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

In this episode of The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s Show, Lisa Skinner explores an often-overlooked symptom that may provide an early clue to neurological changes: loss of smell, also known as hyposmia.

A reduced sense of smell is commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease and can sometimes appear years, or even decades, before a diagnosis. While losing your sense of smell does not mean that you will develop Parkinson’s disease, it is a symptom worth paying attention to, especially when it occurs alongside other neurological changes.

Lisa discusses why our sense of smell matters, how changes in smell can affect taste, appetite, nutrition, and quality of life, and why subtle changes in the body should not always be dismissed as simply part of aging.

This episode is an important reminder to notice changes, ask questions, and talk with a healthcare provider when something feels different.

For additional information about loss of smell and Parkinson’s disease, visit the Parkinson’s Foundation:

https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/non-movement-symptoms/loss-of-smell

#TruthLiesAndAlzheimers #MindingDementia #LisaSkinner #ParkinsonsDisease #ParkinsonsAwareness #LossOfSmell #Hyposmia #NeurologicalHealth #BrainHealth #DementiaAwareness #EarlyWarningSigns #CaregiverEducation #HealthyAging #PersonCenteredCare

The Parkinson’s Foundation notes that hyposmia is a common early Parkinson’s symptom, although not everyone who experiences reduced smell will develop Parkinson’s disease. (parkinson.org)

Why does someone living with dementia repeat the same question, insist on going home, accuse someone of stealing, or suddenly resist care?

In this episode, Lisa Skinner explains how these behaviors are often connected to fear, confusion, memory loss, discomfort, or the need for reassurance. She shares practical ways caregivers can respond with calm, simple communication instead of arguing, correcting, or escalating the situation.

You’ll learn why identifying the possible trigger behind a behavior can make such a difference, and how reassurance, familiar routines, simple choices, and a person-centered approach can help reduce distress.

Learn what may be triggering common dementia behaviors and how calm, reassuring responses can help reduce distress and improve dementia care.

#MindingDementia #TruthLiesAndAlzheimers #LisaSkinner #DementiaCare #DementiaCaregiver #AlzheimersCare #CaregiverSupport #DementiaBehavior #DementiaSupport #PersonCenteredCare #FamilyCaregiver

In this episode of The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s, Lisa Skinner welcomes Matt Field, Managing Director and co-owner of Right at Home, serving families throughout the Chicago suburbs.

Matt and Lisa discuss the importance of person-centered dementia care and how in-home support can help individuals maintain dignity, independence, safety, and quality of life. They also explore caregiver training, fall reduction, hospitalization prevention, and why understanding the person behind the diagnosis is so important.

Matt Field has worked in home care since 2012, building Right at Home with his wife, Rachel, into a trusted resource for families caring for aging loved ones. His work focuses heavily on person-centered dementia care, caregiver education, fall prevention, and practical strategies that help people remain safely at home.

Matt also develops training programs for professional caregivers, family caregivers, and first responders. Before entering the home care field, he spent a decade in congregational leadership as an ordained Conservative rabbi, an experience that continues to shape his compassionate and human-centered approach to supporting families.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfieldrah/

Website: https://www.rightathome.net/north-suburban-chicago

#DementiaCare #AlzheimersCare #PersonCenteredCare #HomeCare #CaregiverSupport #FamilyCaregivers #AgingInPlace #SeniorCare #DementiaSupport #CaregiverEducation #FallPrevention #HealthyAging #TruthLiesAndAlzheimers #MindingDementia

When a loved one is living with dementia, families may suddenly find themselves responsible for important financial and medical decisions. One of the biggest sources of confusion is assuming that one legal document gives someone authority to handle everything.

In this episode, Lisa Skinner explains the difference between a Power of Attorney and a Medical Decision Maker, why these roles are often separate, and why both can be important when planning for dementia.

The difference between financial and healthcare decision-making authority

Why a financial Power of Attorney does not usually provide medical decision-making authority

Why a Medical Decision Maker generally cannot manage finances

Why planning should happen while the person with dementia still has the capacity to participate

The importance of naming backup decision makers

How advance directives and conversations about personal wishes can reduce confusion

What can happen when these documents are not in place before a crisis

Planning ahead can help families avoid delays, reduce uncertainty, and make sure the right person has the proper authority when important decisions need to be made.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Laws and terminology vary by state, so families should consult an appropriate legal professional regarding their individual circumstances.

#MindingDementia #TruthLiesAndAlzheimers #LisaSkinner #DementiaCare #DementiaCaregiver #AlzheimersCare #CaregiverSupport #DementiaPlanning #PowerOfAttorney #MedicalDecisionMaker #AdvanceDirective #FamilyCaregiver #PersonCenteredCare

Season 5 of The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s Show begins with an important conversation about dementia, communication, compassion, and better understanding the experience of those living with cognitive changes.

In this episode, Lisa Skinner welcomes guest Kandiee Campbell for a thoughtful discussion about people living with dementia and the importance of meeting them where they are.

Lisa and Kandiee explore how dementia can affect behavior, communication, emotions, and everyday interactions. They discuss why caregivers and family members may need to adjust their expectations, look beyond the behavior they are seeing, and respond with greater patience and understanding.

The conversation also highlights the importance of preserving dignity and recognizing the person behind the diagnosis. Rather than focusing only on what someone can no longer do, this episode encourages listeners to consider what the person may be feeling, experiencing, or trying to communicate.

• Understanding how dementia can affect behavior and communication
• Looking beyond difficult or confusing behaviors
• Meeting a person living with dementia where they are
• Responding with patience, compassion, and understanding
• Recognizing emotional needs even when communication becomes difficult
• Preserving dignity and personhood throughout the dementia journey
• Supporting caregivers and families as they navigate changing needs

This episode offers practical perspective and an important reminder that compassionate dementia care begins with understanding the person, not simply managing the diagnosis.

Email: kandiee@kandieecampbell.com

Website: www.theawakenhopeshow.com

Instagram: @awakenhopeshow

Linktree: www.linktr.ee/awakenhopeshow

#TruthLiesAndAlzheimers #MindingDementia #DementiaCare #DementiaAwareness #AlzheimersAwareness #CaregiverSupport #DementiaSupport #PersonCenteredCare #DementiaEducation #FamilyCaregivers #LivingWithDementia #CompassionateCare #AwakenHopeShow #KandieeCampbell #LisaSkinner