The Dementia Collective

What happens when a system built to protect people becomes the very thing that limits their freedom — and the people inside it are left to carry the emotional weight? In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with Dr. Sharon Kaasalainen — nurse, researcher , and co-lead of the ⁠S PA-LTC palliative care initiative ⁠ — to explore what long-term care looks like from the inside, why caregivers often fe...

In this short bonus episode of  The Dementia Collective , Andrew Karesa turns to Star Trek: The Next Generation and the episode “Sarek” to examine a deeper cultural question: What happens when a society built on logic confronts cognitive decline? Through the allegory of Bendii Syndrome, this five minute reflection moves beyond disease comparison and into structural critique. Vulcan culture equates...

What happens when dementia enters a home where achievement is expected, aging is denied, and illness isn’t talked about until it can’t be ignored? In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with  Anoushka Fernandes  — caregiver, consultant, and founder of  The Soggy Sandwich  — to explore how dementia shows up inside South Asian families and why silence still surrounds it. After leaving a senior gov...

In this short bonus episode of The Dementia Collective, Andrew Karesa challenges one of the most common assumptions in dementia care: that a person living with dementia is simply “confused.” What if that word is masking something more specific? Through an unexpected comparison using characters from Pokémon, this five minute reflection explores the difference between slowed cognitive processing and...

What if better dementia communication didn’t start with correcting someone — but by stepping into their world? In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with Rachael Wonderlin , internationally recognized dementia care expert and founder of Dementia By Day , to explore a transformative idea reshaping how caregivers connect with loved ones: their reality comes first. Rachael shares how her early exp...

In this  Ask the Experts  conversation, Teepa Snow ( Positive Approach to Care ), Carrie Aalberts ( Dementia Darling ), Dr. Natali Edmonds ( Dementia Careblazers ), and Rachael Wonderlin ( Dementia by Day ) explore the ethics of disguising exits in dementia care. The discussion includes real-world examples such as bookshelf-painted doors, waterfall murals, and other environmental design strategies...

What if the future of dementia care wasn’t in a hospital, but on a farm? In this episode,  Andrew Karesa  sits down with  Rebekah Churchyard , Founder and CEO of  Green Care Farms , to explore how one granddaughter’s love for her grandparents sparked a new model of dementia care rooted in nature, purpose, and community. After witnessing the gaps her grandparents faced in rural dementia care, Rebek...

What if one man’s run could change the course of dementia research? In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with  Jason Boschan , founder of  Run4Papa , to explore how one grandson’s promise to his “Papa” became a global movement for hope, awareness, and change. Inspired by his grandfather, Dr. Louis “Papa” Heyman — a lifelong pediatrician who dedicated his life to caring for others — Jason has r...

What if dementia care wasn’t about managing decline — but about nurturing connection, learning, and joy? In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with  James Lee , co-founder and CEO of Bella Groves, a dementia care community in Bulverde, Texas, that’s redefining what person-centered care can look like. For nearly 20 years, James has been reshaping senior living from the inside out — from his earl...

What does trust look like when you’re caring for someone with dementia — and how do families rebuild it when systems, stress, and exhaustion get in the way? In this episode, Andrew sits down with Lance A. Slatton — known to millions as The Senior Care Influencer and host of the award-winning podcast All Home Care Matters. For more than 20 years, Lance has walked alongside families through the hard...

What if your family forgot who you were? What if you had just minutes to prepare to be remembered? In this episode, Andrew talks with  Aaron Tong , caregiver, father, and founder of  Aeternum  — a private, inheritable digital platform designed to preserve memory, legacy, and identity across generations. Aaron shares the deeply personal story behind Aeternum: a terrifying flight, a conversation wit...

In this powerful episode of The Dementia Collective, host  Andrew Karesa  sits down with  Stephanie Fauquier  — strategic leader, endurance athlete, and founder of Race with Steph — to explore how love, movement, and purpose can transform the way we talk about dementia. When Stephanie’s mother,  Dr. Robin McLeod , an Order of Canada recipient and trailblazing surgeon, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’...

What does it really mean to care for someone with dementia — not just keep them safe, but keep them seen? In this episode, Andrew talks with Katie Fyfe , caregiver, storyteller, and founder of Eldering.co.uk , who moved her father next door and gave him a dog — not because it was easy, but because it was right. That decision sparked a journey that led to the creation of @dadanddolly , a growing co...

In this episode of The Dementia Collective, Andrew Karesa discusses the profound impact of language in dementia care. He emphasizes the importance of using respectful and person-centered language, which acknowledges the individuality of those living with dementia. By reframing terms and focusing on the person rather than the diagnosis, caregivers can foster better relationships and improve the qua...

In this powerful episode of The Dementia Collective, host Andrew Karesa sits down with Dr. Rose Joudi — a globally recognized expert in aging, ethnocultural diversity, and elder abuse prevention. Drawing from a life that spans the Middle East, Australia, and now Canada, Dr. Joudi shares her deeply personal journey and the cultural lens she brings to elder care, trauma-informed practice, and system...

In this special solo episode of The Dementia Collective, host Andrew Karesa shares the personal story behind blueBell Village. This company was not built from a business plan. It was built for one person—his grandmother, Shirley Bell. Andrew opens up about how caring for his grandmother shaped everything. From her love of gardening to her sharp mind and daily scrabble games, Shirley inspired a vis...

Who Really Holds the Healthcare System Together? What if we recognized caregivers not as afterthoughts — but as the backbone of our healthcare system? In this episode of  The Dementia Collective , we sit down with Dr. Sharon Anderson — researcher, educator, caregiver, and one of the leading voices behind Alberta’s caregiver-centered care movement. Sharon’s path to this work isn’t just academic — i...

What if dementia wasn’t a whispered word, but a conversation broadcast across the world? In this episode of  The Dementia Collective , we sit down with Pete Hill, the voice behind  The ‘D’ Word  — the UK’s only weekly radio show dedicated to dementia. Pete’s path wasn’t a straight line. After more than 30 years in local government and a side career in sports radio, his outlook shifted when he join...

When someone you love is diagnosed with dementia, life can change overnight. You go from being a spouse, a child, or a friend — to suddenly becoming a caregiver. It’s emotional, overwhelming, and often filled with uncertainty. In this episode of The Dementia Collective, we sit down with Tammy Lautner, a Registered Social Worker and founder of Peace of Mind Consulting, who helps families navigate t...

What if dementia care could feel more like a neighborhood than an institution? In this episode of The Dementia Collective, we sit down with Elroy Jespersen, the brainchild behind The Village Langley, Canada’s first dementia village. Elroy shares how his formative years in a children’s home, surrounded by community and collective living, shaped his belief that people thrive best when they belong. A...

What if receiving a dementia diagnosis wasn’t the end of the story — but the start of something new? In this episode, we meet Jim Mann, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2007 and has spent the years since as a leading voice in dementia advocacy across Canada. With host Andrew Karesa, Jim reflects on how the diagnosis impacted his identity, why he didn’t feel devastated by the news, and what mo...

Caring for someone with dementia can make you feel like you’re constantly balancing between tasks and meaning — between caregiving and connection. In this episode, we meet Karen Murdock, founder of Voiced Memories, a digital storytelling platform that blends personal photos and audio narration to reduce isolation and support cognitive health. Karen shares her own caregiving journey — from supporti...

Caring for a loved one with dementia is deeply personal — and often overwhelming. In this episode, we explore how practical strategies and personalized technology can help lighten the load for family caregivers. Join Karen Tyrell, dementia care expert and founder of Personalized Dementia Solutions Inc., and Andrew Karesa, founder of blueBell Village, as they share insights on how to feel more conf...

This new podcast series opens the door to the often unseen world of dementia caregiving.  Through expert insight, lived experience, and practical solutions,  The Dementia Collective  explores what it means to care — and to be cared for — in the face of memory loss. From blueBell Village, and hosted by founder  Andrew Karesa , this show brings together voices from the front lines of dementia care:...