Becoming Dementia Aware

03/12/2026

Common Misunderstandings About Dementia #2
Myth: “They’re just being difficult.”

When a person with dementia refuses help, repeats questions, or becomes agitated, it can feel intentional.
It isn’t.

Dementia damages the parts of the brain responsible for reasoning, impulse control, and emotional regulation. The person is responding to a world that no longer makes sense to them.
What may look like stubbornness is often:
• Confusion
• Fear
• Sensory overload
• Inability to process instructions

Behavior is communication.
When we look for the reason behind the behavior, caregiving becomes less about control and more about understanding.

— Dr. Tam Cummings

03/03/2026

Common Misunderstandings About Dementia #1
❌ “Memory loss is the main problem.”
Dementia is not just about forgetting.
It also affects judgment, reasoning, emotions, language, and perception.
That’s why someone may:
• Accuse others of stealing
• Refuse care
• Become agitated late in the day
• Say they want to “go home”
These behaviors aren’t intentional.
They’re symptoms of brain change.
When we understand that dementia affects the whole brain — not just memory — we move from correction to compassion.
— Dr. Tam Cummings

02/26/2026

Effective caregiving for people with dementia starts with knowledge about the disease. Dr. Cummings often starts her caregiver training sessions with a short quiz to test the caregivers’ knowledge of dementia. Do you know the answers?

These questions reveal common misconceptions that can shape how care is given. When caregivers understand what dementia is—and what it isn’t—they’re better equipped to respond with skill, patience, and confidence. Training makes the difference.

02/17/2026

Reduced Stress & Burnout — another benefit of staff training!
When caregivers have practical tools for communication, redirection, and behavior support, the work becomes more manageable. Training by Dr. Tam Cummings equips staff with strategies that de-escalate situations and prevent frustration from building. Other benefits: Improved job satisfaction and stronger retention among professional caregiving teams.

02/09/2026

Training makes a HUGE difference in how your staff responds to individuals with memory loss. Professional caregivers face dozens of small decisions every shift—how to respond, redirect, or support someone living with dementia. Training from Dr. Tam Cummings helps caregivers understand why behaviors happen and how to respond effectively. Greater confidence, fewer second-guessing moments, and more consistent, person-centered care across the team are just a few of the benefits from her training. https://www.tamcummings.com/training.

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.