Becoming Dementia Aware

12/22/2025

To all caregivers—professionals and family members alike—thank you for the compassion, patience, and strength you bring to others every day. The holidays can be especially demanding when you’re caring for someone with dementia. Please remember to extend the same kindness to yourself that you give so freely to others. May this season bring you moments of rest, support, and peace—and may you know how deeply your work is valued.

Wishing you comfort, connection, and hope this holiday season.

12/18/2025

Need a break from caregiving during the holidays — and even after? Start the new year by finding a respite care center near you. Respite care offers a much-needed break so caregivers can recharge, finish errands, and simply relax. Here's a good place to start your search: https://archrespite.org

Visit ARCH to find respite programs, explore innovative and exemplary respite services, find out how to become a respite provider, learn about the latest respite research, and discover how your state's Lifespan Respite Care Program and State Respite Coalition are building better systems to access ca...

12/09/2025

The top caregiver mistakes—correcting memory, expecting too much independence, and rushing care—aren’t caused by lack of compassion. They’re caused by lack of understanding of how dementia changes the brain.
That’s why families and professionals turn to Dr. Tam Cummings, one of the nation’s leading gerontologists, for practical, science-based dementia training.

Her programs help caregivers:

Understand the disease instead of reacting to the symptoms
Communicate in ways that calm, comfort, and build trust
Simplify daily tasks to reduce frustration and increase success
Slow the pace of care to decrease agitation and increase connection
Protect their own emotional well-being while supporting their patient’s
When caregivers learn the why behind behaviors, their stress drops—and so does the stress of the person they care for.
Better training creates better days for everyone.
Learn more about Dr. Cummings’ caregiver education and how it can transform your care journey. https://www.tamcummings.com/training

12/03/2025

Top 3 Biggest Mistakes Professional Caregivers Make — #3
Labeling behaviors as “agitation” or “resistance” instead of looking for the unmet need behind them.
Behavior is communication—especially as verbal abilities decline. What looks like anger, withdrawal, pacing, wandering, or refusal is usually a signal:
Pain
Fear
Hunger
Overstimulation
Fatigue
Confusion
A need for connection or comfort

Better approach: Pause before reacting. Ask: What is this behavior trying to tell me? Compassion grows when caregivers shift from judgment to curiosity.

11/18/2025

Top 3 Biggest Mistakes Professional Caregivers Make — #1
Trying to correct a person’s memory instead of supporting their reality.
In dementia care, facts matter far less than feelings. When caregivers insist on correcting details (“That didn’t happen,” “You already ate,” “Your mother passed away”), the result is predictable: anger builds, anxiety rises, trust falls, and behavior symptoms escalate.

Better approach: Join their emotional truth. Redirect gently. Reassure first, educate never.
The goal is not to make the person “remember.”
The goal is to help them feel safe, heard, and supported.
This is the foundation of relationship-centered dementia care.
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11/10/2025

What is one of the most common complaints families share about memory care facilities?
That caregivers seem rushed or inattentive — leaving residents feeling unseen or misunderstood.
Dr. Tam Cummings’ dementia training changes that. By teaching caregivers how to read the progression of dementia and respond appropriately at each stage, her program builds empathy, skill, and confidence — transforming hurried care into truly person-centered support.

When caregivers understand the “why” behind behaviors, they deliver calmer, more compassionate care.
👉 Learn more about Dr. Cummings’ dementia training ahttps://www.tamcummings.com/training

10/27/2025

Dive into insight and compassion with Dr. Tam Cummings’ authoritative book on dementia. Explore real stories of memory, hope, and healing—crafted to inform, educate, empower, and support professional caregivers and families navigating dementia’s journey. Discover more at tamcummings.com

10/21/2025

Professional caregivers deserve professional support.
Dr. Tam Cummings, a nationally recognized dementia expert, offers specialized training for caregiving teams—equipping professionals with the tools to better understand dementia behaviors, reduce stress, and improve quality of care.
Learn more about how Dr. Cummings can support your team: tamcummings.com.

10/14/2025

When a loved one begins to get lost on familiar routes, forgets where they placed their keys, or struggles with once-simple driving tasks, it’s more than frustration — it may signal changes in memory and judgment that put their safety at risk.

If you notice these signs in a loved one, don’t ignore them. A medical evaluation can provide answers and help you plan next steps with confidence and care. For advice on how to handle the situation to ensure a safe outcome, contact Dr. Cummings. https://www.tamcummings.com/consulting

10/07/2025

A decline in enthusiasm for favorite pastimes — like gardening, music, or visiting friends — can be an early sign of dementia. As the brain changes, motivation and focus can fade.
Wondering what’s going on with a loved one? Dr. Tam Cummings can provide answers and direction: https://www.tamcummings.com/consulting.

09/30/2025

Anxiety is often an overlooked feature of dementia. For those living with dementia, the world can feel confusing or unpredictable — leading to worry, restlessness, or even panic.
Caregivers can help ease this by creating calm routines, offering reassurance, reducing noise or clutter, and using gentle redirection when anxiety builds.

09/24/2025

Did you know subtle changes in facial expressions, eye movement, or speech fluency can be early clues to cognitive decline?
As dementia progresses, the brain regions controlling facial recognition, expression, and micro-gestures may be affected. Loved ones, caregivers, and professionals might notice:
• Less animation in facial expressions
• Difficulty matching words to expressions or emotions
• Slower or less fluid speech, more pauses
• Reduced eye contact or delayed responses
If you or someone you care for shows these signs, it doesn’t mean dementia is certain—but it’s worth discussing with a neurologist or geriatric specialist. Early detection = better care and planning.