354: When Being Right Isn't Worth It: Rethinking The Need to Correct

On a recent walk in the woods, Greg overheard a small but telling exchange: a daughter snapped at her mother for misremembering who once owned a camera. It was a tiny correction — and a familiar one. In this episode, Teepa Snow and Greg Phelps unpack why our reflex to set the record straight can quietly erode the relationships that matter most.Teepa walks care partners through a more useful question than Am I right? Instead, ask yourself: Is it worth it? Worth it in five minutes? Five hours? Five years? Worth it when this conversation is the last one you'll remember?You'll learn:· Why correcting a person living with dementia often feels like an attack, even when it's well-intentioned· How to slow down and use curiosity instead of confrontation ("So you're thinking it was me that owned that type of camera?")· A practical reframe for everyday moments — wet pants, spilled soup, mistaken identities — that protects dignity and the relationship· Why it's better to be kind than to be right is a skill, not just a sayingWhether you're supporting a spouse, parent, or client, this conversation will help you trade the urge to correct someone for the power to preserve your connection.If today's conversation made you stop and think about how you show up in those moments — the corrections, the arguments — check out Improving Communications in Dementia Care. It goes well beyond today's episode with five hours of hands-on skill-building that changes not just what you say, but how you connect.Subscribe to the Dementia Care Partner Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so you never miss a new episode. Have a question or topic you'd like Teepa to explore? Email Greg at [email protected]#DementiaCare #PositiveApproachToCare #TeepaSnow #CarePartner #PAC