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The Care Conversations Podcast

The Care Conversations Podcast

De : Physician Care Homes
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Hosted by Dr. Jeff LaFond and Ashleigh Davis, Administrator at Magnolia House by Physician Care Homes, The Care Conversations Podcast offers practical guidance, expert conversations, and compassionate support for families navigating aging, dementia, memory care, assisted living, and caregiving.

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Épisodes
  • Wandering and Dementia: How to Prevent It and What to Do if It Happens

    Wandering and Dementia: How to Prevent It and What to Do if It Happens
    Oct 4 2026
    About this episodeFew situations are more frightening for a caregiver than realizing that a loved one with dementia has walked out the door and cannot immediately be found.But wandering often does not begin with a dramatic event.There may be earlier clues: repeatedly checking a door, reaching for keys, putting on a coat, grabbing a purse, or seeming determined to leave the house.In Episode 10 of The Care Conversations Podcast, Dr. Jeff LaFond and Ashleigh Davis, Administrator at Magnolia House by Physician Care Homes, discuss how families can recognize those warning signs, reduce the risk of wandering, and prepare for what to do if it happens.The goal is not to create fear. Not everyone living with dementia will wander.The goal is to help families notice patterns early and be proactive before a close call becomes a crisis.In this conversationWhy does wandering happen?Wandering or exit-seeking may happen for many different reasons.A person may:* Believe they need to “go home”* Feel bored and look for something to do* Be searching for the bathroom* Be thirsty, hungry, or uncomfortable* Be trying to meet another need they cannot clearly communicateRather than viewing wandering only as a behavior to stop, families can also ask:What might this person be looking for or trying to accomplish?Watch for early warning signsPotential warning signs discussed in the episode include:* Repeatedly approaching an exterior door* Trying the door handle* Opening the door and looking outside* Reaching for keys* Grabbing a purse* Putting on a coat or appearing to get ready to leaveThese patterns can be an important signal that it is time to begin adding safeguards.Use the people around youOne of Ashleigh’s simplest recommendations is also one of the most practical:Tell trusted neighbors what is happening.Families may naturally want to keep a dementia diagnosis private, but neighbors can become another set of eyes.If they see a spouse or parent walking alone when that would be unusual, they can recognize that something may be wrong and alert the caregiver.As we have discussed throughout this podcast:Dementia care often takes a village.Make the home saferThe episode discusses several possible safeguards, including:* Door alarms* Window alerts* Motion-sensitive cameras or video doorbells* Alerting floor mats* Adjusting the location of door locks* Increased supervision when wandering risk developsAny changes to locks also need to preserve the family’s ability to leave the home quickly during a true emergency.The objective is not simply to lock someone inside.It is to create layers of awareness and protection.Reduce the triggers when possibleRoutine can be another important prevention strategy.Regular:* Meals* Hydration* Toileting* Meaningful engagementmay reduce some of the unmet needs or boredom that can contribute to exit-seeking.The topic connects closely with Episode 9: keeping someone meaningfully engaged can also be part of keeping them safe.Technology can provide another layer of protectionJeff and Ashleigh discuss several technology options, including cameras, motion alerts, wearable devices, and location-sharing tools.They also discuss Project Lifesaver, a program available through participating local law-enforcement agencies that uses a wearable device to help authorities locate enrolled individuals who wander.Technology is not a replacement for supervision—but it can become another tool in a family’s safety plan.What if someone is missing?If you realize that a loved one with dementia has left and you cannot locate them, the message from the episode is clear:Do not wait too long to ask for help.After quickly checking the home and immediate property, call 911 if the person cannot be found.Someone can travel farther than expected in a short period of time, and the risks may be very different depending on the environment—from roads and traffic to wooded areas, water, extreme temperatures, or densely populated neighborhoods.Early help means more people can begin looking sooner.When is home no longer enough?A wandering episode does not automatically mean someone must move into memory care.But if wandering becomes increasingly frequent—or preventing it requires a level of supervision the family can no longer realistically provide—it may be time to reassess the care plan.That could mean:* Bringing additional support into the home* Increasing supervision* Exploring respite or other services* Considering a secured memory-care environmentThere is another important question too:What is this doing to the caregiver?If fear of wandering means you no longer sleep, cannot leave the house, or live constantly on edge, that matters.Caregiver health and quality of life are part of the safety equation.Key takeaways* Not everyone with dementia will wander.But when warning signs appear, take them seriously.* Look for the reason behind the behavior.Boredom, toileting, thirst, discomfort, confusion, or another unmet need may ...
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    15 min
  • Purpose, Not Just Activity: Meaningful Engagement for Dementia Care

    Purpose, Not Just Activity: Meaningful Engagement for Dementia Care
    Sep 27 2026
    About this episode“Mom follows me around the house all day. I can’t get anything done. What can I do?”It’s a question many families caring for someone with dementia eventually face.In Episode 9 of The Care Conversations Podcast, Dr. Jeff LaFond and Ashleigh Davis, Administrator at Magnolia House by Physician Care Homes, discuss how families can create meaningful engagement for someone living with dementia without simply trying to “keep them busy.”The starting point is understanding the individual.What did they enjoy doing before dementia? What roles were important to them? What routines feel familiar? What can they still safely participate in today?Those answers can help caregivers create activities that provide something much more valuable than distraction: purpose, familiarity, connection, and comfort.In this conversationWhy does my loved one follow me everywhere?A person living with dementia may constantly follow a spouse, child, or caregiver because that person has become their safe person.If they cannot see that person, they may feel uncertain about where they went—or whether they will come back.Understanding the feeling underneath the behavior can change the way caregivers respond.Rather than simply trying to stop the behavior, the goal becomes finding another safe and meaningful way for the person to engage.Start with who they have always beenDementia care is not cookie cutter.Ashleigh recommends looking at the person’s history, interests, habits, and former responsibilities.Someone who spent decades taking care of a household might find meaning in:* Folding laundry* Setting the table* Preparing part of a meal* Washing dishes* Sorting familiar objectsThese may look like ordinary chores, but for the right person they can provide familiarity and a sense of being needed.Purpose matters more than keeping busyActivities should feel appropriate for the adult participating in them.Depending on the person’s abilities and preferences, options discussed in the episode include:* Sorting activities* Puzzles* Adult-appropriate coloring or art* Familiar household tasks* Personalized puzzles made from meaningful photographs* Music* Familiar television programs* Walking* Seated movement* Balloon volleyball* Adapted exercise using items such as pool noodlesThe activity does not have to look exactly the way it once did.The goal is to adapt it to what the person can safely and comfortably do now.What works today may not work tomorrowOne of the realities of dementia care is that an activity that works wonderfully one day may not work at all the next.Time of day, fatigue, mood, disease progression, and other factors can all affect engagement.Ashleigh’s advice is simple:Don’t give up. Pivot.Instead of relying on one activity, have several options available—a Plan A, B, C, and D.Familiar sights and sounds can create calmEngagement does not always have to mean a structured activity.Music someone has enjoyed throughout life can help create a familiar atmosphere.The same can be true of television. If watching a particular show has always been part of someone’s routine, a familiar program may provide comfort rather than simply being “screen time.”Again, the question is not, “Is television good or bad?”It is:Does this fit this particular person?Caregivers need breathing room tooNo family caregiver can provide meaningful engagement every hour of every day.The episode also discusses:* Home care* Respite programs* Adult day centersAdult day programs can give someone living with dementia an opportunity to engage with peers and trained professionals while giving the caregiver time to work, rest, complete errands, or simply recharge.As Ashleigh puts it in the episode:This journey takes a village.Key takeaways* Dementia care is individualized.Start with the person’s history, preferences, routines, and current abilities.* Look for purpose, not just entertainment.Familiar household activities can provide a sense of usefulness and normalcy.* Following you may be about safety.A caregiver may have become the person’s anchor in an increasingly confusing world.* Expect trial and error.An activity that works today may not work tomorrow. Keep several alternatives available.* Adapt rather than abandon.Walking may become chair exercise. A difficult puzzle may become a simpler personalized photo puzzle.* Familiar music and television can have value.What matters is whether they fit that person’s lifelong preferences.* Protect the caregiver too.Respite, home care, and adult day programs can become important parts of a sustainable care plan.Watch the videoPrefer watching rather than listening?Watch Episode 9 on the Physician Care Homes YouTube channel:About the hostsDr. Jeff LaFond is a gastroenterologist, healthcare leader, and co-founder of Physician Care Homes.Ashleigh Davis is the Administrator at Magnolia House by Physician Care Homes and has more than 13 years of senior-living experience, ranging ...
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    14 min
  • Connect, Don’t Correct: Handling Repetitive Questions and Behaviors in Dementia

    Connect, Don’t Correct: Handling Repetitive Questions and Behaviors in Dementia
    Sep 20 2026
    About this episode“I want to go home.”“Someone stole my purse.”“I don’t want to take a shower.”For families caring for someone living with dementia, the same questions, concerns, or behaviors may surface again and again. The instinct to explain, correct, or reason with someone is understandable—but it can often increase frustration for everyone involved.In this episode of The Care Conversations Podcast, Dr. Jeff LaFond and Ashleigh Davis, Administrator at Magnolia House by Physician Care Homes, discuss a different approach:Connect before you correct.They explore how caregivers can respond to repetitive questions, anxiety, resistance to care, and changes in behavior with greater empathy while also looking for the physical or medical issues that may be hiding underneath the behavior.In this conversation“I want to go home” may mean something deeperWhen someone with dementia says they need to go home, simply responding, “But you are home,” may not help.Ashleigh explains why “home” may represent safety, familiarity, or comfort rather than a literal address—and why validating that feeling can be more effective than trying to prove the person wrong.Behavior is communicationA sudden increase in agitation or repetitive behavior may be a clue that something else is happening.Jeff and Ashleigh discuss possible contributors such as:* Pain* Infection* Constipation* Medication effects* Hunger or thirst* Fatigue* An uncomfortable environment* Even something as simple as an object irritating someone’s foot inside a shoeThe lesson: when behavior changes, caregivers may need to become detectives.Timing mattersThe episode also explores why time of day can make a major difference.Fatigue and “sundowning” may worsen confusion or resistance later in the day. A task like showering may go much better when it matches the person’s lifelong routine rather than the caregiver’s schedule.Validate first, then redirectIf someone believes an item has been stolen, dismissing the concern may increase anxiety.Instead, caregivers can acknowledge the concern, offer to help look for the item, and use the interaction to build trust.As Ashleigh explains, the person may not remember exactly what you said—but they may remember how you made them feel.Key takeaways* Connect, don’t correct.You do not have to bring someone with dementia back into your version of reality in every moment.* Behavior often communicates an unmet need.Look for pain, illness, fatigue, discomfort, changes in routine, or environmental triggers.* Know what is normal for your loved one.A sudden increase in confusion, agitation, or repetitive behavior may warrant a call to their medical professional.* Work with lifelong habits instead of against them.Familiar routines can reduce resistance and anxiety.* Validation builds trust.That trust may make other parts of caregiving—such as medication, bathing, and daily care—easier.* Caregivers need grace too.Frustration is normal. The goal is not perfection, but learning how to respond more intentionally.Watch the videoPrefer watching rather than listening?Watch the full episode on the Physician Care Homes YouTube channel:About the hostsDr. Jeff LaFond is a gastroenterologist, healthcare leader, and co-founder of Physician Care Homes.Ashleigh Davis is the Administrator at Magnolia House by Physician Care Homes and has more than 13 years of experience in senior living, including recreation therapy and assisted-living administration.Stay connectedFollow Physician Care Homes on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.Subscribe to The Care Conversations Podcast and our newsletter for practical guidance on dementia, caregiving, memory care, assisted living, and aging:physiciancarehomes.comA note for familiesThis podcast is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice. If you notice an acute or significant change in behavior, confusion, pain, or function, contact the person’s healthcare professional.Help another caregiverIf this episode helped you think differently about a difficult caregiving moment, please share it with someone who may need to hear it.Thanks for reading ! Subscribe to The Care Conversations Podcast for free to receive new posts like this one! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit physiciancarehomes.substack.com
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    16 min
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