Dementia Darling

02/21/2026

It can be incredibly difficult for families to make the decision to start hospice services for their family member. Sometimes, they even have to push against the pressure by medical professionals to pursue more aggressive measures that they know their family member would not want.

I was talking with a woman about the decision to start hospice care for her mom. She shared that her mom had been talking about being ready to die for many years; as she really wanted to be reunited with her deceased husband and felt her quality of life was very poor.

Her Mom was hospitalized yet again, and the woman knew that her mom would not want the surgery that was recommended. Her mom was no longer able to make decisions on her own, and so her daughter became her decision maker. The daughter informed the doctor that she wanted to bring her mom home rather than have the surgery he recommended.

She shared with me that the doctor had told her that he wasn’t on board with just letting someone die.

“I had to dig really deep and hold firm that these are my mom’s wishes, even when the doctor pressured me repeatedly. She was clear with me about what she wanted so I made it happen, regardless of the people who were trying to make me feel bad about it.”

Thankfully, she and her mother had many conversations over time about what her mother wanted regarding her care. The daughter was able to recall these conversations and then advocate for her wishes to be carried through.

Unfortunately, I see too often that family members are put in the impossible position of making decisions for their person without knowing having had any of these oh-so-important conversations.

It’s the conversations that give us confidence to make
decisions on someone’s behalf.

Not sure where to start? The Death Deck can help. With multiple-choice questions and a dose of humor, we make it easier to get the conversation started.

02/21/2026

was so gracious on the pink carpet last week for the gala with 🩷

Here is another pink haired baddie sharing some love for caregivers 🫶🏻💐💐💐💐💝

02/20/2026

Caregiver! 🤩🩷

Have you heard of ?! 👏👏

To celebrate you, I’ve teamed up with to give TWO of you: a JubileeTV + a 1-year membership (a $389 value)! 📺✨

All you have to do to enter:

1. Follow Dementia Darling and Jubileetv 🩷
2. Share this post to your story 🫶🏻
3. Comment “DONE” below ✅

Winners announced in a couple of days.

This giveaway is in celebration of National Caregivers Day!

To the ones who show up every single day with patience, love, and strength—I see you, and I appreciate you. 🩷

I wish I could hug every single one of you! 🫂Thank you for all that you do! 🩷💐💐💐

02/19/2026

Join me at the The Eden Alternative International Conference next month!! 🌎✨

Link in comments!!

02/19/2026

Whether you're tracking medical bills, driving your loved one to appointments, or paying for home modifications, there's a good chance you're missing deductions that could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

What We'll Cover:
- Who qualifies as your dependent for tax purposes
- Medical and dental expenses you can deduct
- Tax credits available to caregivers
- How to track and organize expenses throughout the year
- Common mistakes cargivers make when filing

Register here -
https://luma.com/tlto0a6p

02/19/2026

I’m still fan-girling over meeting at the 30th anniversary gala this past weekend for ! 👏🫶🏻💝

and her mother, known as Muzzy, were incredibly gracious with their time and sharing of wisdom. I cannot thank them both enough for opening up their lives during the most emotionally enduring journey to help others feel seen and encouraged to get the support they need. Thank you again for your kindness and openness in sharing 🫂✨

Did you watch and relate with their story? 🩷

02/17/2026

Today’s question from The Death Deck invites us to consider what we want to be hearing in our final days.

Do you prefer music, nature, a tv program, or perhaps silence? Or another answer not listed ?

02/17/2026

Congratulations to 30 years of the Power of Love Gala by Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and their Keep Memory Alive Event Center 💝

It was another epic year of celebrating the powerful work that Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is doing in our city and beyond!

Larry and Camille Ruvo have created such a vital resource and has accomplished so much. From the groundbreaking partnership with Maria Shriver in 2020, they opened the nation’s first Alzheimer’s prevention clinic designed specifically for women to the pioneering research in CTE in athletes and biomarker studies for Alzheimer’s disease! Most people don’t think of as a hub for brain research but it IS! 🧠

I was ecstatic to be back on the pink carpet to ask for messages of hope and love for family caregivers and those they care for. 🩷 The moment you bring up family caregiving or dementia even to a celebrity you know it’s a universal human experience. Dementia doesn’t discriminate and doesn’t care if you have money. The conversations were emotional and inspiring, as always.

I am thankful for the time that the man of the night gave me, Kenny Loggins! Additionally, Ken Cronin, Lisa Vanderpump, Bronwyn Newport, Maria Shriver and more were gracious and kind.💐✨

The food, as always, was exquisite from father-son duos, Wolfgang Puck and Charlie Palmer with their talented sons, Byron and Reed! 🍽️

The music performances were phenomenal and the decor was magical! 🤩

Check out the vital work that Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is doing and support their research and programming! 👏

Thank you for having me back!🥰🫶🏻

02/16/2026

Celebrating 30 years of the Power of Love Gala—a milestone marked by a deepened commitment to understanding brain health and the need for family and caregiver support!🩷💝

This past Valentine's Day in Las Vegas, I attended this epic event for the 4th time, put on by the Cleveland Clinic Nevada and Keep Memory Alive Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health!

I was back on the pink carpet collecting messages of love for the caregivers who are the backbone of this mission. The evening was made even more significant by the presence of Maria Shriver, founder of the The Women's Alzheimer's Movement - WAM at Cleveland Clinic!

The statistics are sobering: women make up nearly two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer's .
Her friendship with Larry and Camille Ruvo—who founded this gala 30 years ago in memory of Lou Ruvo—led to a groundbreaking partnership. In 2020, they opened the nation's first Alzheimer's prevention clinic designed specifically for women, housed right inside the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health .

From one family's grief to a global movement serving thousands of patients and caregivers—that's the legacy of love. Here's to 30 more years of research, prevention, and hope. 👏💝🧠

02/16/2026

It’s always a gift to see Dr. Dylan Wint, Medical Director for 🧠🫶🏻

Listen to his expert advice 🩷

02/16/2026

A message from 💝💐🫶🏻

We are at the 30th anniversary gala for the and this event ensures many vital resources for families are free! 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

02/15/2026