In our upcoming Poolside Chat, we’ll talk honestly about surviving the holidays, emotionally, mentally, and practically, while caring for someone living with dementia. This is a gentle, supportive space to reflect, learn, and feel understood. We’ll also be sharing a little holiday fun with an ugly Christmas sweater or hat contest. The winner will receive a copy of my book, A Loving Approach to Dementia Care. I hope you’re able to join us and spend this time together. 🗓 Tuesday, December 23 ⏰ 5:30 PM MST (AZ) / 7:30 PM EST 🔗 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PRzPtXKIRf-NNdHzhSToUg#/

That was one of the most powerful lessons Kevin Swanson took away from his conversation with Laura Wayman, The Dementia Whisperer. She reminded us that the longer we wait to step in, the harder it becomes for everyone. Because here’s the truth: 💡 The more independence a loved one loses, the more their brain fights to protect them. 💡 Resistance grows. Cooperation fades. 💡 And one of the hardest moments? When it’s time to talk about driving. As caregivers, our role isn’t to control. It’s to guide. To become their partner. Their sherpa. Someone who leads them with compassion through the parts of life that feel impossible to let go of. This episode of The Power of Wealthness gave me a new perspective on what it really means to show up early, with empathy, and without fear. 👉 Watch the full episode here, and let us know: What’s one conversation you wish you’d started sooner? https://apple.co/47Tt8SV

One-third of dementia caregivers provide more than 14 hours of care per day. Not occasionally. Daily. That's 98+ hours weekly. More than two full-time jobs. With zero salary. Zero benefits. Zero vacation days. This is the caregiving crisis nobody talks about. The numbers: 68% of caregivers say ADL impairments (bathing, toileting, dressing) are most problematic. 50% say behavior problems. 45% say cognitive impairments. 36% say communication problems. But here's what the research actually shows: Neuropsychiatric symptoms predict caregiver burden more than anything else. Not the memory loss. Not the functional decline. The aggression. The paranoia. The sundowning. The personality changes. Those destroy caregivers. What burns caregivers out: Disruptive behaviors - agitation, aggression, verbal outbursts, physical violence. These symptoms damage the emotional connection between caregiver and patient. You're caring for someone who doesn't recognize you. Who accuses you of stealing. Who hits you when you try to help them bathe. That's not the person you married. Or the parent who raised you. But you're trapped caring for them anyway. The invisible burden: Caregivers who work jobs miss hours due to care demands. Caregivers who don't work are providing 80-100 hours weekly. Unpaid. Undervalued. Isolated. Depression rates in dementia caregivers: 40-70%. Higher than general population by 3-4x. Physical health declines. Immune function weakens. Caregivers die at higher rates than non-caregivers. What doesn't help: "Self-care" advice. "Take time for yourself." When? Between the 2am clothing change and 6am medication? Support groups that meet during work hours. Respite care with 6-month waiting lists. The research that matters: Interventions targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms reduce caregiver burden. Treating patient's aggression helps caregiver depression. Managing behavior problems extends time before nursing home placement. This isn't just about the patient. It's about the caregiver surviving.

Hello Dementia Lifeboat community! A couple of updates: *Reminder about our next Poolside Chat: Our topic is "Surviving the Holidays"* - We will be having an ugly sweater/hat contest. The winner will get a copy of Laura's book! - @Ike Schneider's Challenge: Bring at least one person to a Poolside Chat in 2026. This would be a great session to start! December 23rd @ 5:30 pm MST (AZ) / 7:30 EST Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PRzPtXKIRf-NNdHzhSToUg#/ -------- THREE new training videos have been added to the CLASSROOM Tab: - A Loving Approach to Bathing - Dementia Aware Dining - Dementia Aware Intimacy and Sexuality Be sure to check them out!

Lately I've been thinking there's a lot going on and the world seems to be spinning out of control. I see people struggling and it's not getting better. It's getting worse. Are we going to be OK? And what can I do to help? How do I contribute in a positive way? Can I even? Should I? Or is it out of my control and I need to coach myself to find peace and hope around it and focus on what I can control? Is this a time to worry or a time to redirect? Should I be doing something different or should I surrender to what is? I don't know the answers to these questions. and I don't have a simple solution for you if you're also feeling this way. But there is one thing I do know that grounds me again and it's so simple I almost forgot about it until a couple days ago. On Monday at lunchtime, I parked my car, got out and walked for about 30 minutes up and down the streets of the neighborhood I happened to be in. I took in the beauty of the changing leaves and admired the well-kept homes on each street. I spent just a bit of time outside. I connected with Mother Nature. It was so simple. As mammals, we're a part of nature. We're connected to it. I believe this is why that brief walk felt so healing in the middle of my busy day. It grounded my soul. I don't know how to save the world from spinning so fast. I don't know if I should be doing more or what that might even look like. I only know that when the world speeds up, nature slows the clock and quiets the rush so your soul can rest. Give it a try..... ------ (Thank you, @Jocelyn Ives for sending this in!)