Celebrating the Taming the Chaos of Dementia Institute: A Home for Caregivers Everywhere

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 experience spanning home caregiving, social work, dementia behavior, healthcare design, and professional care environments. We have worked with families trying their hardest at home and with frontline staff running memory care units and senior living communities.

What we learned? Caregivers everywhere need support — whether they are caring for a parent in their living room or tending to 40 residents on a busy memory care floor.

We created the Institute to be a resource for both:

For Home Caregivers

A place to learn, breathe, find clarity, and feel less alone.

For Care Facilities & Professional Staff

A place to access training, person-centered tools, and environmental strategies that elevate the quality of care.

Our mission is simple:To empower caregivers and transform dementia caregiving — whether at home, in assisted living, or in long-term care communities.

What Caregivers Tell Us

From home caregivers we hear:

“I didn’t know where to start.”“I wish I had this sooner.”

From dementia care staff we hear:

“We need more training — real training.”“Small changes make a big difference.”

The truth is universal:Caregivers — wherever they work or live — need tools, confidence, and compassionate guidance.

And that is exactly what the Institute provides.

How the Institute Helps Home Caregivers

📘 Compassionate Tools You Can Use Today

• The Caregiver Compass — your roadmap through the journey

• This Is Me — preserving identity and personhood

• Caring Through Chaos — a simple notebook for daily notes, triggers, and meaningful moments

• Taming the Chaos of Dementia — practical guidance rooted in real stories

💬 1:1 Support

Caregivers can connect with Ruth or me for guidance, reassurance, and problem-solving.

🏡 Home Environment Tips & Care Strategies

Design solutions that reduce confusion and improve comfort.

How the Institute Supports Care Facilities

🧠 Staff Training & Professional Development

Behavioral insights, communication tools, and dementia-awareness programs designed for real-world caregiving.

🧭 Environmental Design Support

From wayfinding to lighting to person-centered environments, we help facilities create calming, human-centered spaces.

📚 Tools for Staff & Residents

“This Is Me” profiles, behavior-mapping tools, sensory strategies, and actionable care plans.

🤝 Consulting for Memory Care Communities

Guidance on operations, engagement, and improving quality of life for residents and caregivers.

Both home caregivers and professional teams share the same goal:to give people with dementia care that honors their dignity, identity, and humanity.

Now, We’d Love to Hear From You

As the Institute grows, we want to grow with your needs — at home and in professional care settings.

✨ For Home Caregivers:

What do you need more of?

• Behavior tips?

• Design ideas?

• Emotional support?

• Printable tools?

• A community space to connect?

  
  

✨ For Care Facilities:

What would help your teams?

• Staff training?

• Quick-reference guides?

• Environmental strategies?

• Family communication tools?

• Behavior-based interventions?

  

✨ What topics or challenges should we focus on next?

Your voice is shaping the next phase of the Institute.Tell us what would support you best — we are listening.

Together, We Make Caregiving Better

Caregiving — whether in a home or a care community — is sacred, meaningful work.Ruth and I are here for you, ready to support your journey with compassion, clarity, and real-life tools.

Thank you for your dedication, your strength, and your heart.You are the reason this Institute exists.

With gratitude,Barbara and Ruth

About Barbara & Ruth

As co-founders of the Taming the Chaos of Dementia Institute, Barbara Huelat and Ruth Shea bring together decades of experience in dementia caregiving, human-centered design, social work, and family support.

Together, they co-authored The Caregiver Compass, This Is Me, and Caring Through Chaos—practical, compassionate resources created to help caregivers navigate daily challenges with confidence, clarity, and dignity. Their shared mission is to empower caregivers and elevate person-centered dementia care through knowledge, connection, and meaningful support.

👉 Learn more: barbarahuelat.com | tamingthechaosofdementia.org