March 27, 2024 by Dean Bellefeuille

Have you ever said the wrong thing? Perhaps your intention was to compliment a friend on her new haircut, but you came across sounding like you were criticizing her previous hairstyle. Choosing our words carefully is always important, but even more so when speaking with someone with dementia. The words we say and the way we say them can significantly impact the person’s emotional well-being and quality of life. (more…)


 March 12, 2024 by Dean Bellefeuille

It’s easy for family caregivers to feel alone. When you’re caring for someone else, remembering to care for yourself can be difficult. A recent listening session, however, allowed family caregivers to speak openly and honestly about what they need – and the results may surprise you. Here are some of the key findings and insights gleaned from these sessions. (more…)


 February 13, 2024 by Dean Bellefeuille

If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia, you know firsthand how challenging the ever-changing progression of care needs can be. As the condition advances, there comes a point when 24-hour dementia care becomes not only beneficial but essential for ensuring the safety, well-being, and quality of life for the individual. (more…)


 January 23, 2024 by Dean Bellefeuille

Everyone understands the feeling of trying every trick in the book to get to sleep after a long day. As we age, it can be even more difficult to get enough sleep. Older adults may experience changes in their sleep architecture, including lighter sleep, more frequent awakenings, and a shift towards earlier bedtimes. Yet maintaining healthy sleep patterns is vitally important for cognitive function, emotional health, and physical vitality. (more…)


 January 9, 2024 by Dean Bellefeuille

The kitchen is a special place in the home. It’s where kids first go when they get home from school, looking for a snack and the chance to share about their day. It’s the place family members gather to prepare holiday meals together. It’s also a place to warm up a cup of milk and find some quiet, reflective solace when sleep is elusive. (more…)


 December 6, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

Did you ever wake up in the middle of a dream and wonder, for just a moment, if what you were dreaming about was real? It can feel so disorienting until you open your eyes and take in your familiar surroundings. Such an experience can give you just a brief glimpse into the ongoing disorientation for someone with dementia. When confusion about time, place, and even identity settle in for someone you love, you have two choices in determining which dementia care approach is best: either stepping into their reality with them, or orienting them to yours. (more…)


 October 8, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

Anyone who’s listened to music on a record player knows that the needle doesn’t always track smoothly.  Sometimes a tiny piece of dust or debris causes it to skip or get stuck, leaving you hearing only a few words of the song over and over again until you address the problem. (more…)


 September 21, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

One of the first symptoms of dementia people usually think of is a loss of memory. While memory loss is the primary impact of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, there are many other parts of life impacted as well. In fact, each of the five senses can be altered in a variety of ways that are important to understand. (more…)


 August 11, 2023 by Dean Bellefeuille

It’s hard to predict how someone with dementia will behave from moment to moment. The disease can transform a person’s mood, personality, and behaviors in the blink of an eye. When you’re at home providing care for a person with dementia, these changes can be hard enough to manage. But what happens when you’re at a restaurant, grocery store, or hair salon? (more…)