You know you're right — but does saying so actually help? In this episode, dementia care expert Teepa Snow and host Greg Phelps explore one of the most common traps care partners fall into: the impulse to correct. Whether it's a misremembered fact, an outdated term, or a flat-out wrong take, the instinct to set the record straight can quietly damage the relationship you're working so hard to protect.

Teepa shares why curiosity is more powerful than correction — and how reframing what someone says, rather than rebutting it, keeps the conversation moving forward without anyone feeling attacked or embarrassed. She also reveals why the skills that make you a better care partner have a funny way of improving every relationship in your life.

In this episode:

• Why "being right" can mean losing the relationship

• How to use curiosity to redirect — without arguing

• The art of restating what someone said so they feel heard, not corrected

• Why these skills work on your kids, your spouse, and your coworkers too

There's a line in Teepa's new Dementia Care Partner Guide that captures what today's episode is really about: let go of what is missing, and learn to celebrate and use what remains. That shift — from correcting to connecting, from caregiver to care partner — is what the whole book is built around.

Inside, you'll find the updated GEMS® States of Brain Change, a photo-by-photo walkthrough of Hand-under-Hand®, Positive Action Starters, Visual-Verbal-Touch Cueing, and bonus resource cards you can use right away. If you're ready to make life worth living all the way through the journey, this is where to start. Pick up your copy at shop.teepasnow.com.

🎧 Subscribe to the Dementia Care Partner Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you never miss a new episode.

📩 Have a question or topic you'd like Teepa to explore? Email Greg at [email protected]

#DementiaCare #PositiveApproachToCare #TeepaSnow #CarePartner #PAC

On a recent walk in the woods, Greg overheard a small but telling exchange: a daughter snapped at her mother for misremembering who once owned a camera. It was a tiny correction — and a familiar one. In this episode, Teepa Snow and Greg Phelps unpack why our reflex to set the record straight can quietly erode the relationships that matter most.

Teepa walks care partners through a more useful question than Am I right? Instead, ask yourself: Is it worth it? Worth it in five minutes? Five hours? Five years? Worth it when this conversation is the last one you'll remember?

You'll learn:

· Why correcting a person living with dementia often feels like an attack, even when it's well-intentioned

· How to slow down and use curiosity instead of confrontation ("So you're thinking it was me that owned that type of camera?")

· A practical reframe for everyday moments — wet pants, spilled soup, mistaken identities — that protects dignity and the relationship

· Why it's better to be kind than to be right is a skill, not just a saying

Whether you're supporting a spouse, parent, or client, this conversation will help you trade the urge to correct someone for the power to preserve your connection.

If today's conversation made you stop and think about how you show up in those moments — the corrections, the arguments — check out Improving Communications in Dementia Care. It goes well beyond today's episode with five hours of hands-on skill-building that changes not just what you say, but how you connect.

Subscribe to the Dementia Care Partner Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you never miss a new episode. Have a question or topic you'd like Teepa to explore? Email Greg at [email protected]

#DementiaCare #PositiveApproachToCare #TeepaSnow #CarePartner #PAC

A recent study found that people under 70 with hearing loss who used hearing aids had a 61% lower risk of dementia — and that kind of headline is hard to ignore. But does that mean hearing aids will protect your loved one from dementia? In this episode, Teepa and Greg take a closer look at what the research actually tells us, why hearing loss may be an early identifier of brain change rather than a cause, and what truly helpful communication looks like — with or without hearing aids.

If you're navigating communication challenges with someone living with brain change and want practical, real-world guidance, Positive Approach to Care® on-demand streaming videos are a great place to start. Learn at your own pace and build skills you can use the same day. Browse the full library at: https://shop.teepasnow.com/product-category/online-video/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=4499760-New%20Podcast%20Dropped

A headline says lifestyle changes can improve cognition — and that sounds like great news. But what happens when the ask is so big it becomes another source of stress? In this episode, Teepa and Greg unpack why sweeping lifestyle changes often backfire, how to find smaller shifts that can be maintained, and what it really means to involve the person living with brain change in decisions about their own life. Because care without the person isn't care — it's something else entirely.

Ready to build the communication skills that make lifestyle conversations less of an uphill climb? The PAC Champion Courses are short, skill-focused trainings designed to help you lead with connection — so you're prepared for real moments, not just theory. Explore the Champion Courses and find the level that's right for where you are right now.

Financial fraud targeting seniors is on the rise—and it's often not a stranger who’s the culprit. In this episode, Teepa and Greg unpack the full picture of elder financial exploitation: from crimes of opportunity by paid workers to complex, long-running schemes carried out by people closest to the individual. You'll hear why people living with brain change are especially vulnerable, why they often hide what happened, and what early, practical steps you can take to protect the people you support—without triggering fear or paranoia.

If you want to go deeper on this topic, The Caregiver's Game: Unraveling Financial Deceit in the Shadows of Dementia is a powerful read that includes strategies for helping to prevent financial exploitation of those living with dementia: Click Here

The earlier you put protections in place, the better. Head to teepasnow.com to explore resources that can help you take those first practical steps with confidence.

It's one of the most common — and least talked about — parts of the dementia journey. In this episode, Teepa and Greg take on the topic many care partners struggle to bring up: incontinence. You'll hear why brain change is the real driver, how to have a respectful, dignity-first conversation with the person you're supporting, and the practical strategies and products can actually help — for both women and men.

Teepa mentioned this product as one quality resource to try: Premium Overnight Plus Underwear. To take advantage of their $9.99 trial, which includes a 20-piece Trial Pack of Premium Underwear, 2 free Travel Packs, and 2 free Travel Wipes, Click Here.

If you're navigating this challenge and aren't sure where to turn, PAC offers complimentary consultations where you can ask questions, receive guidance, and find out what resources fit your situation. You don't have to figure this out alone. Schedule a complimentary consultation

Appetite changes in dementia can look completely different from one person to the next—and that’s exactly why this episode matters. Greg and Teepa break down what might really be going on when appetite changes occur (from anxiety and impulse changes to not recognizing food or not knowing how to start eating) and why labeling them as just being picky often misses the true issue. Stay with it for practical, dignity-first ways to notice the why behind eating changes and respond in a way that actually helps. 
 
If you’re experiencing mealtime challenges and you’d like help in sorting through your particular situation, we’re here to support you. Every situation is unique, and we want to offer guidance tailored to your needs. Click the this link to schedule a complimentary 30-minute consult. 

So-called breakthrough headlines can spark a lot of fear—and a lot of assumptions. In this episode, Greg and Teepa unpack what headlines such as depression doubles dementia risk and AI can predict Alzheimer years in advance actually mean — and what they don’t. Learn to consider practical questions and the choices that matter, even when predictions feel scary. 

If sensational headlines leave you feeling unsettled, you don’t have to sort it out alone. The Care Partner Support Series is a safe place to bring your questions, learn practical strategies, and connect with others who are on the same journey—without judgment and without overwhelm. If you’re looking for a little more confidence in how you respond day to day, the Care Partner Support Series is a next step worth checking out. 

Workplace violence and burnout don’t come out of nowhere—and in this episode, Teepa and Greg dig into the uncomfortable reasons behind it. You’ll hear how a task-first, us vs. them culture and a lack of dementia-specific skill-building can escalate everyday moments into refusal, fear, and trauma for everyone involved. Stick around for the practical shifts that change the whole dynamic: leading with relationship, understanding brain change, and building skills that reduce risk. 

If your team is dealing with burnout, refusals, or escalating moments, the PAC Champion Courses are a practical next step—short, skill-focused trainings that build a shared approach for how you show up, connect, and respond when things get tense. They’re designed to help staff move from “I’m just trying to get the task done” to “I know what to do next,” with tools that can be used the same day. Explore the Champion Courses and see which level fits where your team is right now. 

Ever wish you had a simple way to help your community or organization better understand dementia/brain change—without it being scary or overwhelming? In this episode, Teepa and Greg unpack the newly updated Getting to Know Dementia Community Training Kit (now with refreshed videos, updated PowerPoints, and refined interactive activities) and explain how you can run one session or link all six into a series. You’ll also hear how it helps people move from improved awareness to the realization of I might need a team—and here’s my next step. 

If you’ve been wanting an easy-to-use training resource that helps provide the transition from curiosity to real understanding, this is for you. The Getting to Know Dementia Community Training Kit provides everything you need to guide a meaningful learning experience with a group, even if you’re not sure where to start. It’s practical, adaptable, and designed to help people feel more prepared to respond with support (not judgment).