Introduction:

Hey there, Careblazers! Welcome back, today, let's talk about an all to common issue dementia caregivers face. What issue you may ask? Dealing with repeating questions in dementia care. It can be tough, but don't worry—I've got your back! Together, we'll tackle this challenge and make your caregiving journey a little easier.

Understanding Memory in Dementia:

Imagine this: your loved one asks you the same question over and over again, even after you've already answered. It can be frustrating and make you wonder if you're doing something wrong. But here's the key: in dementia, memory loss is a big factor that causes this repetition.

When Memory Plays Tricks:

When your loved one keeps asking the same question, it doesn't mean that what you said didn't work or that you need to come up with something new every time. Their memory is tricking them, making them forget what you just told them. It's important to remember this and not be too hard on yourself.

The Power of...

Hey there, Careblazers! Today, I want to share a valuable tip that can make a big difference in how your loved one with dementia feels. You might think you already know it, but let me ask you this: Are you actually doing it?

If you're new here, welcome! I'm Dr. Natali, and on this channel, we talk about all things related to dementia caregiving. Before we dive into today's tip, let me quickly ask for your support. If these blog posts have helped you on your caregiving journey, please let other caregivers know about them. By spreading the word, we can reach more caregivers who need information and support.

Alright, let's get to the good stuff! So, what's the one thing you can do to avoid upsetting your loved one? It's pretty simple, really—just avoid saying "no." No one likes hearing or saying that word, right? But here's the thing: when we say "no" to our loved ones with dementia, it often makes them frustrated and angry. And when they're not doing well, it makes our lives...

Introduction:

Being a caregiver can be challenging, especially when it comes to making tough decisions for our loved ones. One common mistake we make is thinking that if something bad happens, it means we made the wrong choice. In this blog post, we will explore why this kind of thinking is incorrect and how we can change our perspective to feel more empowered on our caregiving journey.

The Problem with Negative Outcomes:

Recently, during a live Q&A session in my Care Course, a caregiver shared her experience of placing her mom in a care facility, even though she didn't want to. Unfortunately, her mom had a serious fall while at the facility, which made the caregiver doubt her decision. It's natural to question ourselves in such situations, but we need to understand why this kind of thinking is flawed.

Why We Can't Predict the Future:

When something bad happens because of a decision we made, we often believe that a different choice would have led to a better outcome. However,...

Hey there, fellow Careblazers! I recently stumbled upon a revelation that I just had to share with you. Picture this: your loved one with dementia gets upset or angry frequently, and you desperately want to reduce those instances. Well, buckle up because I've got a simple tip that might just do the trick. Trust me, it's a game-changer.

Now, before I spill the beans, I know your brain is already screaming, "But how? What about this situation?" Take a deep breath and let your brain freak out for a moment because I'm about to drop some wisdom that might surprise you. Stick with me, and I promise it'll be worth it. Oh, and don't forget about the assignment I've got for you at the end.

So, recently I was chatting with a friend, and we happened to discuss how she responded to her grandma's persistent desire to go home. She mentioned something so brilliant, yet so quick, that it's easy to overlook. But not today, my friends! I'm here to shine a spotlight on this gem because it's precisely...

Being a caregiver can be overwhelming, especially when you have other demands in your life. The key to reducing overwhelm is knowing the difference between what is necessary and what is simply a nice-to-have. In this blog post, we'll explore a powerful question that can help caregivers prioritize their tasks and reduce stress.

That question is: "Is this a necessity or a nicety?"

Let's dive in!

Caregivers often face overwhelming situations due to the mounting of various tasks. To overcome this, knowing the difference between what is essential and what can wait is important. You can better manage your daily tasks by asking yourself whether something is a necessity or a nicety.

Example: Decorating for the Holidays

Let's consider a caregiver who was feeling stressed about decorating her house for the holidays. While it may seem like a small task, it added to her already full plate of caregiving duties. By using the necessity or nicety question, she realized that while decorating was not...

Has your person with dementia ever believed somethign that wasn’t true? Like that people are stealing things when it’s really that they are misplacing them or losing them?

Or maybe even that they see someone in the house, even though no one else is there? 

These are knowns as Delusions and Hallucinations. These are common symptoms that can happen in any dementia. And they are actually two different things, although many people confuse the two. 

Today I’m going to share what’s the difference between these two symptoms and how you’ll be able to know whether person you’re caring for has either one or both of these symptoms. AND most importantly, I’ll share some big do’s and don’t when trying to respond, because if you’ve even tried to tell someone what they are believing or seeing isn’t real then you know that usually makes things much worse. I don’t want that to happen to...