Why People With Dementia Stop Changing Their Clothes and What Caregivers Can Do
A person living with dementia may wear the same shirt, sweater, or pair of pants day after day. They may insist the clothing is clean when it is visibly stained. They may sleep in it, refuse to remove it, or become angry when a caregiver suggests changing. For families, this can be confusing and frustrating. […]
When a Person With Dementia Says, “I Want to Go Home,” Even Though They Are Home
When a person living with dementia says, “I want to go home,” the words can hit a caregiver harder than expected. They may be sitting in the same house where they have lived for decades. Their favorite chair is nearby. Family photographs hang on the wall. Everything appears familiar. Yet they insist: “This is not […]
Why Someone With Dementia Keeps Asking the Same Question and How to Respond
When someone living with dementia asks the same question over and over, it can test even the most patient caregiver. “What time are we leaving?” “Where is my purse?” “When is my daughter coming?” You answer. A minute later, they ask again. Then again. It may feel as though they are ignoring you, challenging you, […]
Medication Refusal in Dementia: Practical Strategies That Actually Work
“They keep spitting it out.” “They clench their jaw and won’t open their mouth.” “They say they don’t need it anymore.” If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Medication refusal is one of the most stressful and common challenges in dementia caregiving. Why People with Dementia Refuse Medication Refusing medication is rarely about stubbornness. It’s […]
Understanding and Responding to Sexual Disinhibition in Dementia
Understanding and Responding to Sexual Disinhibition in Dementia “Why are they doing this? Is it me? How do I even begin to handle something so uncomfortable?” These are common, heartfelt questions many caregivers ask when confronted with sexual disinhibition in someone they love living with dementia. It’s a challenging behavior that can evoke a mix […]
The Shadowing Phase: Understanding and Managing Constant Following in Dementia
The Shadowing Phase: Understanding and Managing Constant Following in Dementia “Why do they follow me everywhere? I can’t even go to the bathroom alone!” This is a common, often whispered, question from caregivers supporting a person living with dementia. The experience of being constantly followed, sometimes called shadowing, can be emotionally draining and physically exhausting. […]
The Ethics of Therapeutic Fibbing: When Comfort Outweighs the Truth in Dementia Care
For anyone raised on the principle that “honesty is the best policy,” caregiving for a loved one with dementia presents a painful moral paradox. During my six+ years as a caregiver for three family members, I faced this dilemma constantly: Do I tell the truth and cause immediate emotional trauma, or do I “fib” to […]