Dementia Support Solutions, LLC

04/17/2026

A quick Amazon search for “best books on dementia” pulls up 397 books! Caregivers don’t have hours to curl up with a singular book, let alone 397 of them. So I’m starting a new series of posts sharing about recent books I’ve read. Think of these book reviews as the highlights you’d get from a friend over coffee.

First up: Floating in the Deep End by Patti Davis

https://dementiasupportsolutions.com/patti-davis-caregiving-book-review/

This book review of Floating in the Deep End by Patti Davis highlights her honest look at caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.

04/07/2026

So glad to see Howard County joining the Dementia Friendly American Network!

Building on Howard County’s Age-Friendly efforts to expand direct services, community programs, professional training, and strategic partnerships to support residents affected by dementia.

03/03/2026

📖Caring for someone with dementia isn’t about finding the “perfect” book, course, or strategy. It’s about understanding the person in front of you. Learning their history, their routines, their emotions, and the why behind their behavior.

There’s no one‑size‑fits‑all approach, and you haven’t failed if the generic tips don’t work. You know your person better than any checklist ever will. My latest post explores why individualized care matters so much, and how trusting your instincts can make caregiving feel clearer and more connected.

https://dementiasupportsolutions.com/understanding-dementia-care/

Learn why understanding your person, not generic tips, is the key to calmer, clearer, more effective caregiving

02/20/2026

What a unique insight into how we look at dementia. Please read all the way to the story at the end "The Weaver and the Great Mist". It is truly lovely.

Magic, Mirrors, and Memory: Using Story to Transform Dementia.

A fog settles over life when the word dementia is whispered. For those of us inside it, the hardest part isn’t always forgetting; it’s how others begin to look at us as if we're already gone.We find it especially hard to get the message across to some of our underserved communities. All we see a...

02/11/2026

🏠Caregiving is full of promises we make long before we understand what the journey will really ask of us. And when reality shifts, so do our plans, and that’s not failure, it’s part of the reality of dementia care.

I wrote this for every caregiver who’s ever felt pressure to “never” do something, only to discover that dementia care is anything but black and white. If you need a little permission to rethink, adjust, and choose what’s sustainable for your family, this one’s for you.
https://dementiasupportsolutions.com/never-say-never-dementia-care-planning/

Dementia care planning isn’t black and white. This article explores shifting needs, changing plans, and letting go of guilt.

01/30/2026

💡So many families wait to seek answers because the process feels overwhelming. But early diagnosis doesn’t take away hope. It creates it.
I wrote a new blog post about why early detection in dementia matters more than ever and how it can bring clarity, compassion, and meaningful choices back into the hands of the person living with dementia.

Early dementia diagnosis supports meaningful planning, clearer understanding of symptoms, and access to early treatments and support.

01/22/2026

🔰New research is giving us clearer insight into agitation in Alzheimer’s disease.
A recent clinical trial looked at whether escitalopram (an antidepressant) could help with agitation — and it didn’t show benefit. But the bloodwork told a much more interesting story.

🧬A simple blood marker called p‑tau217 confirmed Alzheimer’s changes in the brain for 94% of participants. Even more importantly, people with higher levels of this marker tended to have:
- more severe agitation
- more worsening agitation over time
- lower cognitive scores

Another marker, GFAP, also tracked with lower cognitive functioning.

❓What does this mean for families❓

🌟Blood biomarkers are becoming powerful tools for understanding where someone is in the disease process and why certain symptoms, like agitation, may be more challenging for some individuals. The FDA authorized blood tests that include p‑tau217 for use in evaluating symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease in 2025. They’re not used everywhere yet, but they’re shaping the future of dementia care and research.🌟

📞If you’re caring for someone with dementia and want help making sense of what all this means in real life, I’m here

Barnwal M, Baksh S, Ismail Z, Shade DM, Moghekar A, Ho SG, Rosenberg PB, Porsteinsson AP, Lyketsos CG; S‐CitAD Research Group. Blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease are correlated with measures of agitation and cognition in a randomized trial assessing the effects of escitalopram on agitation. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2026 Jan 18;12(1):e70203. doi: 10.1002/trc2.70203. PMID: 41560713; PMCID: PMC12812854.

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01/17/2026

🌿 Dementia Isn’t One‑Size‑Fits‑All
There’s a lot of dementia content online.
Much of it raises awareness — which is wonderful.
But it’s designed for a broad audience.

Real dementia care is deeply individual.
What works for one person
may not work for another.

What calms one person
may overwhelm someone else.

What looks like “a behavior”
might actually be communication.

That’s why personalized support matters.
Your person’s history, preferences, and strengths
should shape every approach.
Awareness content is broad.
Caregiving is specific.
My work focuses on helping families turn general concepts
into strategies that truly fit their loved one.

If you're ready for guidance that matches your loved one's needs, I'd be honored to help.

https://dementiasupportsolutions.com/

Virtual dementia caregiver education and support. Personalized consultations to help families provide confident and compassionate care.

01/16/2026

🌍 I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined the Advisory Board of the International Caregivers Association and will be serving as the VP of Care Environments. This role gives me the opportunity to contribute to global conversations about dementia care while continuing the work I care deeply about — supporting caregivers with practical, compassionate guidance.
You can read the announcement here:
👉

Today, I am pleased to announce Sarah Chao as Vice President of Care Environments at the International Caregivers Association. Care environments play a critical role in dementia care. The way a space is designed and experienced can either reduce stress or unintentionally increase it, whether care is...

01/15/2026

Caregivers often tell me, “I’m not the expert.” But the truth is, you are. You know your loved one’s history, preferences, rhythms, and personality better than anyone. My role is simply to help you make sense of what you’re seeing and offer strategies that fit your real life.
I wrote a blog post about this idea — and why your insight matters more than you think.

Empowering dementia caregivers starts with recognizing your expertise. Learn how to embrace your role with clarity and compassion.

01/14/2026

🧠 Myth vs. Fact
Myth: “People with dementia are being difficult on purpose.”
Fact: Dementia changes the brain, which changes communication, behavior, and problem‑solving. What looks like resistance is often confusion, fear, or an unmet need. When we shift our perspective, we can respond with more clarity and compassion.

01/13/2026

What exactly is a Dementia Consultant? Check out a recent blog post I made to explain this role further! https://dementiasupportsolutions.com/dementia-consultant-help-for-families/

Learn how a dementia consultant helps families reduce stress, improve communication, and create a safer home.