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Every so often, a dream takes shape that feels bigger than you imagined.That’s how it has felt for both  Ruth Shea  and me as the  Taming the Chaos of Dementia Institute  has grown into a place where  all  caregivers — at home or in care facilities — can find the support, guidance, and tools they deserve. Today, I want to celebrate the Institute and the caregivers who inspire every part of this work. Why We Built This Institute Between Ruth and me, we have decades of experien

Celebrating our newest book and the caregivers who inspired i t. Today was a special day. Ruth and I had the honor of launching our newest book,  Caring Through Chaos: Notebook for Dementia Caregivers , at the  Northern Virginia Dementia Care Consortium 2025 —a gathering dedicated to  dementia caregiver support , essential  caregiving resources , and innovative  person-centered dementia care . As we stood among family caregivers, nurses, social workers, and memory-care profes

On August 18, 2025 , I had the privilege of presenting at ASID Gather in Atlanta , sharing how design becomes a silent caregiver, my...

Dear Friends, I want to share something deeply personal—and exciting. After years of walking the dementia caregiving journey myself,...

Dear Friends, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news — not just one, but  two  new caregiver resources will be launching on  June 17th...

Who Am I Now? The Loss of Identity in Dementia Reflections from a Caregiver’s Heart As a caregiver to my husband Joe, there were so many...

They say that when someone loses a limb, they can still feel it—an ache, a tingling sensation, a ghostly presence of what once was.

What do you see? The Burden? or the Person? Why do you write off older adults too soon? Yes, you. Why do we all do it? It’s easy to...

Breaking the Stigma of Dementia I thought the stigma around dementia was long past. Haven’t we moved beyond the days of whispered...

When Mark’s wife, Sara, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, he believed his toughest battle would be facing the disease itself....

Dementia is one of the most frightening health risks facing the aging population. I know this all too well—I have been a dementia...

Storms have a way of grabbing our attention. Whether it's the snow and ice storms that recently swept across the Midwest and East Coast,...

The holidays are often painted as a season of joy, laughter, and togetherness. But for those of us caring for a loved one with dementia,...

One minute, Joe and I were enjoying a quiet evening, and the next, we were plunged into darkness. The power had gone out, and Joe, ever...

Last night, I had the pleasure of visiting the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. , for a special exhibit showcasing artwork created...

2024 NSTC Biomedicine and Precision Medicine Workshop – Netherlands   October 21, 2024 | Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam The Erasmus...

In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, dementia caregivers emerge as true superheroes, navigating the complexities of...

Caregiving is a journey like no other. It can be deeply rewarding, but it also comes with immense emotional and physical demands. As...

As many of you know, my late husband, Joe, passed away with Alzheimer’s Disease. It was a heart-wrenching journey that I faced both as...

What are the "Golden Rules of Dementia Communication? I wish I had known the golden rules of dementia caregiving when I was caring for...