Category: Blog

There’s nothing better than spending time with the people who matter the most to you while ringing in the season with a delicious meal. However, for a person living with dementia, cognitive and sensory changes can impact how they respond to food and pose challenges to their appetite. They might even find themselves not liking the…

According to the World Health Organization, over 55 million people worldwide live with dementia. However, dementia still retains a stigma that draws from the unknown aspects of the condition.  It’s difficult to trace the origins of this stigma. Perhaps it stems from a fear of uncertainty since there is no known cure or progressive form…

In 1969, Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross released her best-selling book, “On Death and Dying.” Although many medical strides had been made, and treatments had become commonplace, doctors during the 1960s were adamant about finding ways to stall death and disease diagnoses. They were rarely honest regarding bad news, often failing to tell patients that treatments…

When a person is diagnosed with dementia, many questions can arise regarding the changes one can expect in personality, behavior, and even physically. Mostly, the effects of dementia tend to be associated with cognitive function – memory, judgment, communication, etc. While dementia does affect the entire brain over time, it’s essential to understand that as…

When someone you love is living with dementia, it can impact the dynamics of your family relationships. Conflicts can arise as your family faces changes to their roles and responsibilities, and navigating through these challenges can be difficult.  One of the most significant changes may be your relationship with the person living with dementia. For…

Music is a powerful thing. It can make us happy, provide us comfort, motivate us, or help us relax and sleep. It can transport us back in time, clear our minds, and boost our mood. There is a song for every emotion and occasion. And these benefits can impact anyone, including a person living with…

For some reason, people have an instinctual response to lie to a person living with dementia. People don’t want to upset a person with dementia, confuse them, or, in some cases, simply take the time to discuss difficult topics with them, so they instead tell little white lies or “therapeutic lies.” Too often, people focus…

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we are motivated by five basic needs. These needs are often displayed as a pyramid, starting with basic needs at the bottom and fundamental needs at the top.  Physiological Needs: shelter, food, air, water Safety Needs: sense of security and safety Love and Belonging: feeling wanted by others and…

When caring for someone living with dementia, a common question is how to offer them engagement that is appropriate and meaningful. People living with dementia are not children, and they should not be treated as such. They are parents, spouses, siblings, and friends who have lived full lives, and they need opportunities that allow them…

Driving is a complex operation that requires many different skills. For a person living with dementia, continuing to drive may pose serious health and safety risks for themselves and other people on the road. For this reason, it is important to have a transparent and compassionate discussion with your family member about retiring from driving.…