them. Join me while I explore this difficult but common scenario, in this brand new episode! Visit https://dementiabyday.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.
“Why won’t she take a shower?”
This is a great question because this issue comes up differently for everybody. I’ve had clients who would get in the shower no problem one day, and the following day, it would be a complete battle to get them to get in the shower! So, why won’t they do these easy tasks that they always used to do? And how can you help them get in the shower in a sensitive way? Listen to this episode and find out!
“How do we tell him that we sold his house?”
If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you’ll probably know the answer to this one… YOU DON’T TELL THEM. Your loved one may be pretty attached to that house and to the feeling of home that it holds for them, so you can imagine how traumatic it can be to tell them that you sold that house. Stay for the entirety of this episode for some tips and advice on how to deal with this subject as it will inevitably come up!
“How do I tell her that her sister died?”
This is a raw question that I hear pretty often… how do I tell my loved one that somebody in their lives has passed away? The short answer? YOU DON’T. I know you may feel like you have to tell them, but think about it for a second: Is it really a good idea to bring your loved one into that whole situation? Join me while I explore this difficult but common scenario in this brand-new episode!
“We got him a diagnosis, but what happens next?”
What do you do when a loved one has received the diagnosis of dementia? Who and where do you turn to? Honestly, most people figure it out on their own… And if you are listening to this podcast, it’s probably because you are looking for a place to start. Stay for the entirety of the episode for some tips and advice on this issue!
16 Things I Would Want If I Got Dementia
Get the FREE “16 Things” poster for your personal use—or better yet—your dementia care community’s staff break room!
A beloved classic. Since 2014, Rachael Wonderlin’s moving poem has offered comfort and insight into the world of those living with dementia.
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