You may still remember the exact words the clinician used. “Dementia.” “Alzheimer’s disease.” “Probable Lewy body dementia.”   For many families, everything after that becomes a blur. The fear is real. The uncertainty is real. And so is this: there are clear, concrete steps you can take to support your loved one and yourself, starting […]

A dementia diagnosis is one of the most disorienting moments a person — or a family — can face. The fear is real. The uncertainty is real. And so is this: there are clear, concrete steps you can take right now to protect your health, build connection and community, and shape the kind of life […]

“This is probably the last few chapters of her life. And I made it worse. I lied to her and I betrayed her and I don’t know if I can forgive myself.”   This is what a caregiver shared with me in therapy. She lamented over whether or not she made the right decision. Wondering, […]

The plan was already made. The family had toured the memory care facility twice, signed the paperwork, and arranged for movers to collect her things the following week. But when they pulled into the parking lot, her daughter told her she would just be staying for a few days while her back healed up.   […]

I want you to picture someone I’ll call Margaret.   She’s 74 years old, sharp-witted, funny, and deeply engaged in her community. But lately, she’s been misplacing her keys more than usual. She blanked on a neighbor’s name she’s known for twenty years. She missed a dentist appointment for the first time in her life. […]

Living alone is a choice many of us treasure—the independence, the comfort of familiar surroundings, the dignity of managing our own daily rhythms. But what happens when dementia enters this picture?    As a geropsychologist who has worked with thousands of older adults navigating cognitive changes, I’ve witnessed both the profound challenges and the remarkable […]

What happens to a person’s sense of self when memory begins to fray? I often describe dementia as a fragmentation of self. And yet, even within that fragmentation, traces of identity persist- it is our job to look for the pieces and honor the person. For William Utermohlen, famous artist, his symptoms began with difficulty […]

  Suicide Risk Spikes After a Dementia Diagnosis: Here’s Why Receiving a dementia diagnosis changes everything. For many people, it brings relief—finally, there’s an explanation for the confusion, memory lapses, or personality changes that have been happening. But for others, especially in the first months after hearing the words “you have dementia”, it can trigger […]

Many older adults implement strategies, like crossword puzzles and supplements to stave off dementia, but do these strategies actually work?   Research shows that potentially 45% of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed through a series of personal and societal changes.   Because my goal is to give you the most up to date […]

With age, the thought of cognitive impairment can loom large, casting a shadow on what should be your golden years. You’re not alone in this journey. This article is dedicated to exploring the main causes of cognitive impairment in old age and providing practical, actionable guidance to optimize brain health. It’s never too late to […]

  Imagine this scenario: you’re sitting with your loved one reminiscing about a very special time in your life and your loved one struggles to recall an important part of the story that used to bring them so much joy. Is this simply a mere slip of memory or is it something more?   Today, […]

Diving into the vast ocean of cognitive impairment in older adults can be challenging, especially when waves of denial or lack of awareness obstruct the view. As healthcare providers, we often find ourselves caught in the current, struggling to navigate these tumultuous waters. The aging population is on the rise, and with it, an increasing […]