Innovative Aging Episode 4: Dementia Care Reimagined: Can Difficult Behaviors Be Controlled Without Medication?

Bill Uniowski, Co-Founder and CEO of Zinnia, brings a fresh, tech-forward lens to dementia care, drawing from personal caregiving experience and clinical partnerships. In this episode, he joins host Carol Chiang to explore how personalized, media-based tools may offer nonpharmacological relief for common challenges like agitation and caregiver burnout. Together, they examine what it means to truly meet people with dementia where they are, especially when routines break down and connection feels out of reach. You’ll leave with new ideas to support dignity and engagement through accessible, evidence-based solutions.Learning ObjectivesAnalyze current evidence supporting nonpharmacological, media-based interventions for managing behavioral symptoms in individuals with moderate-to-severe dementiaDetermine clinical scenarios in which dementia-friendly video content offers the greatest benefit, including for individuals experiencing agitation, anxiety, or difficulty engaging in daily routinesApply personalized intervention strategies in case scenarios with overburdened caregivers and clients whose cognitive deficits affect task sequencing and participation in meaningful activitiesTimestamps(00:00:00) Welcome(00:00:05) The rising fear of dementia(00:02:25) Innovative solutions for dementia care(00:04:40) Understanding the caregiver's burden(00:07:00) Personalized approaches to dementia care(00:12:00) Engagement strategies for dementia patients(00:17:50) Nonpharmacological interventions(00:20:41) The role of technology in dementia care(00:24:39) Exploring alternative solutions for caregivers(00:32:12) Understanding frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and caregiving challenges(00:34:20) The role of media in dementia awareness(00:37:30) Humor and real-life stories in caregiving(00:41:17) Personalized approaches in dementia care(00:49:30) Multigenerational connections and overcoming stigmaInnovative Aging is brought to you by Medbridge. If you’d like to earn continuing education credit for listening to this episode and access bonus takeaway handouts, log in to your Medbridge account and navigate to the course where you’ll find accreditation details. If applicable, complete the post-course assessment and survey to be eligible for credit. The takeaway handout on Medbridge gives you the key points mentioned in this episode, along with additional resources you can implement into your practice right away.If you’d like to subscribe to Medbridge, visit ⁠⁠⁠https://www.medbridge.com/pricing/