Stop the struggle with difficult dementia behaviors by uncovering the "hidden history" your loved one can no longer express.

In this breakthrough episode, we reveal why "random" symptoms like wandering, repetitive questions, and agitation are often deeply rooted in a person’s personal history. Whether it’s a past career as an architect or a childhood role as the eldest sibling, these memories don’t disappear—they manifest as behaviors.

We provide actionable caregiving strategies to help you move from frustration to empathy by "detecting" the life stories behind the diagnosis. If you are facing caregiver burnout or feeling like you've tried everything to manage dementia symptoms, this personal history approach offers a transformative shift in perspective. Learn how to validate their reality, reduce triggers, and even heal old family wounds during this difficult journey. Understanding their unique personal history is the ultimate key to personalized, compassionate care.

21:10 – Final Strategy: What to write down now in case you get dementia later.

00:00 – Why your loved one’s personal history is the "missing key" to care.

01:45 – Meet Tammy Anastasia: Navigating the shift from wellness to dementia care.

03:12 – The Architect Story: Why staring at a wall isn't a random symptom.

05:30 – Routine & Resistance: Why dementia patients fight changes in their day.

07:45 – [AD BREAK] Practical tools for caregivers.

08:15 – Unfiltered Emotions: How childhood trauma resurfaces in dementia.

11:20 – The "Best Friend" Shift: Handling the pain when they forget you’re their child.

14:40 – Validation vs. Redirection: The common mistake that fuels agitation.

17:05 – Healing the Caregiver: Using this journey to resolve your own past history.

Tami Anastasia is an Alzheimer’s and dementia counselor and educator, providing one-on-one caregiver support, guidance and strategies to help make the dementia journey easier on the caregiver. Tami holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and has Certificates in Gerontology and End-of-Life. She is the author of the new book Dementia, Caregiving, and Personal History: How to Help, Cope, Connect, and Heal

In addition to her work as a dementia counselor and consultant, Tami facilitates dementia caregiver support groups and conducts educational workshops and personalized one-on-one educational sessions. She also works with people with dementia and provides cognitive and physical stimulation. She is a frequent speaker at professional and community organizations, senior retirement communities, memory care and assisted living communities, health and wellness conferences, local colleges, and public health libraries. Tami has been a guest on local television and radio shows and has published several articles on health and wellness.

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Dementia Challenges - Avoiding Triggers

Dementia Care Conversations: Unveiling the Four Essentials

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or Visit us at www.FadingMemoriesPodcast.com