Receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia can change the way a family looks at the future almost immediately. There are questions about what will change, how quickly it will happen, what needs to be done and how to prepare. Those are important questions. But sometimes, without even realizing it, the diagnosis can begin to get ahead of the person. A forgotten word may suddenly carry more weight. A decision that would not have been questioned befo

When people talk about meaningful engagement for someone living with dementia, the same suggestions often come up. Fold laundry. Sort socks. Set the table. Water plants. Any of these can be meaningful if they fit the person. Someone who always took pride in caring for the home may enjoy folding towels or setting the table. Someone who disliked doing laundry before dementia probably will not find it any more interesting now. An activity is not meaningful simply because it is f

As dementia progresses, many families find themselves searching for ways to make each day meaningful for someone they love. The question almost always sounds the same. "What are we going to do?" It is a thoughtful question because it comes from a place of love. No one wants to see someone they care about sitting with nothing to do. There is a genuine desire to help, to preserve independence, and to make each day as meaningful as possible. It is one of the first questions many

What if memory loss is only part of the story? Most of us think of Alzheimer's disease as memory loss. We picture someone forgetting names, misplacing their keys, or asking the same question over and over again. Memory loss is certainly one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. But what if memory is only part of the story? Thinking about Alzheimer's through the lens of communication helps explain so many of the changes families see every day. It helps us understand why fin

What's the Difference Between Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia? One of the most common questions families ask is, "What's the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia?" While the terms are often used interchangeably, they don't mean the same thing. Understanding the distinction can help families better understand a diagnosis, ask informed questions, and navigate the dementia journey with greater confidence. In this issue of RISE Together, you'll also find updates f

As the weather gets warmer, many of us start thinking about hydration. We hear reminders to drink more water, carry a water bottle, and stay ahead of the heat. While those reminders are important, hydration can sometimes become more complicated for people living with dementia and the care partners who support them. Dehydration is one of those things that can sneak up on us. It can contribute to fatigue, dizziness, headaches, constipation, and an increased risk of falls. For s

For those of us walking alongside someone living with dementia, we often begin this journey with the best intentions. We show up with love, with goals, with a belief that we can do this well. But this is not a linear path. It twists. It turns. There are moments that feel steady, and others that pull us off course. We tell ourselves we can handle it. We don’t want to burden others. We don’t want to feel less than. So we keep going, often quietly, carrying more than we realize.

Have you ever found yourself correcting, repeating, or trying to get someone to “just do it this way,” and it still is not working? In dementia care, this is a common and deeply frustrating experience. It can feel like the person is not listening or is being difficult. There can be a growing sense of urgency, especially when there is something that needs to get done. The more it does not work, the more the instinct is to try harder, say it again, or correct more clearly. But

There’s a moment many care partners recognize. You’re saying the right thing. You’re trying to help. And somehow, it’s not getting through. You explain again, maybe a little more clearly this time. You try a different approach. You add more words, hoping something will connect. And still, it doesn’t. It’s easy in those moments to think the person isn’t listening, or that they’re being resistant. But often, that’s not what’s happening at all. It’s not that they can’t hear you.

As we move into a new season, this issue of RISE Together centers on a simple but important idea: Still me. This reflection explores how we honor voice, choice, and connection through everyday conversations, even as things change, along with updates on what’s ahead at The Kaleidoscope Dementia Resource Center and Rise Dementia Care. Read the full Spring 2026 newsletter:

You know those mornings. Nothing dramatic has happened. There hasn’t been a big shift. And yet, by 9 a.m., you can feel it. The questions are coming faster. The answers are not landing. The same routine that worked yesterday feels harder today. You might find yourself wondering what changed. Living with dementia is rarely a straight line. There are clearer days and there are foggier days. On clearer days, things flow. Conversation feels easier. There might even be a little hu

Guilt shows up in different ways on the dementia journey. It doesn’t always appear at the beginning, and it doesn’t always arrive after something dramatic has happened. Sometimes it surfaces quietly, after something has clearly shifted. Other times it shows up in the middle of ordinary days, when nothing obvious has changed but everything feels different. Over the years, in conversations with families, I’ve heard certain stories more than once. Not because anyone is handling

We’re about a month into a new year, a time when many people set intentions or resolutions with hope, only to find themselves drifting away from them. When that happens, guilt often creeps in. Quietly. Sometimes gently, sometimes not. That same pattern can show up on the dementia journey. Not because anyone has failed, but because expectations, our own or those of others, collide with reality. And when life does not unfold the way we hoped or planned, guilt can begin to take

As winter settles in and a new year begins, this issue of RISE Together offers reflection, encouragement, and practical ways to support connection as things change. Inside, you’ll find thoughtful guidance for care partners and individuals living with neurocognitive change, along with updates on what’s ahead at RISE Dementia Care. 📖 Read the full newsletter here: Looking for support? Reach out. Let’s navigate this together.

Because connection doesn’t disappear—it takes new forms. One of the most common worries families share is this: “I feel like I’m losing them.” When dementia changes memory, language, or recognition, it can feel as though the relationship itself is slipping away. Conversations don’t flow the way they once did. Familiar routines feel harder. Moments that used to feel effortless now require more thought and patience. But here’s something families need to hear clearly and gently:

Part 2 Authors: Maureen Braen, CPXP, CDP — Founder, Rise Dementia Care Olan Soremekun, MD, MBA — Medical Director, NexStep Health Introduction – The Shift from Lifespan to Healthspan Today, Americans are living decades longer than past generations yet many spend their final years managing chronic illnesses, juggling multiple medications, or relying on others for daily tasks. Most of us focus on how long we live. But the real question is: how well are we living those extra ye

There’s a quiet ache that settles in when the holidays come around and things don’t look the way they used to. The smells and sounds are the same — pies baking, carols humming in the background — but something is different. Maybe you notice the silence where laughter used to fill the space, or the hesitation when your loved one looks around and can’t quite place the faces in front of them. The holidays have a way of magnifying both joy and loss. When dementia is part of your

Part 1 Authors: Maureen Braen, CPXP, CDP — Founder, Rise Dementia Care Olan Soremekun, MD, MBA — Medical Director, NexStep Health Introduction Most of us have been taught that living longer is the ultimate goal. But what if we’ve been measuring the wrong thing? When people talk about aging well, they often don’t describe lab values, they describe moments: walking with friends, cooking with family, and being part of something that matters, where they can still make a differenc

When we interact with someone living with dementia, it can be easy to slip into “fix-it” mode — trying to make sense of what they say, do, or believe by correcting them. Maybe they tell you they need to go home (even though they already are). Maybe they insist their parent — who passed away years earlier — just left the room. Or perhaps they put on three sweaters because they feel cold when the thermostat reads 75 degrees. That feeling of cold isn’t “wrong.” In many individua

As the season shifts, so too do the rhythms of caregiving and connection. This issue of RISE Together explores how the words we choose...

We often think of grief as something that comes after death — the sharp, unmistakable pain that follows when someone we love is no longer...

If you’ve ever wondered whether our habits really matter when it comes to preserving memory and thinking into old age, the results of...

Mastering the Art of Listening: A Dementia Care Essential For people living with dementia, listening is not optional—it is essential....

Summer often stirs dreams of getaways—sun-drenched beaches, time with family, or simply a pause in the daily grind. But for many care...