Know Dementia® Podcast

Driving represents freedom and independence, making it difficult for those with early Dementia or minor cognitive impairment to give it up. However, Dementia affects decision-making, perception, reflexes, and memory—making driving unsafe. Loved ones should monitor for warning signs like getting lost, erratic driving, or confusion with directions. When safety is at risk, caregivers must intervene, potentially involving doctors or authority figures, and considering alternatives like hiding keys or selling the vehicle. Using transportation services and community support helps ease the transition. While emotionally challenging, addressing driving concerns early protects the individual and others, preserving dignity and ensuring safety for all. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

Michael, a lively British-American, shares his personal journey with Dementia, from subtle signs, to diagnosis and lifestyle changes. With humor and honesty, he recounts struggles, like memory lapses and a near car accident, that led to him seeking medical help. Emphasizing dignity, he values tools like ID bands and the Aware and Share card from the Dementia Society. Michael urges empathy, patience, and inclusive communication, reminding others that those with Dementia still feel love and want connection. He encourages care partners to seek help, delegate tasks, and embrace support systems. Ultimately, Michael's story is about resilience, shared responsibility, and living meaningfully with Dementia. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

Adapting a home for someone living with Dementia is important for enhancing safety, comfort, and independence. Cognitive decline can affect vision, hearing, balance, and perception, increasing risks of falls, confusion, and injury. Simple changes—like decluttering, labeling items, removing hazards, securing medications, and improving lighting—can reduce dangers and support daily living. Each room, including kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and outdoor spaces, requires specific adjustments. Gradual modifications, presented without explanation, can ease resistance. These thoughtful changes help foster a calm, familiar environment, improving quality of life for individuals with Dementia and their caregivers. Creating a supportive home is a compassionate, ongoing act of love and care. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

As we age, cognitive changes are normal, but more severe symptoms may indicate Dementia, a syndrome caused by underlying brain disorders. Dementia affects memory, behavior, language, and emotional responses, often creating confusion and unpredictability. Those living with Dementia may lack awareness of their condition, leading to misunderstandings. Caregivers are encouraged to show empathy, patience, and respect—engaging at eye level, avoiding condescension, supporting independence, and using gentle communication. Recognizing the person’s emotional needs and valuing their dignity are crucial. This journey involves ups and downs, requiring compassion, humor, and understanding that Dementia is a neurological condition, not a personal failing. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

This episode highlights the brain's lifelong capacity for growth through cognitive reserve and neuroplasticity—building new neural connections and learning through novel experiences. Maintaining brain health involves regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, hydration, mental stimulation, quality sleep, stress management, and social engagement. Additional tips include protecting your head, hearing, vision, oral health, and avoiding harmful substances like tobacco, excessive alcohol, and recreational drugs. Preventing chronic conditions like diabetes and addressing sensory impairments can reduce cognitive decline. Ultimately, adopting simple, mindful lifestyle choices can enhance brain function, resilience, and overall well-being. Take care of your brain—it's the only one you have. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

Today's podcast highlights the vital role of music and arts in Dementia care, emphasizing their therapeutic benefits across various stages. Music stimulates brain areas linked to emotion and memory, aiding neural connectivity and reducing stress. Artistic activities like painting engage the senses and facilitate emotional expression. We offer practical strategies for caregivers to integrate music and arts into routines, adapting to the individual's dementia progression. Early stages focus on active participation in music and art, while later stages emphasize sensory stimulation and comfort. This episode equips caregivers with creative tools to enhance connection and quality of life for those with Dementia.

Caregiving, especially for someone with Dementia, is a demanding journey marked by profound dedication and emotional challenges. As Dementia progresses, caregivers may not feel appreciated due to the loved one's impaired empathy. Self-care is essential—not selfish—as it preserves emotional and physical well-being. Caregivers are encouraged to list joyful activities, schedule daily "me time," recognize signs of burnout, and seek help when needed. Emotional states can influence those with Dementia, making caregiver self-awareness critical. Techniques like box breathing and support from others are valuable. Embracing self-care empowers caregivers to sustain compassion and strength throughout the caregiving experience. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

Caring for someone with Dementia involves navigating ambiguous loss—the emotional pain of losing a loved one psychologically while they remain physically present. Coined by Pauline Boss, this concept highlights the grief and confusion caregivers feel as cognitive decline affects recognition and communication. Strategies to cope include acknowledging one's emotions, focusing on the present, educating oneself about Dementia, seeking support, and practicing self-care. Maintaining realistic expectations, humor, and gratitude fosters resilience. Caregivers are encouraged to find purpose in their role, and consult mental health professionals when needed. Understanding ambiguous loss helps families adapt and find strength through love, patience, and compassion.To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons4o

Our brain controls movement, behavior, and decision-making through areas like the frontal lobes and prefrontal cortex. In Dementia, these functions decline, making medical help difficult to accept. Resistance may arise from unawareness of impairment. Caregivers should use strategic, compassionate communication, avoid early confrontation, and schedule medical appointments thoughtfully. Preparing for visits includes managing timing, bringing essentials, and maintaining calm. Caregivers should stay involved, legally and practically, to support medical evaluations like cognitive screenings, scans, and lab tests. Normalizing exams as routine helps reduce anxiety. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure dignity, cooperation, and proper care for individuals living with cognitive decline. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

Distress in people with Dementia may appear as anger, agitation, or aggression, often reflecting unmet needs. Such behaviors are not deliberate but stem from difficulties in communication and cognitive decline. Triggers include caregiver approach, physical or emotional discomfort, environmental factors, and underlying mental illness. Understanding these triggers and responding with empathy, calmness, and compassion can help de-escalate distress. The ACE method—Acknowledge, Calm, Empathize—offers a practical framework. Caregivers are encouraged to log triggers, communicate with local emergency services, and use tools like Aware and Share cards from the Dementia Society. Self-care and ongoing learning are essential in providing compassionate and effective Dementia care. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

Planning ahead for medical, legal, and financial matters is essential, especially when facing potential cognitive impairments like Dementia. Early preparation ensures that personal wishes are honored and that decision-making authority is clearly delegated through tools such as advanced directives, powers of attorney, living wills, and estate planning. Understanding the difference between normal aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and major neurocognitive disorders helps guide timely decisions. Important steps include documenting preferences, organizing critical records, consulting professionals, securing copies, and communicating plans with family. Proactive planning safeguards dignity, reduces stress, and ensures care aligns with personal values throughout life’s changing circumstances. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

Dementia Horizons: Understanding DementiaThis episode defines Dementia as not a disease but an umbrella term for a set of symptoms caused by various brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, and mixed Dementia. These conditions lead to cognitive decline affecting memory, language, behavior, and daily functioning. Symptoms vary by type but generally worsen over time. Diagnosis involves cognitive testing, imaging, and lab work. While Dementia is progressive and often incurable, early intervention and education improve care. The three main stages—early, middle, and late—require increasing support. Compassion, understanding, and adapting care strategies are vital to maintaining quality of life and dignity. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

Effective communication with people living with Dementia requires empathy, patience, and awareness. The amygdala, a structure in the brain, influences first impressions, making tone of voice and body language crucial. Since Dementia affects various brain areas over time, individuals may struggle with speech, comprehension, and social interaction. Strategies for effective communication include speaking calmly, offering simple choices, avoiding arguments, and creating a calm environment. Emphasizing dignity, using respectful language, and fostering emotional connection build trust and cooperation. Observing body language and tone of voice helps one recognize emotional states. Ultimately, meaningful communication with empathy strengthens bonds and enhances the quality of care and connection throughout the Dementia journey. To explore other Dementia Horizons topics, please visit our blog posts by clicking below.  https://www.dementiasociety.org/blog/categories/dementia-horizons

Join Kevin Jameson in this fascinating exploration and discussion surrounding genetic testing for the various diseases/disorders that may cause Dementia. You'll hear from Laynie Dratch, ScM, CGC, Licensed, Certified Genetic Counselor, at the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, in Philadelphia. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Dr. Natali Edmonds, Board certified geropsychologist and founder of Dementia Careblazers, and Joseph Tumolo, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - Uploaded February 2024. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Don Kent, former Attorney now living with Dementia, and Joseph Tumolo, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - UploadedDecember 2023. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Dr. William Chou, CEO of Passage Bio, and Joseph Tumolo, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - Uploaded November 2023. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

 Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Rev. Judith Watt, Spiritual Leader,  and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded March MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

How to Respond to Hurtful Remarks. Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Lakeysha Lamar, Daylesford Crossing, Resident Assistant,  and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded March MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Lessons I'm Learning As Someone Living With Dementia. Dementia Unplugged Care Conversations between Gary Howard, and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded July MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Competency, Consent and Involuntary Dementia Admissions. Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Dru Lazarra, LCSW and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded March MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Building Dementia Care Tenacity and Resilience. Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Vanessa Wright Adams, and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded March MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

LGBTQ Considerations in Dementia Care. Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Joe Fisher, CEO Renewal Memory Partners,  and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded March MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Dementia Warning Signs, Symptoms & Triggers. Dementia Unplugged Care Conversations between Gary Kozick, LCSW, and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded June MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Brain Health | Movement & Cognition. Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Michael Trayford, DC, DACNB, and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded May MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Dementia Care Therapies You May Not Know About. Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP, and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded March MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

What Are The Causes of Dementia, and Can We Find Cures? Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Michael Fossel, MD, Ph.D., and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded March MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.

Transformation & Hope In The Face of Dementia. Dementia Unplugged: Care Conversations between Kevin Jameson, and Dr. Jeannine Forrest, Advisory Council, Dementia Society of America® - she is a leading expert in the field of Dementia care. Recorded February MMXXI. This podcast is supported by DSA sponsor: Passage Bio.