Three hearing aids. Two sets of dentures. Glasses that keep going missing. If you're a care partner who feels like you're throwing money away on devices that get rejected or lost, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Teepa and Greg unpack one of the most frustrating patterns families face: when a person living with dementia refuses the very devices meant to help them. The surprising insight? The problem often isn't the device — it's brain change.

In this episode, Teepa explains:

• Why hearing loss is sometimes actually brain change — and why simply turning up the volume makes things worse
• How switching between near and far vision creates brain fatigue (and why an individual might stop eating because of it)
• Why dentures can block the sensory feedback a person relies on to chew and enjoy food
• When to put the hearing aid in — and when to take it out
• How to shift from giving care to partnering in care

You'll walk away with a new lens for understanding refusal, and practical ways to support the person you love.

If today's episode opened up more questions than it answered, here's a great place to keep learning. Accepting the Challenge is a three-hour on-demand training led by Teepa Snow and Melanie Bunn, RN — an effective resource whether you're new to dementia care or refreshing what you already know. Across sixteen modules, you'll learn how to use the Positive Physical Approach™ in real moments, how to navigate mealtimes and personal care without conflict, and how to build meaningful days together, and how dementia changes memory, language, and impulse. It's the foundational knowledge a lot of care partners wish someone had handed them on day one: Accepting the Challenge.

🎧 New episodes of the Dementia Care Partner Podcast every week.

Have a question you'd like Teepa to explore on the show? Email Greg at [email protected] and cc [email protected].

Learn more about Teepa Snow and Positive Approach to Care® at teepasnow.com.

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