Dementia By Day

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.

This is a great question because this issue comes up differently for everybody. I’ve had clients who would get in the shower no problem one day, and the following day, it would be a complete battle to get them to get in the shower! So, why won’t they do these easy tasks that they always used to do? And how can you help them get in the shower in a sensitive way? Listen to this episode and find out! Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care. 

If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you’ll probably know the answer to this one… YOU DON’T TELL THEM. Your loved one may be pretty attached to that house and to the feeling of home that it holds for them, so you can imagine how traumatic it can be to tell them that you sold that house. Stay for the entirety of this episode for some tips and advice on how to deal with this subject as it will inevitably come up! Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

This is a raw question that I hear pretty often... how do I tell my loved one that somebody in their lives has passed away? The short answer? YOU DON’T. I know you may feel like you have to tell them, but think about it for a second: Is it really a good idea to bring your loved one into that whole situation? 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.

What do you do when a loved one has received the diagnosis of dementia? Who and where do you turn to? Honestly, most people figure it out on their own… And if you are listening to this podcast, it’s probably because you are looking for a place to start. 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. 

This is a question I get asked pretty frequently. Note: If you haven’t listened to last week’s episode about embracing somebody’s reality, I recommend you do; because it all ties together today. Plenty of people go through the entire course of the disease and are able to place all of their loved ones on their timelines – but sometimes, this doesn’t happen. This is where it seems that they “don’t recognize us anymore.” Find out more about the ins and outs of Timeline Confusion™ in today’s episode! Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care

Today we are covering an issue that’s a real challenge for people, even those who have been living with a loved one with dementia for a long time. So, what do you do when someone you are caring for asks a direct question? Do you tell them the truth? Or do you just make something up?My Embrace Their Reality™ approach can really help you answer these questions. Tune in and find out more! Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

We're back for season 4 of the Dementia By Day podcast!  Today, I’m talking all about how to know if the person I’m caring for actually has dementia. It’s a question I get a lot because there’s a lot of conflicting information out there on what dementia really is. Dementia is a group of symptoms that is caused by different types of diseases. However, there are nearly a hundred diseases that can cause dementia – this makes it really hard to diagnose!  If your loved one is indeed living with dementia, it is much better to catch it early because there are lifestyle changes that can be made to slow the progression of the disease.  So, how do you know? Tune in to find out!  Visit https://rachaelwonderlin.com/products/ for more in Dementia Care.

This is my last episode for a bit! I'm switching back to blogging after 3 seasons of audio, so I hope to see you over on my blog come March! In this final episode of season 3, we talk about dementia care transitions. What's it like to bring in a home caregiver? What about moving someone to a care community? What's the difference and how can you make these changes as LOW DRAMA as possible? Use my code DBD10 to get 10% off your purchase at www.alertafamily.com

How we talk about a thing defines that thing. When we use words like "fiblets" or "lies" or even, "therapeutic lying," we undermine the good that we're trying to do as dementia care partners. Why does it matter how we talk about dementia communication? Why is tossing out the word "lying" so important to me, even when it has something nice-sounding like "therapy" in front of it? Tune in to find out. Use my code DBD10 on your next purchase from www.alertafamily.com

Jump in to this episode on MINI-REORIENTATION and what that all means. To put it simply, I just made that term up. In fact, I made it up back in season one of my podcast, and in today's episode, I tell you WHY. Learn why it's so important to Embrace Their Reality(TM) instead of leaning on reorientation or other poor nomenclature in dementia caregiving. Check out my sponsor and use the code DBD10 for 10% off at www.alertafamily.com

I've been doing improv comedy for over TEN YEARS (woah) and I absolutely love performing. I've also found that my experience doing improv has made me a better dementia care partner: I'm super fast on my feet and able to adjust to someone else's reality with ease, wherever that reality is. Tune in to find out why skills we learn for stage are applicable in dementia care, as well.  This is also the first episode recorded in my new audio studio! Thanks to my sponsor, Alerta, who can be found on alertafamily.com and use my code, DBD10 for 10% off.

Hallucinations and Delusions are some of the most difficult situations for families to deal with. People often misconstrue the terms Hallucination and Delusion. On today's podcast I will dissect the difference and guide you on how best to help if a loved one is struggling with one (or both!) Listen for some great insight! My audiobook is a great companion tool to have after this podcast You can purchase it here rachelwonderlin.com/products   Be sure to visit my sponsor, Alerta, at www.alertafamily.com and use the code DBD for 10%  off your purchase with them.

In this episode I revisit another difficult situation in Dementia Caregiving. "I want to go home" is the prefect time to Embrace Their Reality (tm). There are some pretty good do's and don't(s) when dealing with this topic and I will share some of the tricks to getting your loved one though their difficult time. Join me on this journey today! My audiobook is a great companion tool to have after this podcast. You can purchase it here rachaelwonderlin.com/products   Be sure to visit my sponsor, Alerta, at www.alertafamily.com and use the code DBD for 10% off your purchase with them.

Did you know that Dementia and Depression are positively correlated? In this week's episode I will explain how Dementia and Depression typically go hand in hand, the importance of not sidelining Depression symptoms when it comes to a loved one with Dementia, and physician guidance and support in diagnosing Depression. I will also explain how closely related Depression and Dementia are in the elderly. Listen in to learn more. My audiobook is a great companion tool to have after this podcast. You can purchase it here at rachaelwonderlin.com/products   Be sure to visit my sponsor, Alerta, at www.alertafamily.com and use the code DBD for 10% off your purchase with them.