Becoming Dementia Aware

01/20/2026

Top 3 Ways to Reduce Stress in Caregiving: Here’s Number 2, Slow Down & Connect. Rushing is one of the biggest stress triggers in dementia care. Fast movements, multiple instructions, and task-focused care can overwhelm someone with dementia.

Try this instead:
Slow your pace. Make eye contact. Explain one step at a time. Lead with connection before action.
When people feel safe, care goes more smoothly—and stress drops for everyone.

01/07/2026

To start the year of right, let’s look at the Top 3 ways that caregivers can reduce the stress of caring for someone with dementia.

#1 - Adjust Expectations
One of the most powerful ways to reduce caregiving stress is to adjust expectations. Dementia changes how the brain works. When caregivers expect abilities that no longer exist, frustration grows for everyone.

Try this instead:
Simplify tasks, focus on comfort and safety, and redefine “success” as a calm moment—not a completed checklist.

01/02/2026

Caregivers are a precious gift to those in their care, providing calm, connection, and a sense of security. May the new year bring less stress, more support, and moments of peace in all you do for others everyday.

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.
.

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