Category: Blog

When James Lee, the CEO and co-founder of Bella Groves, visited Margaret in her long-term nursing facility, he was met with a shocking greeting. “I’m mistreated here,” Margaret said to James. “They don’t listen to me. I’m left alone in my room because they don’t want to deal with me.” Abuse in memory care facilities…

If someone you love is living with dementia, planning a trip may be at the bottom of your to-do list. When you factor in the nuances of dementia care, routines, and safety, traveling might seem like a daunting challenge. However, life doesn’t (and shouldn’t!) stop due to a dementia diagnosis.  While your parent or loved…

When a parent or family member is diagnosed with dementia, stepping up as a care partner is brave, selfless, and rewarding, but it doesn’t come without challenges. Caring for a loved one can be mentally and physically exhausting, and dementia care can also be an isolating experience. During these moments, it’s important to remember that…

Pets can provide unconditional joy, engagement, and companionship, but several health benefits also come with interacting with animals. For example, taking a dog on regular walks or playing fetch can keep you active and moving.  Fortunately, you don’t have to be a pet owner to reap these health benefits. Pet therapy or “animal-assisted therapy is…

As dementia progresses, it starts to impact a person’s daily life and independence. Cognitive decline – the loss of thinking, remembering, and reasoning – is the most well-known symptom of dementia that many associate with memories or communication. However, as dementia reaches later stages, a person may also lose the ability to complete basic daily…

When caring for a person living with dementia, caregiver guilt is a common feeling that can arise. Care partners feel as though they aren’t doing enough to support their loved ones, or they feel selfish when they take time for themselves. Feelings like guilt, sadness, or anger can propel us to be the best we…

Dementia is a general term used to describe a variety of symptoms and different conditions that impact cognitive ability, including Alzheimer’s disease. While each form of dementia progresses in a unique, varied way, there are two general models used to describe the stages of dementia that occur throughout the process: The three-stage model The seven-stage…

When someone you love has been diagnosed with dementia, it can be an overwhelming experience and difficult to know where to turn next.  How do I handle care?  Will my friends understand and relate to the challenges that I’m facing? What sort of dementia resources and education should I be looking for? Finding support after…

Memory loss is often the most prevalent symptom of dementia, but dementia can also impact a person’s ability to understand what’s being communicated to them and be understood through their communication abilities. Because dementia affects the brain and cells within, this impacts cognitive ability. A person with dementia may not be able to think as…

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…