Managing the Behavioral & Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Most families navigating dementia know what memory loss looks like. What no one prepares them for are the behavioral and psychological symptoms the agitation, the refusals, the personality shifts that can make caregiving feel impossible. In this episode, Dr. Aaron Kaufman sits down with Kemi Reeves, DNP, Associate Director of the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program, to talk about what managing symptoms of dementia actually looks like in real families and what caregivers and clinicians can do about it. They cover the limits of medication, the practical strategies that actually work, how to reframe resistance and refusal, why the caregiver is as central to the treatment plan as the patient and what most families are never told about dementia-related sleep problems, apathy, and how to ask for help.RESOURCESRegister For Intensive Course UCLA Geriatric Medicine Board Review Course — September 2025 https://web.cvent.com/event/8180d94f-f261-4184-af2b-8733d348cedf/websitePage:b72f2e65-ac9a-4e42-9aec-c6ebbcf735baAging Now Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/agingnowpodcastUCLA Geriatrics Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/uclageriatrics/UCLA Division of Geriatrics: https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/medicine/geriatrics/education FEATURED PHYSICIANS Dr. Aaron Kaufman, MDGeriatric Psychiatrist | UCLA Health Kemi Reeves, DNPAssociate Director, UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care ProgramThe information shared in this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation