Dr Liz Geriatrics

Dr Liz Geriatrics Geriatrician (MD) | Dementia Expert | Founder Dr Liz Geriatrics | Author | Speaker

The Dr Liz Geriatrics’ vision is to keep elders strong, healthy, independent, and connected with the community. The Dr Liz Geriatrics’ mission is to provide training, education and support to families and professionals in caring for the elders, as well as caring for ourselves.

“She’s lying to me.”It’s one of the most common and heartbreaking things families say when caring for someone with demen...
05/28/2026

“She’s lying to me.”
It’s one of the most common and heartbreaking things families say when caring for someone with dementia.

But here’s what I want you to understand:

In dementia care, “truth” can be a very tricky concept.

Often, what sounds like lying is not intentional at all. The brain may no longer be processing or storing information correctly. A loved one may forget what was said, remember events differently, or become embarrassed and try to fill in the gaps.

This can happen in Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and other forms of cognitive decline.

And if we challenge or correct them too forcefully? We often meet resistance, frustration, or fear.

The question becomes not “Are they telling the truth?” But rather… “What is their brain able to understand right now?”

This is just one of the many difficult and deeply human topics I explore in my book:

Living in the Moment: A Guide to Overcoming Challenges and Finding Moments of Joy in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias.

If you’re caring for a loved one and trying to make sense of behaviors that leave you confused or overwhelmed, this book was written for you.

Learn more about why “truth” becomes complicated in dementia here:
https://www.drlizgeriatrics.com/behaviors/truth-can-be-a-tricky-concept/

And explore the book here:
www.drlizgeriatrics.com/book

Have you experienced this with someone you love? You’re not alone.

Can a horse help someone with dementia reconnect with the world around them?You might be surprised by the answer.I’ve se...
05/27/2026

Can a horse help someone with dementia reconnect with the world around them?

You might be surprised by the answer.

I’ve seen firsthand how the gentle presence of horses can bring something remarkable to elders living with dementia - calm, connection, and joy.

It’s not about riding or athletic ability. Sometimes it’s simply standing beside a horse, stroking its nose, or feeling its quiet presence.

These beautiful animals can help:

* Ease anxiety and agitation
* Encourage touch and emotional connection
* Spark memories and engagement
* Reach people in ways conversation sometimes cannot

For elders who struggle to find words, those moments of connection can be incredibly powerful.

At Dr Liz Geriatrics, we believe good dementia care is about more than managing symptoms. It’s about helping people experience comfort, purpose, and moments of genuine joy.

And sometimes, healing comes with four legs and a gentle heart.

Read more about how Connected Horse are helping seniors here:
https://drlizgeriatrics.com/resources/2019-5-30-horses-helping-seniors/

Follow them on Facebook Connected Horse

Have you witnessed the special bond between animals and someone with dementia? We’d love to hear your story below.



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Ok. This is too cute. And healthy. Before you take those expensive supplements, they’re supposed to prevent dementia. Pi...
05/27/2026

Ok. This is too cute. And healthy. Before you take those expensive supplements, they’re supposed to prevent dementia. Pick a hobby that keeps your mind engaged and brings out your creativity. OK I couldn’t even do this at the peak of my knitting pros 30 years ago.

Keeping physically active 30 minutes of exercise a day a plant-based diet staying connected with people you love decreases the risk of dementia by 40%. The supplements have no studies that show they work.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXuJ0z-iJUd/?igsh=MWxxejNqdmo2YnRhbw==

“What causes dementia?”I’m asked this question all the time.The simple answer is this: dementia happens when the brain i...
05/25/2026

“What causes dementia?”

I’m asked this question all the time.

The simple answer is this: dementia happens when the brain is damaged. But the why behind that damage can vary.

It may come from:

* Small strokes - sometimes so subtle people never knew they happened
* Traumatic brain injury
* Long-term alcohol or drug use
* Or protein deposits, like the beta amyloid plaques we see in Alzheimer’s disease, which interfere with how brain cells communicate

What dementia looks like depends on where the brain is affected and how much damage has occurred. For some people it begins with memory loss. For others, it may show up first as confusion, poor judgment, irritability, or personality changes.

Now here’s something important:

Not all confusion is dementia.

Low Vitamin B12, thyroid problems, infections, medication side effects, even a bad mix of medications, can mimic dementia symptoms and may be treatable. That’s why proper evaluation matters.

And while we cannot yet reverse true dementia, there is hopeful news.

Research continues to show that we may reduce dementia risk, sometimes significantly, through lifestyle choices:

* A mostly plant-based or Mediterranean-style diet
* Daily movement and exercise
* Avoiding to***co
* Limiting alcohol
* Taking good care of our heart and blood vessels

I tell my patients this all the time:

Protecting the brain starts long before memory problems appear.
The choices we make today matter.

Learn more about dementia, prevention, and care at:
www.drlizgeriatrics.com

05/25/2026

Well. Yes. All the advertisement is for sugar, fat and salty foods.

I have family that love cold cuts.

My approach is to make more veggie meals or have veggie snacks available.

Minestrone sautéing up whatever’s dying in the refrigerator mixing that with some beans, a can of tomatoes, some chicken broth some spices and some noodles works well.

Stirfry is great and quick.

As I always say a plant-based diet is the best. And these days it’s definitely less expensive than meat.

Home. It’s where memories live.For many older adults, staying at home for as long as possible is not just a preference, ...
05/24/2026

Home. It’s where memories live.

For many older adults, staying at home for as long as possible is not just a preference, it’s deeply tied to comfort, dignity, and independence.

But aging at home safely takes more than good intentions.

As health needs change, families are often left wondering:

* Is home still the safest option?
* What support should we put in place?
* How do we balance independence with safety?

The good news? With the right planning, support, and environment, many elders can continue living at home and enjoying the familiarity they love.

In this article, Dr Liz shares practical guidance to help families navigate the realities of aging at home with compassion and confidence.

Read more here:
https://drlizgeriatrics.com/dementia/care/aging-at-home/

Is aging at home something your family is considering or navigating right now? Share your thoughts below.

Caregivers… this is your gentle reminder.When you start feeling worn down, exhausted, or stretched too thin, that’s not ...
05/23/2026

Caregivers… this is your gentle reminder.

When you start feeling worn down, exhausted, or stretched too thin, that’s not a sign to push harder, it’s a sign to pause and recharge.

Sometimes the best medicine is simple:

Step outside
Move your body
Feel the sunshine or fresh air
Take in the scenery
Do something that makes you smile

As caregivers, we spend so much time looking after everyone else that we forget our own batteries need recharging too.

Today’s Dr Liz prescription:Take one hour for yourself. Go somewhere beautiful. Do something fun. Move your body.

No guilt. No apologies

What’s your favorite way to recharge? Share below.

Many families who consult our practice are surprised to find that there are many kinds of dementia. It’s not just Alzhei...
05/23/2026

Many families who consult our practice are surprised to find that there are many kinds of dementia. It’s not just Alzheimer’s disease that can cause cognitive decline.

One of the most confounding types of dementia is called “Lewy Body dementia.”

Lewy Body dementia stems from protein deposits that cause the brain to slow down some brain transmitters’ production and increase others. Like Alzheimer’s, it can cause confusion. It is more common in people with Parkinson’s disease.

The hallmark of this form of dementia is early onset visual hallucinations: everything from abstract shapes to conversations with departed loved ones. REM sleep disorder is another common symptom (acting out dreams). It can also cause dramatic mood swings: a person may be clear and sunny one day and delusional the next.

While elders with Alzheimer’s can also have hallucinations, they are not usually one of the first symptoms. If the hallucinations come first, chances are the problem may be Lewy body dementia.

To learn more: https://www.drlizgeriatrics.com/

No one likes to talk about it much, but “leaky gut,” or the inability to completely control one’s bowels, is one of the ...
05/21/2026

No one likes to talk about it much, but “leaky gut,” or the inability to completely control one’s bowels, is one of the most common problems I face as a geriatrician.

This condition usually has its origins in an inflammation, which can have many causes:
* The most serious - inflammatory bowel disease,
* The most common - irritable bowel disease.

If you have been diagnosed with one of the conditions above, several medications can help. However, common-sense lifestyle changes can make a huge difference.

Almost everyone does better with more fiber in their diet: whole grains, unprocessed fruits, and vegetables. Fiber makes you feel full, but more importantly slows the rate of sugar hitting the bloodstream and so decreases insulin dirge, feeds and encourages a healthy gut microbiome, and reduces colon cancer risk. A bowl of yogurt and cut fruit is healthier than a smoothie.

Limiting alcohol and caffeine will also help gut function. Keep active—exercise at least 30 minutes per day.

OMG. So. As you know, I’m very much a booster for fruits and vegetables. They are the fiber that is the probiotics that...
05/19/2026

OMG. So. As you know, I’m very much a booster for fruits and vegetables. They are the fiber that is the probiotics that’s great for your microbiome.
Studies have proven that a plant based diet and 30 minutes of exercise a day decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke, and dementia by 40%.

However. I have my limits. OK, I’m cheap.
I am in a small village in Denmark. We’re launching our boat in a couple days, and I want to make a halibut, sautéed broccoli and roast potatoes for dinner.

After walking a mile to and from the local grocery store with an inexpensive bag of potatoes that I didn’t look at too closely… I found they just took them out of the ground and didn’t wash them.
😳

I’ve never run into that before. So I spent the last hour scrubbing potatoes, using up a quarter of our water tank on the boat and flicking bits of dirt everywhere my shirt, the kitchen wall.

I’m happy to report that all are now cleaned. The potatoes are drying so we can store the ones we don’t use tonight. My shirt is washed and hanging in the back and I’m catching up with Dr Liz Geriatrics communications.

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DrLizGeriatrics
Burlingame, CA
94010

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+16503578834

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