VIEW ARTICLE October 30, 2025 12:14 am Safe and Sweet – Preparing for Trick-or-Treaters When Living with Dementia The doorbell rings, laughter echoes, and tiny monsters appear at the door – Halloween night can be both delightful and disorienting. For individuals living with dementia, these changes in sound, light, and routine can increase confusion or anxiety. The National Institute on Aging notes that even small disruptions in routine can cause restlessness or wandering […]
VIEW ARTICLE October 22, 2025 5:34 pm Trick, Treat, and Reminisce – Using Photos to Anchor the Season Sometimes, the sweetest Halloween moments aren’t about candy – they’re about connection. For those living with dementia, revisiting photographs from past holidays can help spark joy and orientation through Photo-Based Reminiscence Therapy (PRT). This technique encourages individuals to look at familiar images while discussing memories connected to them. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology found […]
VIEW ARTICLE October 16, 2025 1:09 am When Costumes Confuse – Supporting Loved Ones with Dementia During Halloween For many, Halloween is a season of laughter and imagination. But for individuals living with dementia, flashing lights, eerie sounds, and masked faces can cause significant distress. Certain types of dementia – particularly Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson’s-related dementia – can make a person more prone to visual hallucinations or misperceptions. The Lewy Body Dementia […]
VIEW ARTICLE June 20, 2025 3:17 pm Sunset Cues – Winding Down with Intentional Evening Lighting As the sun begins to set, our environments should send cues that it’s time to rest. For people living with dementia, overstimulation or too much light in the evening can contribute to agitation and poor sleep. Transition to warm-toned, dim lighting and quiet routines to signal “day’s end” and support a better night’s rest. Fact: […]
VIEW ARTICLE June 12, 2025 9:57 pm Midday Magic – Keeping Energy Up Through Light and Movement Once the body is “awake,” keeping energy and engagement up through the day is key. Midday light keeps the brain stimulated and helps prevent drowsiness, confusion, or agitation later in the day. Combine light with movement—like a walk, household task, or hobby – to boost participation and reduce late-day fatigue. Fact: Natural daylight exposure in […]
VIEW ARTICLE June 4, 2025 2:29 pm Let the Light In – Resetting the Dementia Clock June brings the perfect reminder that light is life. For those living with dementia, exposure to morning sunlight can serve as a gentle reset button for the body’s internal clock. Just like the seasons, our brains respond to environmental cues—and light is one of the most powerful. Encourage loved ones to start their day with […]
VIEW ARTICLE May 29, 2025 2:10 pm The Full Garden: Reflecting with Gratitude and Purpose As May draws to a close, it’s a time not only to look back but to look inward. What have you learned? What moments filled your heart? This blog is about practicing gratitude—not for a perfect journey, but for the meaningful one. Even in the most difficult caregiving situations, moments of connection, insight, and love […]
VIEW ARTICLE May 22, 2025 2:35 pm Hand in Hand: Strengthening the Resident-Caregiver Bond In dementia care, the relationship between the person receiving care and the caregiver is the heart of everything. This blog will focus on how to nurture that connection with intention and care. By spending quality time together, respecting boundaries, and learning each other’s rhythms, both individuals grow stronger. Using communication techniques, personal rituals, and shared […]
VIEW ARTICLE May 15, 2025 2:37 pm From Seedling to Support: Growing a Community of Care Care doesn’t happen in isolation. Behind every bloom is a web of roots. This blog will focus on building your care network—friends, family, professionals, and support groups. The more support you grow, the more sustainable your care becomes. Whether it’s joining an online support group or scheduling a family check-in call, your connections matter. They […]
VIEW ARTICLE May 8, 2025 2:10 pm Bloom Where You’re Planted: Creating Joy in Everyday Spaces A hallway, a couch, a kitchen—these are not just places. They are opportunities. This blog will explore how to create engaging moments in ordinary spaces using conversation starters, sensory cues, and personal objects. The home can be filled with purposeful activities that make each day meaningful. Sit in the kitchen and share the smell of […]
VIEW ARTICLE May 1, 2025 5:32 pm May Blossoms: Celebrating Small Wins in Dementia Care May is here, and with it, the blooms of our early-season efforts. It’s time to celebrate the small victories: a shared laugh, a peaceful meal, a calm transition. These are the flowers of dementia care, and they are just as worthy of celebration as the big milestones. Sometimes we overlook progress because it doesn’t look […]
VIEW ARTICLE April 24, 2025 11:41 pm Planting the Future: Using Lifestyle Medicine to Sow Wellness Before May’s blooms, we need to plant intentionally. Lifestyle approaches—nutrition, movement, sleep, social connection, and sensory stimulation—are seeds that make a real difference in quality of life. These are not just buzzwords; they are evidence-based strategies that help treat the symptoms of dementia. At CERTUS, these principles come to life through the SPIN® model: · […]
VIEW ARTICLE April 16, 2025 3:23 pm Rainy Days, Reflective Moments: Caregiver Growth Through Challenges April’s rains can feel heavy, much like the emotional toll of caregiving. But these rainy moments hold deep purpose. They encourage us to stop, reflect, and grow. Caregiving isn’t always graceful, and that’s okay. Growth happens in the discomfort too. One helpful framework is the COACH approach: · Connect authentically · Observe mindfully · Act […]
