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...

Welcome back Careblazer. Today I want to talk about how to get your LOWD more receptive to help in the home and what to do if your LOWD is not agreeable to the help. 

To watch the video on this topic, click here. 

This topic is sparked by a member of my care course. During one of our question and answer sessions, she shared that she has always been the person to care for her husband. 24/7, she did everything. She’s finally at the point where she realizes, she needs to get away from time to time and there are some things she has to do out of the home that her LOWD can’t join her for. There is no family nearby. 

This Careblazer did a lot of things right when she introduced the help in the home and I want to share them with you and expand on them a bit. 

Even if you think your loved one would be totally against care, I don't want you to throw out this possibility. Caring for someone with dementia can be challenging and can last years....

Welcome back, Careblazer. 

Today, I want to share with you 2 ways you can approach difficult dementia behavior so that they go away or don’t happen as often. So if your loved one sometimes does things that you find confusing, difficult to manage, and you wish you could get to stop,  this may help. 

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

Before I share these 2 approaches, I want to welcome any new Careblazers. This is the place where we talk about everything about dementia. I’m Natali Edmonds- a board certified geropsycholgoist and I post a new blog and a new YouTube video every Sunday. 

Let’s get started. 

1. Removing the obstacle

The first approach I want to share is the easiest and most preferred whenever you can do it. It can save you and your loved one with dementia a lot of time and energy and whenever it’s possible, I recommend giving this approach a try first. When you're...

Welcome back to the place where we talk about everything dementia. 

Today I am talking about Sundowning. A common symptom of dementia that leads to a lot of caregiver stress. If you'd like to watch the video, I did on sundowning, you can watch it here. Otherwise, keep reading. 

Sundowning, or Sundowning Syndrome is not actually a diagnosis. It's a term used to describe a variety of symptoms that commonly occur during the evening for people who have dementia. The medical community does not have one agreed upon definition, but common symptoms include:

•  increased confusion
• anxiety
• agitation
• pacing
• aggressiveness
• disorientation 
• mood swings
• hallucinations
• an unusually demanding attitude

It’s called sundowners syndrome or sundowning because these symptoms typically occur in the late afternoon, evening, or at night. This often means your loved one will also have difficulty sleeping and may be an an increased risk for wandering. 

Sundowning can occur in...