Connected Companions

In this episode, we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the podcast with our first guest, Dr. Heather Sandison, who shares her journey in supporting Alzheimer's patients and improving memory and cognition through lifestyle changes. The conversation covers the importance of community, individualized care, and practical tips for caregivers. Dr. Sandison emphasizes the role of diet, social engagement, and mindset in improving cognitive health and shares inspiring success stories from her practice.

Dr. Sandison’s work is based on Dr. Dale Bredesen’s ReCODE and it has shown improvement in cognition and memory for her clients.

In this podcast you will hear about clients who have had increased MoCA scores showing improved cognition on the program. But even more than the memory score increases, you will hear how people regained language, improved memory, and improved functional ability! We also talk about the foundational lifestyle changes you can do that can help improve cognitive function. 

Dr. Heather Sandison, runs Marama, a residential facility that specializes in improving cognitive decline for people with Alzheimer’s Disease. She is also the author of The New York Times bestseller Reversing Alzheimer’s: The New Toolkit to Improve Cognition and Protect Brain Health, and founder of Solcere, a cognitive health clinic.

(We did have a bit of audio trouble in this recording and have balanced it as well as possible. Thank you for understanding!)

* This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Do not make any medical or lifestyle changes without consulting your doctor, or the doctor of your person with dementia. *

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Dr. Sandison’s Links:

Website: https://www.drheathersandison.com/

Podcast: Think Well, Age Well: https://www.drheathersandison.com/resources/thinkwell-agewell/

Research links on The Bredesen ReCODE program and Dr. Sandison’s work: https://www.maramaathome.com/research

Marama at Home program: https://www.maramaathome.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.heathersandison/

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You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

Podcast Email: [email protected]

Olivia:   linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

Katie: ⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

In this episode we discuss the topic of tracking your person with dementia with things like an AirTag or other devices, what you need to consider, and the professionals you need to consult before you make a decision like this. This is not as simple as so many online dementia advice groups or internet searches lead you to believe. 

This is the first in our three part series of questions from listeners.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Do not make any lifestyle changes without consulting your doctor. All medical and medical capacity decisions should be made with your doctor/ your person with dementia’s doctor. Do not make any legal decisions without consulting your elder law attorney. 

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You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

Podcast Email: [email protected]

Olivia:   linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

Katie: ⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

A follower asked why signs and color cues are recommended in dementia care, but the signs are not working for their person with dementia.

In this episode, Olivia and Katie delve into the complexities of queuing, labeling, and signage in dementia care. They discuss the importance of tailoring cues to individual needs, the broader applications of brain support strategies, and the significance of environmental cues. The conversation emphasizes the need for observation and adaptability in caregiving, highlighting how small changes can lead to significant improvements in quality of life for individuals with dementia.

They also take a side quest and touch on the role of medical professionals and the implications of MoCA scores, ultimately conveying a message of hope and possibility in dementia care. (There is a list of references on the research on environmental cues and Alzheimer’s studies below.) 

Key Takeaways

• Understanding why certain cues may not work for individuals with dementia is crucial.

• Research shows that queuing and signage can be effective but must be tailored to the individual.

• The principles of Montessori can be applied to dementia care for better outcomes.

• Environmental cues play a significant role in helping individuals with dementia navigate their surroundings.

• Color and contrast are essential in signage for individuals with cognitive impairments.

• Anchoring new habits to existing routines can aid memory and recall.

• Observation is key to understanding what cues work for each individual.

• Changing environments can disrupt established cues, necessitating adjustments.

• Simplicity in cues can prevent confusion and enhance understanding.

• Improving the environment can lead to better quality of life for individuals with dementia.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Do not make any lifestyle changes without consulting your doctor. All medical decisions should be made with your doctor/ your person with dementia’s doctor. 

Research:

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of Visual Cues, Signage, and Spaced Retrieval for Wayfinding Within Long-Term Care Communities

Creating a Supportive Environment using Cues for Wayfinding in Dementia

Designing for Dining

Improving Dining for People with Dementia

The Influence of Colour on Memory Performance: A Review

The Red Plate Study

Dr.  Heather Sandison 

New Early Alzheimer’s Treatment Shows Improvement in Cognition

Intensive Lifestyle Intervention for Alzheimer’s Disease: The Ornish Randomized Controlled Trial

Visual contrast enhances food and liquid intake in advanced Alzheimer's disease⁠⁠

Observed Improvement in Cognition During a Personalized Lifestyle Intervention in People with Cognitive Decline

Red Plates and Utensils: The Power of Red Products

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You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

Katie’s short course on Making and Using Signage in Dementia Care  

Podcast Email: [email protected]

Olivia:   linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

Katie: ⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

Do you tell a person with Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia that their loved one died? 

Do you always lie to a person with dementia who asks about a dead spouse or loved one?

What do you do if a person with dementia is grieving repeatedly? 

In this episode we are tackling a complex topic that is often too simplified in dementia care and often handled wrong.

We discuss how the lack of grief training in dementia care can lead to increased dementia “behaviors” and the many options for how to support a person with dementia who is looking for a dead loved one. We discuss therapeutic lying (aka: therapeutic fibbing or fiblets) and the ethics behind it. 

You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

Katie’s webinar on Therapeutic Lying, May 30, 2025 

Olivia: linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

Katie: ⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

“They must be in earlier stage dementia” is a common refrain we hear when we show video and photos of people with dementia doing things like cooking, cleaning, woodworking, answering phones at the care community, visiting friends, etc…

In this episode we talk about how people with dementia are NOT “too far gone” (not a phrase we like) to do things anymore, and how we use Montessori dementia care to support people in ALL stages of dementia

You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

What do you do when family or other care partners do not all agree on the type of care you want to do with your person with dementia? What if you are not the main caregiver and you disagree with what the main caregiver is doing? What if you are the main caregiver and no one agrees with your type of care? How do you decide about memory care? 

You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

Montessori is not only for dementia care or in the classroom. It is a way of life, and we use it every day to help our lives run more smoothly. Listen to hear how we use Montessori principles to organize and support our lives, especially with different neurotypes.

You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

Have you been told that your person with dementia can't do things anymore? Can't cook, can't read, can't do hobbies they love, can't go to church, etc...?

People with dementia are perceived as not being able to do things, when in fact they can do way more than we are told. We will tell you how we help people with Alzheimer’s and other dementia’s do things they love again, get dressed again, and more, using Montessori care.

We also talk about how damaging it is to spread the myth that people with dementia can’t do things anymore- and how often this is perpetuated by many doctors and dementia organizations. In fact, this is what happened to Katie’s mother at her doctors appointment.

You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

In this AMA, we review a video sent to us of a caregiver trying to help their person with dementia dry their hands, and it's not working, even though they use a lot of the common "dementia care tips" you hear about online.

We let you know what the simple fix would be and how to support people with Activities of Daily Living (ADL's) more effectively.

And then we discuss making public and private bathrooms easier to use!

If you have AMA questions for us, email us at: [email protected]

Welcome to season 2 of the Connected Companions podcast!!

You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

What is Montessori based dementia care?

Why and how does Montessori dementia care work?

Can Montessori dementia care fix dementia behaviors like aggression, wandering, refusing to shower, and more?

In this episode we give an overview of Montessori based dementia care, why it works, and stories of how we have seen Montessori care work in the facility (care community) and home settings.

You can contact Katie or Olivia and see their offerings at:

⁠⁠ linktr.ee/creativeconnectionsdementia⁠⁠

linktr.ee/purplehydrangeadementiacare

Resources and Activities mentioned:

Professionals Newsletter for Katie’s Professionals Course: https://mailchi.mp/bd9a5f6d4487/professionals-newsletter

1-1 Sessions with Olivia: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4YwYFTXnlVX6WvnonTUnXyIbK2oEHqFnie1R8RU4mbqGG4A/viewform

Care Partners House Membership: https://recourse-coaching.newzenler.com/courses/puldxvzj

Origins of Montessori Programming for Dementia article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23515663/