Dr. Sigward's insights on neuropsychological evaluations are invaluable for understanding dementia care. Thank you for such an informative episode, Teresa.

My family just went through the death of our mother due to glioblastoma and as you can imagine it was extremely tough on my father... She not only lost his best friend and partner in crime but his pull support group as well. He's not from this country and the rest of his family is back in ireland. Needless to say he's moved back home since then after realizing that's where he would truly be most happy after losing my mom. However it's been extremely difficult for me to as I have high functioning autism and every day it feels like she's going to return home from an extended vacation and we're just going to kick off like normal. It feels like nothing has changed but everything has at the same time. I genuinely don't like it and I don't know how to express it or who to express it to because during the time I'm almost dying I became estranged from my entire family as all the care for my mother sent me over the edge and made me turn towards hard substances once again in my life. I'm very much not proud of that... But now that I need the support and I need someone to talk to my family won't let me back in and they keep pushing me further out.

My mom was recently evaluated at a routine dr. appointment, to my sister's encouragement. She's had noticable stuff going on for awhile now and is also a covert narcissist- which makes things even more fun. Well, she scored a 16 out of 30 on the MOcA. And mom flipped out saying they don't know how to score it and she's not that dumb. Sadly, she didn't know what year it was and had to guess. But phone conversations have been quite "curcular" in the last few years and she eould ask the same questions over and over again. Maybe trying to prolong the call or she doesn't really know.

My husband is diagnosed with dementia, already filed for divorce...not aware of his mental sickness.

Folding laundry (sometimes just a bundle of kitchen towels pulled out of the drawer and warmed up in the dryer) gives my mil purpose.

Thanks for supporting us with your positive energy and professional guidance!

In my country my mum has only seen a geropsychologist once and that was a few years ago. We are only ever seen by her dr. She has never seen any other type of doctor. She had one evaluation years ago before I started taking care of her. Apart from that its just through people like you I have found out as much as I have and I think I am doing a damn fine job lol! And that 8s thanks to you😊!

As a care giver I am frustrated that this interview didn’t address any specific ways to help the people in our care.

Do you have some times for a short Zoom meeting? If you have so we can have a Zoom meeting. And in the meeting we can discuss all about my work methods, And I can share with you some samples of my previous work. And also I will share my all packages & prices with you. I hope it will be good for us !! Best Regards Rased Ahmed

Hello Teresa. Can I suggest growing your KZbin channel?

I was to the point of collapse before I let go and sought help. I had so much guilt that it was going to kill me. I begin grief therapy this week and I’m so grateful. We must not think we have to be strong all the time because we will become very weak over time and may pass first.

Thank you for this video. I just found out they gave my 97yr old grandfather this drug because he was scared and in pain during trip to ER. He does have dementia, but he has very lucid moments still and is in pretty good health. After a fall in the shower, however, he was really in pain. The nursing home dismissed the fall probably due to their own negligence or worse, so my grandpa suffered in pain for two days till my mom ensured he was examined at the hospital. He’s afraid of needles so when he flipped over the blood vials the nurse assumed he was violent, although he’s never been physically abusive to anyone… ever! I’m so upset and just pray my gramps doesn’t suffer too many side effects. Glad I found your channel 🙏 New sub 👍

My Grammy has always been a pack rat. She had a delirium episode in the hospital that could have been initiated by a TIA, low sodium or UTI. She has improved drastically since coming home; however, some of her behaviors like hoarding and hiding things (little cups of rubber bands and hair clips in her drawers, cardboard boxes, water bottles from the gas station etc..) seem like early dementia, now that I’ve seen how drastically her cognition changed in the hospital.

Can’t express how helpful this is. Thank you!

Catholic Charities and Angie have been so helpful to me! I joined a caregiver support group two years ago when I became the main caregiver for my parents. My support group meets online once a week via Zoom. They understand what I am dealing with. The 6 week class was really good too! I have learned so much and I feel empowered. Thank you Angie for all you do.

Excellent reminder to monitor our own responses! Thanks so much for this advice!

Thank you!

So fantastic to hear how things are changing and getting so much better!

WHO CARES if they put food in their drink? What’s the big deal?

Love your podcasts Teresa, you always say things in a way that makes sencs; coming alongside and living in their world. That's the best way to provide true partnership in care. Thanks for all you do ❤

I so appreciate your kind, calm, sensible help. Thank you.

Thank you for that. I guess we all know we have to do it but always leave it for tomorrow. I'm not sure if I will still be living in the same country as I am at present orwill I go back to where I lived in Europe once all this is over.

This really made me cry,not only for this particular woman but for all the people who are out there on their own going through this. Mum is so lucky having us to look after her. But I think of myself having no kids,what would happen to me if i got dementia. Or my siblings. I teally hate this disease!

I wish I had this information 5 years ago. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us!

Well...if it is FAD, genetics says she may have already gave it to her grandbabies.

Really practical and kindness centered. Thank you.

Learning so much! Your suggestions and advice not only helps me and my stress level, but gives the people in my life living with dementia a better life. Thanks!

Great advice, Teresa! Very helpful for my family to learn. We definitely want to reduce startling my mother-in-law as her recovery is slow.

"promo sm"

Great advice Teresa! I always learn something new every time I hear you speak about dementia.

Great information! Thank you ladies you're the best!!

Thank you for sharing so many practical tips on living life with dementia!! I need these reminders as a caregiver to adapt activities (AND my expectations) to where my Mom is on her journey. It indeed changes over time. Thanks Teresa!!

Hopefully onee day soon ther will be a breakthrough for dementia sufferers. I doubt it will be a one pill thats fixes all but a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. I would like more information on loss of estrogen at an early age being a reason why more women than men have dementia too. It is addreswed at times but not to a great depth. I guess not enough studies have been done to prove this theory?

Your youtube video is amazing but your channel subscriber and video views is low and your channel is not optimize

I'm still OK with having mum at home after 4.5 years. She doesn't really tire us at all. Once a day she wants to go home so we go for a drive and then she is fine. Our problem is that she doesn't always want to sleep in bed preferring her recliner in an almost horizontal position and I am worried it doesn't help with pressure soress as she cannot sleep on her side. Then again in bed she sleeps on her back too.

Thank you! 😭

Thank you for this

Just heard this could be an infection in older folks, UTI

Thank you for your podcasts. My mother had alzheimers and now my husband has it. I recently put him in a care facility. I agree with your strategy of not sedating. But in my experience, that is what nursing homes want to do. Totally agree that the need to have more training.

Thanks Sharon 😊

SO many great tips to keep in mind when interacting with people with dementia!! Thanks, Teresa!

Such great information! Love the personal experiences which make these situations believeable. You're the best!

Thank you Teresa for all of your information.

I need to remind my father-in-law of this. Thanks for sharing your knowledge to help others!

Thank you

This was wonderful! I love hearing others speak about the things I teach in a different way. Love you both ❤.

Your attitude and knowledge are so reassuring and up- building. I do wish I'd known these thingswhen I was a working rn.

Take her to volunter at an animal shelters.

Oh excellent point I’ll remember that

As long as you have a good plan* for when the person is no longer able to care for the fur, great. * a good plan does not mean turning it into an animal shelter.