Dementia Careblazers

Jaksot

• 
  6 Normal Habits That Make Dementia Behaviors Worse 18.09.2026 22min

  Some of the habits that make dementia behaviors worse come from loving, kind caregivers doing exactly what works with everyone else in their lives. Correcting a mistake, explaining why the medication matters, or asking "do you remember who this is?" can quietly lead to more agitation, resistance, and mistrust. In this episode, I'm walking through six of these everyday habits, why they backfire when someone has dementia, and what you can try instead. You can be completely right and still end up losing the moment. These habits take time to break, and noticing them is where it starts. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. 📘 My book, The Dementia Care Toolkit: Real Help for Challenging Behaviors and Caregiving Overwhelm, is available for preorder now: https://careblazers.com/toolkit  Inside, you'll find practical strategies for difficult dementia behaviors, communication, caregiver overwhelm, guilt, grief, frustration, and more. → Learn about the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why everyday habits can backfire with dementia 2:05 - Habit 1: Correcting 3:55 - Habit 2: Reasoning 8:45 - Habit 3: Arguing 11:40 - Habit 4: Testing their memory 13:00 - Habit 5: Talking as if they aren't there 14:55 - Habit 6: Reminding them what they can't do 17:40 - One question to ask before you respond --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  5 Strange Dementia Behaviors and Why They Happen 10.09.2026 15min

  Some dementia behaviors can make absolutely no sense from the outside. It can look like your loved one is being lazy, stubborn, rude, in denial, or even lying to you. But there's often a brain-based reason for what you're seeing. In this episode, I break down 5 strange dementia behaviors, apathy, anosognosia, apraxia, disinhibition, and confabulation — and explain what may actually be happening in the brain when they occur. Because when you understand why a behavior is happening, it can completely change the way you see it. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. And if your next question is, "Okay, but what do I DO when this happens?" I have two resources that can help: → Learn about the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  → My new book, The Dementia Care Toolkit is officially available for pre-order. ➡️ Preorder your copy here: https://careblazers.com/toolkit    ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why these behaviors are almost never a choice 1:31 - Apathy and the broken motivation switch 3:51 - Anosognosia and why they do not believe they have dementia 6:12 - Apraxia and why simple tasks stop working 8:26 - Disinhibition and what the frontal lobes control 10:11 - Confabulation and why it is not lying   --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  How to Help When Someone With Dementia Knows They're Struggling 03.09.2026 8min

  When someone with dementia knows they're struggling, they may start doing less and less. They might get frustrated, say things like "I can't do anything right," or stop doing things they used to enjoy. In this episode, I'm talking about why this can happen and, more importantly, how you can help. I'll share some simple ways to support their confidence and adapt activities as their abilities change. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. → Learn about the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc    ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - A Careblazer's question: is he losing motivation, or does he know he's struggling 1:23 - What anosognosia actually is, and why this is something different 3:10 - Practical ways to support someone who's aware they're struggling 3:42 - A real story: adapting a beloved hobby instead of giving it up 6:01 - What to watch for, and when to loop in the doctor   → My new book, The Dementia Care Toolkit is officially available for pre-order. ➡️ Preorder your copy here: https://careblazers.com/toolkit → Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast    --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  Is It Jealousy or Dementia? Why They Act Worse When You're Busy 27.08.2026 13min

  Have you ever noticed your loved one with dementia is calm, nothing seems to be wrong, and then the moment you shift your attention to someone else they completely change? They get demanding, upset, anxious, or jealous that you are not there giving them attention. It can feel like they cannot stand not being the center of your attention, and understandably that leaves you feeling frustrated, resentful, and confused. It is not jealousy. It is not manipulation. In this episode I share two real life examples of this, explain what is happening in the brain that causes it, and walk you through what actually helps when your attention has to go somewhere else. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. → Learn about the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc    ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - When your attention shifts and everything changes 1:16 - Two real life examples from Careblazers 2:52 - Why this is attachment distress, not jealousy 5:07 - Why it feels so personal, and a reframe that helps 5:54 - What actually helps when you have to step away   → My new book, The Dementia Care Toolkit is officially available for pre-order. ➡️ Preorder your copy here: https://careblazers.com/toolkit → Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast    --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  4 Places Dementia Caregivers Can Turn for Help 20.08.2026 5min

  Caring for someone with dementia can feel overwhelming, especially when you're not sure where to turn for help. In this episode, I'm sharing several places dementia caregivers can go for support, guidance, and resources, plus one important step families often wait too long to think about. You do not have to wait until there's a crisis to start getting help.  The Dementia Care Toolkit is officially available for pre-order. This book was written for the real-life moments of dementia caregiving, the moments when you're overwhelmed, unsure what to do, and need something practical to reach for. ➡️ Preorder Your Copy Here: https://careblazers.com/toolkit  ⏱ CHAPTERS  0:00 - Two questions from a recent podcast interview 0:38 - Why you don't need to wait until you need help to ask for it 1:01 - Four places to turn for help after a dementia diagnosis 3:37 - What to do the very next day if your loved one was just diagnosed #dementia #dementiacaregiver #caregiverburnout #dementiacare --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  Stop Trying to Make Someone With Dementia Happy All the Time 13.08.2026 10min

  If you have taken the car keys, stepped in on the checkbook, or said no to something your loved one with dementia badly wanted, you already know what comes next. They are hurt. They are angry. And they are angry at you. I want you to hear this first. Their unhappiness is not a report card on your caregiving. This is one of the hardest parts of dementia caregiving, because it does not just feel hard. It feels like proof you are getting it wrong. And that is exactly what it is not. In this episode I explain why trying to keep your loved one happy all the time puts their safety at risk, what it costs you on the days you have nothing left to give, and the one response almost every Careblazer skips, because we are so busy looking for the dementia response when what we really need is the human response. The Dementia Care Toolkit is officially available for pre-order. This book was written for the real-life moments of dementia caregiving, the moments when you're overwhelmed, unsure what to do, and need something practical to reach for. ➡️ Preorder the Dementia Care Toolkit Here: https://careblazers.com/toolkit  → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  → Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why them being upset with you does not mean you failed 1:27 - Reason one: the things you take away to keep them safe 3:36 - Reason two: what saying yes every time costs you 5:23 - Reason three: the human response we skip 8:03 - What it means when they are sad and you cannot fix it #dementia #dementiacaregiver #caregiverburnout #dementiacare --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  3 Things Dementia Care Gets Completely Backwards 07.08.2026 8min

  If you've ever felt like every appointment, every follow-up, and every ounce of attention goes to your loved one with dementia while nobody ever asks how you're doing, you're not imagining it. Dementia care as a system was built around the person with the diagnosis, not the person keeping them alive day after day. And it's not just that you get overlooked. Most of what we call dementia care is reactive, waiting for a crisis before it teaches you anything, and even the best behavior advice skips right over the grief you're carrying underneath it. In this episode I break down the three ways dementia care gets it completely backwards, and what actually changes the moment we stop waiting for things to get worse.  The Dementia Care Toolkit is officially available for pre-order. ➡️ Preorder the Dementia Care Toolkit Here: https://careblazers.com/toolkit This book was written for the real-life moments of dementia caregiving, the moments when you're overwhelmed, unsure what to do, and need something practical to reach for. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - The 3 ways dementia care gets it backwards  1:00 - Backwards #1: all the focus goes to your loved one, not you 2:20 - Backwards #2: the system waits for a crisis instead of preventing one  4:44 - Backwards #3: behavior advice skips the grief underneath it 7:13 - What changes when we stop waiting   → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  → Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast    --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  Memory Care Doesn't Make Dementia Caregiving Easier 30.07.2026 13min

  You made the hardest decision of your life and moved your loved one with dementia into memory care. Then you waited for the relief you were promised. It never fully came. You still feel completely wiped out after visits, even good ones, and no one has explained why. Placement changes the physical work of caregiving, but it does not turn off your nervous system, your grief, or the recovery your body still needs. In this episode I break down the three real reasons your exhaustion continues after a memory care placement, and what to actually do about it. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. The Dementia Care Toolkit is officially available for pre-order. This book was written for the real-life moments of dementia caregiving, the moments when you're overwhelmed, unsure what to do, and need something practical to reach for. ➡️ Preorder the Dementia Care Toolkit Here: https://careblazers.com/toolkit ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why the exhaustion hits even after a good visit 1:32 - The misconception that memory care makes things easier 2:34 - Why your nervous system stays on high alert 5:05 - The grief of losing someone who is still alive 8:59 - Three ways to support your own recovery → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  → Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast    --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  Could Ozempic Help Prevent Dementia? 23.07.2026 10min

  You've probably seen the headlines about Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs and Alzheimer's disease. One week it sounds like a breakthrough. The next, not so much.   A large study found a much lower rate of Alzheimer's diagnoses in people taking these medications. Then a major clinical trial published this year found something very different.   Neither one is wrong. And understanding why matters, especially if you're the one trying to make sense of it for your family.   In this video I walk you through what the research on Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs actually found, the meaningful difference between preventing this disease and treating it once it's already there, and what this means whether your loved one already has Alzheimer's or you're a caregiver thinking about your own brain health. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  → Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast    ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - The Ozempic and Alzheimer's headlines everyone's seen 0:51 - The study that found a 40 to 70% lower Alzheimer's risk 2:09 - Why a diabetes drug could protect the brain 4:16 - The 2026 clinical trial that changed the picture 5:26 - Prevention vs. treatment: what the research actually means   #dementia #dementiacaregiver #ozempic #alzheimers #dementiaresearch   --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  Why Dementia Caregivers Stop Feeling Like Themselves 16.07.2026 11min

  If you're a dementia caregiver who barely recognizes yourself anymore, I want you to hear this before anything else: you are not broken, and you have not become a different person. Years of pouring everything into someone else can quietly erase the parts of you that existed before caregiving ever started. This isn't a personality change. It's what sustained, nonstop caregiving does to a nervous system. There is an actual name for what's happening to you, and once you understand it, it becomes something you can work with instead of something to fear.  In this episode I explain what's really going on in your brain after years of dementia caregiving, and I share four specific ways to start feeling like yourself again. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  → Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why dementia caregivers stop feeling like themselves 1:44 - The psychological term for losing your sense of self 2:47 - How suppressing your emotions changes your brain 4:40 - Four ways to start feeling like yourself again #dementia #dementiacaregiver #dementiacaregiving #caregiverburnout #selfcare   --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  5 Dementia Caregiving Truths I Wish Every Caregiver Knew 09.07.2026 11min

  Dementia caregiving asks you to carry things nobody prepares you for, and some of the hardest parts are never said out loud. This video isn't based on research. It's based on what I've learned from working with thousands of caregivers over the past 17 years as a geropsychologist. If caregiving still hurts even though you're doing everything right, if people question your decisions, if you can't stop replaying every hard moment in your head, I want you to hear this first: none of that means you're failing. In this episode I walk you through five truths about dementia caregiving I wish every caregiver knew, the ones that can make this whole journey feel a little more possible to live.  If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  → Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Why this caregiving journey always involves pain 2:40 - Why you can't control how others feel about your caregiving decisions 5:00 - Why you can't take away your loved one's emotional pain 6:50 - Catching the harsh things you say to yourself 7:49 - Why no caregiver has all the answers, and why that's okay #dementia #dementiacaregiver #dementiacaregiving #caregiversupport #alzheimers   --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  Why Someone With Dementia Keeps Asking the Same Question 02.07.2026 17min

  If your loved one with dementia has asked you the same question five, ten, or forty times in the last hour, you know the kind of patience it takes to keep answering. And you probably know the guilt that follows when you finally run out of it. What most caregivers don't realize is that something very specific is happening inside the brain to drive this. Understanding it changes both how you respond and how hard you are on yourself afterward. In this episode I walk you through why someone with dementia repeats the same questions and stories, what's actually going on neurologically, and five strategies that can help, including one proactive approach that rarely gets talked about. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - When the same question comes up again and again 1:40 - Why the brain stops storing your answers 3:00 - Why feelings outlast the facts 4:50 - When repetition is really anxiety 9:12 - Five strategies that actually help #dementia #dementiacaregiver #dementiacare #alzheimerscaregiving Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  #dementia #dementiacaregiver #shadowing #alzheimers #caregiversupport --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  Shadowing In Dementia: Why They Follow You Everywhere 25.06.2026 12min

  Shadowing in dementia is one of the most exhausting behaviors caregivers face, and almost no one warns you about it. You can't walk to the bathroom alone anymore. The moment you stand up, they stand up. You step into the kitchen for five minutes and there they are in the doorway, watching you. The private phone calls are gone, the personal space is gone, and then comes the guilt for even wanting a moment to yourself. In this episode I explain what is actually happening in the brain that drives shadowing, why your presence has become the only thing that makes them feel safe, and four things that genuinely help. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - What shadowing looks like 1:54 - The many forms shadowing can take 2:55 - Reason one: the brain can't self-regulate fear 5:01 - Reason two: losing object permanence 5:51 - Reason three: the gap between now and later 7:08 - Four things that actually help 9:16 - The guilt of wanting space, and what it really means   #dementia #dementiacaregiver #shadowing #alzheimers #caregiversupport --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  This Surprising Sign of Dementia Shows Up 6 Years Before Diagnosis 18.06.2026 14min

  Before the memory problems, confusion, and obvious dementia symptoms, many families notice something else first: money problems. Missed bill payments, unusual purchases, giving money away, falling for scams, or struggling to manage finances can sometimes be among the earliest signs of dementia. Research now shows these financial changes may appear years before a dementia diagnosis is ever made. In this episode, I explain why money management is often one of the first cognitive skills affected by dementia, what the research says about financial warning signs appearing up to six years before diagnosis, and what caregivers can do to help protect a loved one's financial security. Whether you're concerned about early signs of dementia, supporting someone with Alzheimer's disease, or already navigating the challenges of caregiving, this episode will help you understand what may be happening and what steps to take next. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Did the money warning come before the memory problems? 2:10 - What financial warning signs actually look like 4:00 - Why managing money is the brain's first stress test 8:01 - Why these signs are so easy to miss 10:43 - Practical steps to take now #dementia #dementiacaregiver #dementiasigns #alzheimers #caregiving Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  Alzheimer's Drugs Don't Work? What Caregivers Need to Know 11.06.2026 12min

  If your loved one with Alzheimer's disease is on one of the new treatment drugs, or you have been weighing whether to try them, the headlines from this spring may have stopped you cold. A major review from one of the most respected research organizations in the world concluded these drugs show no meaningful benefit. Researchers immediately fired back. And you are in the middle of all of it, as a caregiver trying to make real decisions for a real person. Your confusion is completely warranted. This is not a simple story. One headline says breakthrough. The next says it does nothing. But the full picture is more complicated than either side is telling you. In this episode I walk you through what the Cochrane review actually found, why experts are so divided on it, and the three questions you can bring to your loved one's neurologist to make a more informed decision for your specific family. Cochrane Collaboration Review (Full Study): https://www.cochrane.org/about-us/news/anti-amyloid-alzheimers-drugs-show-no-clinically-meaningful-effect  Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/podcast-cc  ⏱ CHAPTERS  0:00 - The headlines that stopped caregivers  1:46 - Who these drugs are actually designed for  2:56 - What the Cochrane review found  5:26 - Why researchers are pushing back  7:50 - 3 questions to ask your loved one's doctor #dementia #dementiacaregiver #alzheimers #caregiving #alzheimersresearch --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  Surprising Reason Why Dementia Gets Worse In the Evening 04.06.2026 11min

  Have you noticed your loved one with dementia seems like a completely different person every evening? The confusion, the agitation, the restlessness — and then the nights when they're up convinced it's morning — it's exhausting in a way that's hard to put into words. It is not something you caused or something you missed. New research published in December 2025 finally gives us a neurological explanation for why dementia gets worse in the evening, and it has nothing to do with what you are doing. In this episode I walk you through what the science reveals, what actually helps, and what tends to make it harder. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  ⏱ CHAPTERS  0:00 - What evenings look like for many dementia caregivers 1:45 - What sundowning actually is 3:18 - New brain research: what's happening inside the brain 5:22 - 5 things that can help 8:11 - What tends to make it harder #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  5 Reasons Dementia Caregivers Struggle Making Hard Decisions 28.05.2026 12min

  Making caregiving decisions is hard in a way most people around you won't understand. The stakes are real. The information is incomplete. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you're already afraid of being wrong. If you've been circling a decision for weeks — or months — and still can't seem to make a move, your brain isn't broken. There are five specific thought patterns that make caregiving decisions feel nearly impossible, and once you can name them, something shifts. In this video I walk you through all five and what to actually do about them. Ready to work through a real decision you've been dreading? Join me here: https://tinyurl.com/difficult-decisions-pod  ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - The decision you've been avoiding 2:05 - Why not deciding still costs you 2:50 - The 5 thought patterns keeping you stuck 9:50 - What to do before this video ends 11:30 - The Difficult Decisions live class #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  How to Respond When Someone with Dementia Accuses You of Stealing 14.05.2026 13min

  Being accused of stealing by the person you are giving everything to is one of the most quietly devastating things that happens in dementia caregiving. It does not just feel unfair. It strikes at your identity, your dignity, and the relationship you had before all of this. And because it can happen over and over, with no memory that it happened before, many caregivers absorb these accusations alone, without ever really being told why it happens or what they can actually do. There is a neurological reason for this. And it has nothing to do with how your loved one truly feels about you. In this episode I walk you through what is happening in the dementia brain that causes stealing accusations, why the instinct to defend yourself almost always backfires, and four specific things you can try the next time it happens. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - You are not alone: naming the experience 1:40 - The many ways stealing accusations show up 2:45 - Three things happening in the dementia brain 6:30 - Responses that unintentionally make things worse 9:00 - Four strategies that actually help   #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  When Family Doesn't Believe the Dementia Diagnosis 07.05.2026 15min

  When your family doesn't believe the dementia diagnosis, it can feel like you are grieving two losses at once. Family denial is one of the most painful and isolating experiences a dementia caregiver can go through. In this episode, I'm going to explain why it happens and what you can actually do about it. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  Chapters: 0:00 When family doesn't believe the diagnosis 2:13 Why this feels so isolating 4:04 Reason 1: Denial is protective 5:00 Reason 2: Visiting isn't caregiving 6:27 Reason 3: Anosognosia 7:30 You didn't cause this 8:00 Why convincing them backfires 10:00 What actually helps 12:26 What you're allowed to feel   #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
• 
  The Blood Test That Detects Alzheimer's Years Before Symptoms 30.04.2026 14min

  A new Alzheimer's blood test was just approved by the FDA and it changes everything about how families get answers. For years, confirming Alzheimer's disease meant expensive brain scans or invasive procedures most people couldn't access. Now a simple blood draw can detect Alzheimer's markers in the body... up to 3 to 4 years before symptoms even begin. In this episode I break down what the Alzheimer's blood test actually measures, how accurate it is, and what you can ask your doctor right now. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast  CHAPTERS 00:00 You are not imagining this 01:18 Why an Alzheimer's diagnosis has always been so hard to get 03:30 What doctors were working with before 05:00 The new blood test: what it measures and how it works 07:15 How accurate is it? 08:30 What this means for you right now 11:00 What can still make this harder #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.