This may be uncomfortable to read—and even more uncomfortable to recognize in ourselves. It’s about the unintended infantilization of dementia care – When kindness crosses a line we didn’t mean to cross. But it’s a conversation long overdue in long-term care: Are we, unintentionally, treating adults with dementia like children? Not in policy. Not in intention. But in tone, language, and daily…
In long-term care, the phrase “responsive behavior” is everywhere. It appears in documentation, care plans, shift reports, and team discussions. It has helped move the sector away from blaming language like “aggressive” or “difficult,” and toward a more person-centered understanding. But there’s a deeper issue we need to confront: By the time something is labeled a responsive behavior, we are…
Why Dementia Behaviors Happen (And What They Really Mean) – Dementia behaviors are not random. They are often responses to unmet needs, confusion, environmental stress, or communication challenges. Instead of trying to manage behaviors after they occur, understanding the underlying causes—such as discomfort, lack of control, or overstimulation—can help prevent many of them and improve care. One of the…
Activities for Dementia Patients: And Why They Often Fail – Many activities for dementia patients fail because they focus on keeping people busy rather than helping them feel useful. While activities like puzzles or crafts can be helpful, people living with dementia often respond better to meaningful roles, familiar tasks, and real-life participation. Engagement that supports purpose, contribution, and…
What is concentration in dementia? “Concentration” doesn’t necessarily mean the same kind of sustained, complex attention an individual without dementia might exhibit. Instead, it refers to a state of focused engagement on an activity or stimulus that is: Meaningful: The activity resonates with the individual’s interests, past experiences, or current emotional state. Accessible: The task is within their current cognitive and physical capabilities,…
A full calendar is not proof you’re doing dementia care right. If you run an Assisted Living or Memory Care residence, this will probably sound familiar: ♦Your activity calendar is full. ♦Your newsletter highlights events every week. ♦Families see photos of concerts, socials, crafts, celebrations, and outings. And internally, there’s a quiet sense of confidence: No one is slumped…
Should we label a unit or area Cognitive Care or Memory Care? “Cognitive Care” may be a better term than “Memory Care” and we’ll give you some reasons why. First of all, dementia is not primarily a memory condition. While memory loss is often the most visible early symptom, dementia affects multiple cognitive functions, including: attention judgment problem-solving language…
Understanding why December feels different allows teams to anticipate needs, reduce distress, and create calmer, more meaningful moments during a month that can be both joyful and overwhelming. Below you’ll find 10 reasons December stands apart — and why caregiving requires a slightly different lens this time of year. December brings a unique rhythm to long-term care — one…
Polypharmacy — the use of multiple medications at the same time, often five or more — is one of the most pressing challenges in dementia care today. For residents living in long-term care or retirement communities, polypharmacy is not unusual. Many have multiple chronic conditions: diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, depression, insomnia. Each condition can add another pill to the daily…
In dementia care, person-centered care is the internationally recognized best practice. It means seeing each individual beyond their diagnosis, valuing their history and preferences, and shaping care around their identity and abilities.- Some propose calling it “person-led care.” While this sounds progressive, it risks confusion: many people with dementia — especially in moderate and later stages — cannot reliably “lead” their own…
This may be uncomfortable to read—and even more uncomfortable to recognize in ourselves. It’s…
In long-term care, the phrase “responsive behavior” is everywhere. It appears in documentation, care…
