August 12, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

Mom likes to talk things through. Dad prefers quick facts. She wants reassurance that everything will be okay. He wants to know he’s still in control. And you? You’re learning that caring for aging parents with different needs often means learning two entirely different “languages.” It may feel like two jobs at once, but understanding what each parent needs emotionally and practically can make the journey more manageable and meaningful. (more…)
August 6, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

Ask someone about their favorite sports memory, and chances are you’ll see their face light up. Maybe it was the thrill of being the star football player on the varsity team, the time they got to meet a legendary baseball hero, or their dad teaching them to shoot hoops in the driveway. If you’re using sports to connect with someone with dementia, these moments can feel surprisingly fresh—and can spark engagement in remarkable ways. (more…)
July 21, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

Cancer often introduces itself in a thousand different ways. Sometimes it’s a dramatic entrance – an emergency room visit, a biopsy result, a word no one wanted to say out loud. Other times it’s a slow burn, a handful of symptoms that don’t quite add up until they suddenly do. But however it begins, one truth tends to follow closely behind: cancer doesn’t affect just one person. It affects everyone around them. And knowing what to expect as a cancer caregiver is paramount. (more…)
July 15, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

No one teaches you how to do this.
You try to follow your instincts. You read a few articles. You tell yourself to stay patient, stay calm. But Alzheimer’s doesn’t operate by any familiar rules. What made sense last week suddenly doesn’t work today. There’s good news though! With a few small shifts, you can bring more calm, clarity, and connection into each day. (more…)
July 9, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

Caring for your parents as they age doesn’t come with a guidebook. Most of us step into it gradually, helping with errands or checking in more often. Then come the big decisions: Is it safe for them to drive? Do they need help at home? Are we ready to talk about long-term care?
And more often than not, we aren’t. (more…)
June 23, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

A full plate left untouched can speak volumes. For many older adults, changes in appetite are a quiet signal that something isn’t quite right: physically, emotionally, or both. The loss of appetite in older adults is often a warning sign that deserves attention. Instead of turning mealtime into a battle, learning what might be behind the change can open the door to more effective, compassionate solutions. (more…)
June 16, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

Sometimes it’s not what’s said that causes someone with dementia to react…it’s what’s around them. A moved piece of furniture. A shadow across the floor. A face they don’t recognize in a familiar room. These subtle changes might go unnoticed by most, but for someone with cognitive decline, these environmental triggers for dementia can make familiar surroundings feel suddenly unfamiliar, even threatening. (more…)
June 9, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

There’s a moment many caregivers know well: standing at the edge of a task that feels too big to start. The dishes are piling up, the medication organizer needs refilling, there are calls to return, and somehow even the small things feel like mountains. We’ve got a solution that can help you overcome feeling overwhelmed: the 5-minute rule for caregivers. (more…)
May 20, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

You’ve finally made it through the day. Dinner’s done, the dishes are drying, and just when you’re hoping for a quiet evening, things start to unravel. Your family member with dementia becomes anxious. Restless. Confused. Maybe even combative. You’re watching a switch flip right before your eyes, and no matter how calmly you speak or how many times you reassure them, nothing seems to help. (more…)
May 13, 2025 by Dean Bellefeuille

When we talk about living longer, most people think of green smoothies, gym memberships, or that one neighbor who swears by cold plunges and turmeric tea. But here’s something you might not be thinking about: balance. Not the work-life kind (though that’s important, too), but, rather, physical balance. As it turns out, improving your balance might just help you live a longer, healthier life. (more…)