TL;DR "Yes, and..." means accepting your loved one's emotional reality instead of arguing with it. You don't have to agree with false facts—you simply avoid creating unnecessary conflict. After validating what they're saying, gently redirect the conversation toward something comforting or enjoyable. This technique often reduces arguments, preserves trust, and makes daily interactions much more pleasant. The goal isn't to prove who's right. The goal is to help your loved one f

TL;DR Therapeutic fibbing is the intentional use of a harmless, compassionate untruth to reduce distress—not manipulate someone with dementia. It may be appropriate when telling the literal truth repeatedly causes fear, grief, or agitation without improving understanding. The best therapeutic fibs focus on providing reassurance, comfort, or redirecting attention. Humor can sometimes accomplish the same goal while creating moments of genuine connection. The goal isn't to win a

There was one word that completely changed the way I cared for my mom. Actually, that's not quite true. Learning the word changed my caregiving in two phases. The first phase was simply learning that the word existed. The second—and much more important—phase was finally understanding what it actually meant. For a long time, I couldn't understand how my mom could forget something she'd done her entire life, like how to open the refrigerator, and then immediately insist there w

Repetitive questions are caused by changes in the brain, not laziness or stubbornness. Correcting or shaming someone with dementia rarely helps and often increases frustration. Humor, surprise, and changing the environment can interrupt repetitive thought loops more effectively than repeated explanations. The goal isn't to stop every question—it's to make the interaction less stressful for both of you. Sometimes the best dementia caregiving strategy is learning to laugh toget

Shawnee Canjura, The Dementia Doula One of the hardest parts of being a caregiver or loved one to a person with Alzheimer's is de-escalating situations. It's hard to keep them calm and sometimes it's even harder to keep yourself calm but that's exactly what is needed in order to prevent the argument from turning into an angry or violent outburst. Read below for some of the top techniques for preventing or de-escalating arguments with someone with Alzheimer's. Be their ally Th

5 essential dementia caregiver tips to managing angry outbursts