Dementia Careblazers

The number one mistake dementia caregivers make is waiting.  Waiting until things get harder. Waiting for the right moment. Waiting until they feel like they really need support. And it makes complete sense why. When difficulty builds slowly, your brain adapts. What felt overwhelming six months ago becomes your new normal. And before long, you stop being able to accurately measure just how much your life has changed.  But here is what I want you to hear. The moment things feel manageable is not the least important time to get support. It is one of the most important.  In this episode I explain exactly why our brains convince us to wait, why getting support early makes such a meaningful difference, and what you can do right now even if things feel okay. You don't have to be drowning to deserve support.  → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/re-sales-podcast  If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast    ⏱ CHAPTERS  0:00 - The number one mistake dementia caregivers make  1:29 - You are already in it even if it doesn't feel that way  2:43 - Why your brain convinces you to wait (the science behind it)  5:45 - Why waiting until crisis makes everything harder  7:00 - What to do right now even if things feel manageable --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.

Sudden decline in dementia is one of the scariest things a caregiver can witness. One day they were walking. One day they were talking. And then almost overnight, they weren't. Most caregivers in this moment think they missed something. Or that this is just the next stage. But sudden dramatic changes are not typically how dementia progresses. And knowing the difference between expected progression and a medical red flag could change everything for your loved one right now. Gradual change fits dementia. Sudden change requires investigation. In this episode I walk you through the most common medical causes of sudden decline in dementia, how to tell the difference, and exactly what to say when a doctor tells you it's just the dementia. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  Learn more about the Care Collective: https://careblazers.com/for-families   --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.

If your loved one with dementia has become mean, sharp, cruel, or just completely different toward you, I want you to hear this first: you are not imagining it. And you are not failing. This is one of the most painful parts of dementia caregiving because it doesn't just feel hard. It feels personal. In this episode I explain exactly what is happening in the brain that causes this, why it is not their true personality coming out, and how to understand it in a way that protects both your heart and your sanity. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Learn more about the Care Collective: https://careblazers.com/for-families   Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast    --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.

If your loved one with dementia believes they are living decades in the past, you are not alone. They may ask for parents who passed away long ago, think they still have a job they retired from years ago, or believe their children are still young. In this episode, I explain why this happens in dementia, why correcting someone often makes things worse, and how you can respond in a way that reduces distress instead of escalating the situation.  If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Download my Free Careblazer Survival Guide (60+ pages of dementia caregiving tips) here: https://tinyurl.com/yt-survival   **This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.

Dementia behaviors can feel confusing, frustrating, and exhausting, especially when the more you try to explain or reason, the worse it seems to get. In this episode, I'm sharing 5 underrated ways to handle dementia behaviors that actually work in real life. These are practical, psychology-based strategies you can try the next time your loved one with dementia becomes defensive, upset, anxious, or stuck in a belief that doesn't match your reality. These strategies are simple, but they can dramatically shift how a moment unfolds. You don't have to try all five. Start with one this week and notice what changes. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get your FREE Dementia Careblazer Survival Guide, downloaded over 100,000 times worldwide: https://go.careblazers.com/survivalguide    **This channel and any information by Dementia Careblazers is not a substitute for healthcare. This is not healthcare advice. Please talk to your healthcare providers for specific feedback on your situation.  

Why does responding to dementia behaviors still feel so hard? In this video, I explain the three reasons it feels exhausting and unpredictable even when you're doing everything "right." Sometimes what worked yesterday stops working today, not because you failed, but because the brain is changing. If you'd like more practical, real-world guidance, join my upcoming Dementia Behaviors Breakthrough Program. Sign up here: https://careblazers.com/breakthrough Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose here: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-yt   **This channel and any information by Dementia Careblazers is not a substitute for healthcare. This is not healthcare advice. Please talk to your healthcare providers for specific feedback on your situation.

Should you let your loved one with dementia help… even when it makes everything harder? You're told to keep them engaged. Involved. Independent. Let them contribute so they can maintain their abilities and feel useful. But sometimes when you do, everything takes longer. It gets messier. You fall behind. You feel frustrated. And then the guilt sets in for even feeling that way. In this video, I talk about the real tension caregivers face when letting a loved one with dementia help with everyday tasks does not go smoothly. How do you decide when participation is truly helpful and when it's okay to step in and just get it done? If you want to go deeper into understanding dementia behaviors and how to respond in real-life situations, join me for my live Behavior Breakthroughs class. You can learn more and sign up here: https://careblazers.com/breakthrough Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose here: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-yt   **This channel and any information by Dementia Careblazers is not a substitute for healthcare. This is not healthcare advice. Please talk to your healthcare providers for specific feedback on your situation.

Can something as simple as one egg a week really lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease? In this video, I break down two long-term U.S. research studies looking at eggs and brain health. One study from the Rush Memory and Aging Project found that older adults who ate about one egg per week had a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.  A second study found that higher egg intake was linked to better cognitive performance in women, with no evidence of cognitive harm in men. Eggs are not a cure for dementia. But they are a simple, accessible food that contains nutrients the brain needs.For caregivers and older adults who want to support long-term brain health, small changes can matter. If you'd like to read the full studies, both are linked below. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/16/2765 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002231662400289X?via%3Dihub Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose here: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-yt

Urinary tract infections are one of the most common reasons people with dementia end up in the emergency room. In this video, I talk with Dr. Krieger, an emergency room physician, about why UTIs often look different in dementia and why sudden changes should not automatically be blamed on dementia progression. Dr. Krieger is also the creator of Uraguard, a product designed to help reduce bacterial exposure around the urethra for women with incontinence. We talk about where tools like this may fit into UTI prevention, along with other practical strategies caregivers can use. Learn more about Uraguard here: https://tinyurl.com/uraguard-careblazers-yt

Why does dementia look so different from one family to the next? This is a question I hear from caregivers all the time. Two people can have the same diagnosis and be the same age, yet their symptoms and caregiving challenges can look completely different. In this video, I break down what the 2025 NIH dementia progress report helps explain about why dementia does not follow one clear or predictable path. I cover what researchers are learning about dementia risk and protection, what is happening in the brain beyond memory loss, and what the science is showing about care planning and the caregiving experience. This is Part 2 of a two-part series based on the 2025 NIH dementia research update.  If you missed Part 1, you can find it here: https://youtu.be/Zzvdk5isef4 You can read the full NIH progress report here: https://www.nia.nih.gov/about/2025-nih-dementia-research-progress-report Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose here: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-yt

Are we actually making progress in dementia research, or does it just feel like nothing has changed?  In this video, I break down what the latest dementia research really shows based on the most recent data from the National Institutes of Health. We will talk about what is changing in detection, treatment, and prevention, and what this actually means for family caregivers making decisions right now. This is Part 1 of a two part series. In Part 2, I will go deeper into why dementia happens, who is most at risk, and what research is revealing about care quality and the caregiver experience. Read the full report here: https://www.nia.nih.gov/about/2025-nih-dementia-research-progress-report

In this video, I share what dementia caregivers need most...and it's probably not what you've been told. This insight comes from the longest study ever conducted on human health and wellbeing: the Harvard Study on Adult Development, which followed people for more than 85 years. What researchers found challenges common assumptions about success, strength, and resilience. I break down what the science actually says, why this matters so much for caregivers in the middle of dementia care, and how connection and emotional safety play a powerful role in both caregiver health and dementia care outcomes.  Read about the study here: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/ If you're feeling stretched thin, disconnected, or unsure how to keep going long term, this video will help you reframe what truly supports you, and your loved one, as the journey continues. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose here: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-yt

Many families look back and realize the early signs of dementia were there long before the diagnosis. In this video, I share real examples from caregivers who noticed subtle changes in hindsight, things that didn't seem like dementia at the time.  These early signs often go beyond memory loss and show up in daily routines, personality, decision-making, and behavior. If you're wondering whether what you're seeing in a loved one is normal aging or something more, this video will help you think differently about early warning signs and when it may be worth getting more information.  📩 Get weekly caregiver education and support in my free Dementia Dose newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-yt

Why can someone with dementia remember a delusion in vivid detail, yet forget what actually happened? In this video, I explain why dementia affects emotional memory differently from factual memory and why delusions can feel so real and unshakable. When you understand what's happening in the brain, it becomes easier to respond with comfort instead of argument.  If you've ever felt frustrated trying to correct or reason with a loved one who believes something that isn't true, this will help you understand why logic doesn't work and what does. Read the Studies: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11309671/  https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00331/full Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose here: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-yt Visit Our Website: https://careblazers.com https://www.instagram.com/Dementia_Careblazers https://www.facebook.com/DementiaCareblazers

In this video, I explore whether facial changes could be an early sign of dementia. Over the past few years, researchers have uncovered intriguing evidence showing that the brain impacts the face, and that subtle changes in facial expression and movement may be linked to dementia. This does not mean dementia can be diagnosed by looking at someone's face. But it does help explain why caregivers sometimes notice fewer smiles, less expression, or slower emotional reactions long before memory problems become obvious. I walk you through what the research is actually showing, what these facial changes may indicate, and just as importantly, what they do not mean. You'll also learn why a lack of visible expression doesn't mean your loved one isn't feeling, connecting, or enjoying what's happening. If you've noticed changes and wondered what they might mean, this video will help you make sense of what you're seeing.

Is this dementia… or is it just their personality? In this video, I explain why dementia can intensify longstanding personality traits, including patterns often seen in narcissistic, borderline, or histrionic personalities. You'll learn the brain science behind what's happening, why it feels so emotionally confusing, and how to respond in ways that protect both you and your loved one.

Dementia can change far more than memory — it can change how a person sees the world, even when their eye exam looks "normal." In this video, I explain the most common vision changes in dementia, including tunnel vision, depth perception problems, color and contrast loss, and visual misrecognition. I also cover less common symptoms like motion blindness and visual hallucinations. You'll learn what's part of normal aging versus what's caused by dementia, and practical ways to make your loved one's environment safer and less confusing, from lighting and contrast tips to simple home adjustments. If your loved one is bumping into objects, startled easily, or saying things "disappeared," this video will help explain why.

Many caregivers feel overwhelmed, resentful, or alone long before they ever realize that what they're experiencing is normal in dementia caregiving. In today's video, Carolyn shares her deeply honest story of caring for her mom. a relationship marked by decades of tension, and how everything changed once she learned a new way to understand dementia and respond differently. If you've ever felt exhausted, guilty, trapped, or unsure how to keep going… this conversation is for you.

Have you ever asked your loved one with dementia a simple question… and then waited far longer than you expected for an answer? Those long pauses can feel confusing or even worrying, but they're actually telling us something important about what's happening inside the brain. In this video, I break down why people with dementia often take so long to respond, what's happening with processing speed and neural pathways, and how you can support them in a way that reduces frustration for both of you. This is one of the most common questions I hear from caregivers, and understanding this piece can make communication feel calmer, easier, and more connected. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose here: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-yt