Like I’ve said in past episodes: we can’t convince people living with dementia of anything that’s not in their reality. So, bad news if you are trying to convince them that they have dementia.

Here’s my argument – why would you WANT to? Even if you convince them for a couple of hours that they have dementia, what happens the next day? Are you going to re-convince them? If a person has forgotten that they have a disease, why would we want to remind them?

This goes for similar reminders, like taking them to the cemetery or showing them obituaries. Just. don’t.

Stay for the entirety of this episode for some tips and advice on this issue.

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

What’s the difference between lying and Embracing their Reality? I keep hearing people using this phrase incorrectly.

There are a lot of people who consider themselves experts in dementia care communication and they are still telling everybody the same thing that you’ve been hearing for years: Validation, Redirection, Distraction.

And that’s NOT Embracing their Reality™. It’s also not lying when you are doing what’s true for THEM.

Stay for the entirety of this episode where I break down the difference between these two dementia care approaches.

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

As you probably know by now, you are not going to be able to convince the person living with dementia that they are no longer capable of handling their own finances.

One of the main things that people will hold on to with all their might is money. No one wants to feel like somebody else is taking control of their financial affairs. But when you are living with dementia and things are being taken away from you, it can be even more overwhelming.

Remember, dementia is not an ask-for-permission group of diseases: You are going to have to take control.

Tune in to learn more about how to navigate this!

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

“What if at some point I say something that completely confuses the person living with dementia? Should I really do this Embracing their reality thing, because what if I embrace the wrong reality and then they get upset?”

Here’s the real deal: you are 100% going to say something you shouldn’t have said. We’ve all done it. Especially if this person is living with you and you spend a lot of time together.

I have a few stories related to this subject, so join me in this episode for some tips on how to deal with it!

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

This is a great question! But, unfortunately, this is a question that most caregivers don’t ask until they are deeply burned out.

Sometimes people don’t give themselves enough space and time to take care of their own things. Actually, I used to be that kind of person until I got more serious in hiring other people to help me with my business because I realized that I can’t do everything myself.

When it comes to taking care of a person living with dementia, the same thing goes – you can’t handle it all by yourself; especially when the person living with dementia starts needing more and more help.

Stay for the entirety of this episode for some tips and advice on how to avoid burnout!

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

‘What if my mom believes something that’s not true, and I keep embracing her reality... won’t that eventually make her more confused?’

You’ve probably already guessed this one, and the answer is NO.

There’s no scientific evidence that letting a person believe they are correct will make them worse. In fact, if you are constantly correcting a person about their beliefs, that actually will be a lot worse.

Stay for the entirety of the episode for some tips and advice on this issue!

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

I get this question all the time! For starters, I don’t like the term “memory care.” Why? Because not all people living with dementia have issues with their memory.

So, how do you know when it’s time?

Don’t wait until they tell you it is time, because...they aren’t going to.

While there’s no official answer to this question, the truth is that if you are thinking about moving your loved one, it's probably time.

I suggest reading my first book, "When Someone You Know is Living in a Dementia Care Community" as a complementary piece to this episode.

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

This question is more common than you think, and it’s usually related to doing different tasks around the house that we all take for granted, attributing them to annoying chores we have to do.

However, for someone living with dementia, these little tasks can actually seem difficult and overwhelming.

Why? Well, it’s called task switching.

Task switching is the ability to move from one task to another seamlessly – something we do all the time. But for someone with cognitive impairment, this is a really hard thing to accomplish.

Tune in to learn more about how to navigate this!

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

This one usually comes along with, “Is he going to lose his ability to speak altogether?”

The answer is, like everything else with dementia…maybe.

Aphasia is a communication-related issue that happens when the person loses his ability to communicate verbally. There are different kinds of aphasia and, although it is common in dementia patients, it doesn’t happen to all of them.

Join me while I explore this difficult but common scenario, in this brand new episode!

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

You may not be in this exact situation, but I can guarantee that there’s someone in your life that is not cool with wanting to transition your loved one living with dementia to a dementia care community.

“Don’t you have a caregiver come in a few times? Isn’t that enough?” They are guilting you, but probably not on purpose. They may just be trying to help you go through this situation. But at the end of the day, they are only preventing you from making the right decision that will not only help you but also your loved one.

Stay for the entirety of this episode for some tips and advice on how to deal with this difficult situation.

Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.