Sweet Basil Senior Care, LLC

04/04/2026

Here are a few basic tips to facilitate more positive interactions:

1. Approach your person from the front so they are not startled to see or hear you.
2. Position yourself at their level to avoid towering over them
3. Smile to convey that you are happy to see them (fake it till you make it if needed).
4. Use a calm, pleasant tone (I call this my kindergarten teacher voice).
5. Match their mood to validate their feelings (if they are sad, don’t bounce in like a cheerleader for example).

Refining our presence is the first step to approaching a potentially challenging situation.

03/28/2026

Sit down and detach from caregiving life for a few minutes. Today we’re learning a quick and stealthy breathing technique for those times of overwhelm and frustration.

03/23/2026

Even when they lack a full understanding of the situation and their perception doesn’t align with reality, your person’s emotions and feelings are totally valid. When we step into their reality, try to understand what's happening from their point of view, and accept it as real for them, we have chosen the road of validation rather than confrontation. One way to validate feelings and emotions is to simply acknowledge them:

“It sounds like you’re missing your hometown. Tell me about it.”

“That TV remote looks complicated. Let’s figure it out together.”

“The hallway seems busy right now. I’ll walk with you to dinner.”

03/16/2026

Link: https://youtu.be/uN0-fl9vokg?si=Ga3yDvhTsKfUsYwc

03/15/2026

When a person living with dementia is blaming you for bad news, loss of agency, etc., sometimes the best thing to do is remove the target (you) from their space for a few minutes.

"I agree, this isn't fair. Whoops - I almost forgot to switch the laundry. Be right back."

03/08/2026

Think back to the beginning of your dementia caregiving journey.

You undoubtedly know a lot more about dementia, your person’s symptoms, their preferences, and what may “set them off.”

Your brain has the incredible ability to learn, problem solve and adjust your approach.

Sending a virtual pat on the back to all care partners out there.

03/02/2026

Often dementia is defined only by loss, But there are also moments of laughter, connection, resilience and unexpected happiness.

If you are living with dementia or are caring for someone who is - we would love to hear about a moment of grace, success, meaningfulness or joy.

Stories can be short and simple. Everyday moments are welcome.

Please leave your story in the comments, send a private message, or email it to info@sweetbasilcare.com - whatever feels best to you.

Your story may be just what someone else needs to hear today!

02/23/2026

01/21/2026

“Understanding someone's personality, life story, preferences, and fears empowers us to meet their needs and makes caregiving easier.”

- Making Peace with Dementia

01/16/2026

Friendly reminder to take a break or at least take a breath ❤️

01/15/2026

Find the link to Break for 8 in the bio.

What do we mean by stepping into their reality?

Changes in the brain due to dementia can cause people to have a distorted view of reality. They may not be interpreting what they see or hear accurately. Or, memory loss can impact how they view a situation.

When we try to understand how their brain is viewing things and align our approach with their perspective, we can often side step conflict. Several stories are shared to illustrate.

Meditation begins at 4:45.

01/06/2026

An oldie but goodie!

Caregiver tips for learning to accept a different reality, for being patient and kind.