Creating Calm with Sensory Tools in Dementia Care

How can a simple sensory object help during a stressful caregiving moment? Lisa Skinner explores how fidget blankets and other sensory tools may offer comfort and support calmer interactions with someone living with dementia.

Through everyday caregiving scenarios, Lisa discusses responding when someone insists on going home, worries about a loved one who has passed away, or accuses a caregiver of stealing. The focus is on recognizing the feelings behind the behavior and pairing sensory engagement with calm, reassuring communication.

In this episode:

• Using sensory objects to gently redirect restless energy.
• Responding to distress without arguing or correcting.
• Choosing tools that match the person’s preferences and abilities.
• Supporting comfort, safety, and dignity at home.

Learn more at MindingDementia.com.

In this episode of The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s Podcast, Lisa Skinner explores the growing conversation around the p-tau217 blood biomarker test and its potential role in identifying Alzheimer’s-related biological changes.

P-tau217 can provide valuable information about the likelihood of Alzheimer’s-related amyloid and tau pathology, but a result is not the same as a dementia diagnosis and cannot predict exactly if or when symptoms will develop.

Lisa discusses:

• What the p-tau217 biomarker test measures
• What a positive or negative result may mean
• Why results should not be viewed as a guarantee or prediction of the future
• The importance of symptoms, medical history, other testing, and clinical evaluation
• Questions to consider before deciding to be tested
• How testing may help provide direction for next steps rather than simply another number

The key question may not be just, “Should I get tested?” but rather, “What am I hoping to learn, and what will I do with the information?”

#Alzheimers #Dementia #DementiaCare #PTau217 #AlzheimersResearch #Biomarkers #MemoryLoss #BrainHealth #CognitiveHealth #DementiaAwareness #CaregiverSupport #TheTruthLiesAndAlzheimers

In this episode of The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s Show, Lisa Skinner interviews Jill Poser, founder and principal of Life Care Concierge of South Florida.

Jill helps families navigate the difficult questions that often come after an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis, including care planning, healthcare decisions, safety concerns, changing family roles, and preparing for future needs.

Lisa and Jill discuss why dementia impacts the entire family, common mistakes families make when trying to manage everything on their own, and how caregivers can advocate for their loved ones while also protecting their own well-being.

With more than 15 years of experience in aging services, Jill brings both professional expertise and personal experience caring for her own parents. Her approach focuses on compassionate, person-centered care that balances clinical guidance with genuine human connection.

Lisa Skinner interviews aging life care expert Jill Poser about what families should do after an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis, including care planning, safety, family dynamics, caregiver advocacy, and preparing for future care needs.

#Alzheimers #Dementia #DementiaCare #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #FamilyCaregiver #AgingLifeCare #SeniorCare #CareManagement #PersonCenteredCare #AgingInPlace #DementiaSupport #TheTruthLiesAndAlzheimersShow