A Balancing Act: Navigating A Loved One's Memory Loss

When dementia enters a family, it doesn't just affect memory. It reshapes the roles and responsibilities that have defined relationships for decades. In this episode, Kelly explores how taking on a loved one's responsibilities can lead to "competence fatigue," why losing familiar roles can feel like losing identity, and how families can adapt while preserving dignity, purpose, and connection. FACE...

In this episode, Kelly addresses the moral dilemma caregivers face: whether to lie or tell the truth to loved ones with dementia. Traditionally, reality orientation,(telling the truth) was seen as a matter of principle. But from the 1990s, therapeutic fibbing, small, compassionate lies, gained acceptance. Kelly argues for 'leading with their reality,' adapting responses based on the stage of demen...

Why can dementia cause someone to suddenly say things that seem rude, offensive or completely out of character? In this episode, Kelly discusses how dementia can affect the brain’s social filter, why these behaviors may be worse at certain times, and how understanding what’s happening can help families respond with less conflict. FACEBOOK PAGE : Please message questions for Kelly, or to set up a c...

In this episode, Kelly explains how dementia affects swallowing and increases the risk for pneumonia. She simplifies the process involved for listeners by breaking it into three phases, and offers guidance on balancing safety, nutrition, and a loved one's dignity when facing feeding refusals or diet modifications. FACEBOOK PAGE : Please leave questions for Kelly, or to set up a chat! https://www.f...

This episode of A Balancing Act tackles the "whiplash" of sudden ups and downs in dementia caregiving. Why abilities seem to flicker day to day, when a sudden change warrants a call to the doctor, and how to become a detective when there's no clear medical cause. Kelly offers practical ways to respond with curiosity and flexibility instead of fear when a loved one's condition unexpectedly shifts....

Could untreated hearing or vision loss be putting the brain at greater risk? In this episode, Kelly discusses how sensory loss is linked to cognitive decline and dementia, and why glasses and hearing aids may play an important role in keeping the brain working and connected. FACEBOOK PAGE : Please leave questions for Kelly, or set up a chat! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573800764103 P...

Family reunions can be overwhelming for a loved one with dementia. The noise, the chaos, and everpresent fear of the question: "Do you remember?'. In this episode, Kelly explains why this can happen, ways to lower your loved one's stress and simple conversational techniques that meet your loved one at a level they can succeed. Success isn't about what they remember. It's about feeling included and...

Your memory feels different, but your cognitive tests are normal. So now what? In this episode, Kelly explores what Subjective Cognitive Decline really means, why it happens and how it's different from Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia. Finally, she explains why normal cognitive test results don't always end the conversation. FACEBOOK PAGE : Please leave questions for Kelly, or set up a chat!...

In this episode, Kelly explores why repetition develops in a changing brain, what it reveals about your loved one's inner experience, and how shifting your perspective can transform frustration into insight. Because understanding the why behind these behaviors is the first step to responding with more confidence and less stress. FACEBOOK PAGE : Please leave questions for Kelly, or set up a chat! h...

Don't wait for a crisis. If someone you love is showing early signs of memory loss, the time to plan is now. In this episode, Kelly walks you through how to build a simple, realistic three-year care roadmap before urgency makes the decisions for you. FACEBOOK PAGE : Please leave questions for Kelly, or set up a chat! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573800764103 Please consider donating t...

This episode explores dementia-related hoarding , why it happens, what it means, and how families can respond with compassion. Kelly reframes hoarding not as stubbornness or manipulation, but as the brain's way of coping with memory loss. As dementia progresses, people anchor their sense of identity, security, and memory to physical objects, making removal feel threatening and distressing. FACEBOO...

This episode explores why people with dementia often experience significant weight loss and changes in eating and drinking habits. Kelly explains how aging can affect eat and drinking, as well as how dementia can disrupt hunger and thirst signals, sensory processing, and the brain's ability to complete the steps involved in eating. She includes practical strategies to simplify mealtimes, prevent d...

When a loved one refuses their medications, it can feel like an emergency. The risks are real, the pressure is immediate, and the instinct to push for compliance is strong. But in many cases, that resistance is not about defiance—it’s communication. In this episode, Kelly breaks down what’s really behind medication refusal in memory loss, and guides us through methods focusing on protecting both s...

In this episode, Kelly challenges the idea that cognitive activities like puzzles and card games are always beneficial for loved ones with dementia. She explains that as the disease progresses, these activities can create feelings of being tested rather than included, leading to withdrawal and disconnect. Kelly offers practical strategies for adapting activities and communication so loved ones fee...

In this episode, Kelly explores how a medical crisis, such as a fall or infection, often becomes the unexpected turning point when families first recognize the true extent of a loved one's dementia. From cognitive screening in the hospital to rehabilitation settings where the challenges become even more apparent, these moments, though emotionally overwhelming, can ultimately bring clarity and open...

In this episode, Kelly tackles the ethical tension caregivers face between keeping loved ones with dementia safe and preserving their independence and sense of self. Through real-life stories, she introduces the concept of the "right to risk" — the idea that autonomy and uncertainty are inseparable, even for vulnerable adults. Kelly encourages "negotiated risk": practical home and communcative ada...

In this episode, Kelly explores how families often fall into denial when a loved one begins to show signs of dementia. And sometimes, even after the formal diagnosis. Kelly emphasizes this isn't about shame, but understanding the causes of denial and the risks associated with postponing acceptance. FACEBOOK PAGE : Please leave questions for Kelly, or set-up a chat! https://www.facebook.com/profile...

Today's focus is on ways to capitalize on and modify the home environment to support a loved one with memory loss. Kelly walks listeners through thoughtful home modifications that can act as an additional caregiver by reducing cognitive demands on people living with dementia. The results show respect for the person with dementia while reducing frustration for both caregivers and their loved ones....

For someone living with memory loss, life already feels less predictable. Control is slipping in quiet ways. And home may be the last place that still feels familiar. The last place where they feel like themselves. So when help enters the conversation, it can feel less like support and more like losing autonomy. That’s why pushing harder often backfires. In this episode, Kelly talks about introduc...

Today, Kelly shares our most listened-to episode, "Is It Alzheimer's?". Aside from cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease is often regarded as one of the greatest fears for many individuals. In fact, when people begin to experience memory lapses, they often jump to the conclusion that it might be Alzheimer’s. However, the disease encompasses much more than just memory problems. In this episode, Kelly will re...

Today’s episode explores one of the most tender, and often misunderstood, parts of dementia care: denial. Kelly will talk about why denial shows up, why it isn’t always stubbornness, and how fear, identity, and self-protection play a role. She'll also offer ways to start compassionate conversations, how to respond when others don’t see the problem, and what to do when denial becomes unsafe — witho...

As this year comes to a close, I just want to take a moment to thank you for being here. Whether you’re listening while driving, folding laundry, sitting quietly after a long day, or taking a much-needed pause—you matter, and I’m really glad you found your way to this space. The holidays can bring warmth and connection, but they can also bring grief, stress, complicated family dynamics, and remind...

The holidays bring joy, memories, and for long-distance caregivers, a mix of love and guilt. In this episode of A Balancing Act , Kelly offers loving, practical ways to stay connected with your loved one living with dementia, even from miles away. Learn how to make every call and visit more meaningful, how to support the caregiver at home, and how to find help for yourself when it’s time to hang u...

Thanksgiving is here, and while the holidays can be full of joy and tradition, they can also be challenging when someone you love is living with memory loss and dementia, In this episode, Kelly explores how to adjust expectations with compassion, how to support your loved one at their level of ability, and how to protect connection over perfection. Whether you’re hosting a big family meal or calli...

In this episode, we talk about what happens when a loved one begins losing their sense of time — mixing up days, seasons, appointments, or believing events are happening “right now” when they aren’t. These time slips can be confusing and emotional for everyone involved. We’ll explore why the brain struggles to track time in dementia and share gentle ways to respond, reduce stress, and stay connect...