Hey there Careblazer. 

Today I want to talk about loneliness and isolation and this applies to both you and your LOWD, so wear both hats when reading this post. 

If you would rather watch a video on this topic, click here. 

So what do you think of when I ask, "what does it mean to be lonely?" Likely, you think of the obvious: it means to be alone. But I want you to think about this more. What does it mean to be lonely? I have had one Careblazer describe it as feeling like you are surrounded by people but no one can hear you. Yet another has said that it feels like sadness and depression. While others have described loneliness as being physically distanced from people, which is closer to the definition of social isolation.  

So why does this matter? Beyond the obvious reason that loneliness and social isolation are not fun to experience, there is research to show that this impacts not only your mental health but also your...

Hey there Careblazer, 

I think we can all agree sleep is important. We all know that tired, confused, sometimes even nauseous feeling that comes with not getting enough sleep and, as you probably guessed, sleep is particularly important for your LOWD BUT do you know the impact that light can have on sleep?

Today I want to spend some time talking about some of the facts about sleep and dementia and the research on the importance of light to sleep. 

If you would rather watch a video on this topic, click here. 

Let’s start with some basic facts about sleep:

About half of older adults and approximately 60-70% of people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia experience some form of sleep disturbance. This means the odds are your LOWD falls into this category. 

Various studies have shown that when an individual with dementia has problems with their sleep they are more likely to have more severe thinking problems, greater mood...

Hey there Careblazer. Today I want to talk about traveling with your LOWD. Under regular circumstances traveling can be stressful and require a lot of planning. Many people worry about being in a public place and how their LOWD might react. Last week (or whenever the other one is done), I gave you my top 5 tips for traveling with your LOWD. Today, I want to talk about a potential resource to explore when traveling. It can be controversial for some but is worth considering if it may be right for you. 

If you would rather watch a video on this topic, click here.

So as I mentioned this idea is somewhat controversial but you can consider using the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard. Today I want to review with you what the Sunflower Lanyard is, why some people consider it controversial, and how it could potentially be helpful for you and your LOWD. 

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard is very much like it sounds. It is a green lanyard with...

Hey there Careblazer! Are you thinking about traveling?

Traveling can be fun and energizing for a lot of people and other times it is simply a necessity but I have heard so many Careblazers say that they cannot travel or are fearful of traveling with their LOWD. Planning when traveling can be very important but when it comes to traveling with your LOWD the need to plan becomes even more noticeable.  Planning is important for both you and your loved one: it can help reduce overall stress associated with travel and it can also help reduce the likelihood of creating frustrating situations for your LOWD. Today, I want to share with you my top 5 tips for preparing to travel. 

If you would rather watch a video on this topic, click here. 

Several years ago I did a video on things to consider when thinking about traveling with your LOWD. Head over to that video for discussion of how to make sure you are being realistic or have your mind right for...

Hello Careblazers!

This week over on my YouTube channel, I interviewed the creator of Jelly Drops: a unique and creative way to help prevent dehydration in dementia. While these shouldn't replace actual liquids, your loved one may enjoy eating them and get a bit more water in their system as a result.

If you're interested to know more, please watch the full video here to learn about Jelly Drops and how much water they actually contain.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not advocate for Jelly Drops. I am not an affiliate. I received zero money from Jelly Drops for this video. This is purely an informational video to learn more about Jelly Drops which have recently become available in the U.S.

Keep up the great work Careblazers! 

In this post, we are going to talk about the first and most important step to actually solve a difficult dementia behavior.

If you would rather watch a video on this topic, click here.

Before any problem can be solved we first have to identify what exactly the problem is. This is actually the most important step and it sounds simple, but after working with thousands and thousands of careblazers this first step is more often than not done incorrectly and it lowers  the chances of any behavior change from happening. 

So grab a piece of paper, we are going to get really clear on step one.

I want you to write down on your paper or in the comments what is one thing or one behavior you are trying to change or would like to see change in your loved one with dementia? 

Now take a look at what you wrote down. The very first step in solving a problem is to get clear on what that problem is and in order to do that, you can’t have your own judgements and...

Hey there Careblazer. While all dementia behaviors can be difficult in their own way, today, I want to talk about hostility and combativeness in your LOWD. As we all know frustration can quickly escalate to hostility and aggression. Today I want to talk about some of the reasons your LOWD may become combative and what to consider in these situations. 

If you would rather watch a video on this topic, click here!

Ok Careblazer, so… what do you do when your LOWD begins to get frustrated? Let’s first pause and think about why they are becoming frustrated to begin with and this may give us our answer as to how to respond.There are many reasons your LOWD may be frustrated, here are 5 possibilities:

1. There is too much going on in the environment (TV, people in the home, eating, strong smells, animals, loud noises). 

When the environment around you is overwhelming, it is easy for anyone to begin to get frustrated. Take a second to think about...

Today, I want to talk about some of the most damaging, costly behaviors we often do without realizing it’s putting a strain on the relationship. 

As a reminder,  anything hurting your relationship with the person who has dementia will make it more difficult for the person to want to accept your help  now and in the future. And the idea of “hurting” in your relationship isn’t from your perspective. I know you would never do anything to intentionally  hurt the person with dementia.

But what is your loved one with dementia thinking? Do they think you are helping or do they think you hruting, or hindering, or just getting in the way of them living their life. If you’re person with dementia seems to be pushing back on yoru care efforts and doesn’t seem to enjoy having you around tune in to see if you are making any of these 5 mistakes. 

Remember, no one ever sat down with you to talk about this with you, so...

We spend a lot of time talking about dementia but there are a lot of terms and diagnoses related to changes in thinking that can be very confusing. Today, I would like to talk about mild cognitive impairment. What is it? Is it the same as mild dementia? What does this diagnosis mean for you or your loved one? 

If you would rather watch a video on this topic, click here.

Ok Careblazer lets get started. Let first break down the words in mild cognitive impairment. First we have mild meaning “slight” or “minor”, then cognitive which means “thinking”, and then impairment which means “loss.” If we put that all together it really means slight thinking loss or minor thinking loss. These versions may be a little easier to use when thinking about this diagnosis. 

Another term that you may hear used interchangeably with mild cognitive impairment is mild neurocognitive disorder. 

So how does one come...

There are a lot of reasons why mealtime can be stressful when caring for your loved one with dementia. BUT it does not have to be a battle! Today I want to talk about my top 7 tips and tricks you can use to help reduce stress around meal times. At the end I am also going to provide some bonus tips around eating out so read until the end!  

If you would rather watch a video on this topic, click here.

Also just as a reminder Careblazer, I did a video a few years ago where I interviewed a nutritionist and we talked about how to get your LOWD to eat and drink healthier. In it we discussed several different things including the mediterranean diet and how to identify possible swallowing issues. Make sure to check that video here out for details. 

Ok, let’s get started.

Careblazer, I don’t need to tell you that caring for your LOWD is hard but when it comes to food, there are a few things you can do to make mealtime a little easier. All of the tips I...