When a dementia diagnosis comes, we often don’t  know what to expect, much less how to respond.   This guide helps you prepare for what can be a long and difficult care journey, providing simple, step-by-step advice to help your loved one  be happier and healthier, for longer. When my mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 5 years ago, we were all heartbroken and scared.  My wife searched far and wide for resources to help support her mother, and manage her own needs.  

Guest Post By: Debbie Carroll, Author & Director, Step Change Design Ltd. Getting outside is good for all of us, with research confirming this over many years, and a growing body of evidence* that it is particularly beneficial for people living with dementia. Do you also find that you get the winter blues, feel a bit low in mood, lethargic, or simply not wanting to do the things you normally love outside? To some extent this is normal, and it can be cozy to hunker down indoor

Guest Post By: Christine O’Connor Caring for a loved one with dementia involves more than medical and emotional support. It requires strong financial and legal planning to protect both you and your family member. This handy guide can help you navigate these responsibilities. 1) Legal Documents Why it matters: Dementia can progress quickly, limiting decision-making ability. Having legal documents in place early ensures you or your loved one’s wishes are honored and prevents c

Guest Post by: Christine O’Connor The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the joy of togetherness and create meaningful moments with loved ones—no matter where they are on their dementia journey. If there is a friend or family member on your gift list who is experiencing cognitive impairment, you’ll want to give special thought to choosing a gift they are able to use and enjoy. Presenting a gift to someone with dementia goes far beyond the act of giving—it’

Even with the best planning, emergencies happen. A sudden illness, a fall, or a change in behavior can mean an unplanned trip to the hospital. When that happens, being prepared can make the experience less stressful for both you and your loved one. As an Emergency Department nurse, I’ve seen how small things like uncertainty about the name of a home medication, a forgotten hearing aid, or a dead cell phone can make a difficult situation even harder. Here are some items and in

By: Daniel Brown Supporting Independence Outside the Home: Simon’s Mission The foundation of our mission at Simon has always been straightforward, however difficult it may be to achieve: to promote and protect independence outside of the home for people living with dementia. The reasons for this are many, each with significant cascading value. More and more research supports our mission as being key to health and longevity not just for people living with dementia, but their f

Guest Author: Christine O'Connor The holidays were my mother’s favorite time of year. She’d hum carols while we baked and decorated hundreds of cookies to give to friends and neighbors and reminisce about her favorite holiday memories. But after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, everything changed. I remember one Christmas Eve when she quietly left our family gathering, overwhelmed by the noise and unfamiliar faces—even though they were all family. I found her sitting by a window, g