Blogs
Helping Loved Ones with Dementia at Mealtimes
Mealtime is more than just eating—it’s a time to connect, feel comfort, and stay independent. For people living with dementia, eating can sometimes become a
S – Sharing with Others Helps Build Better Care Together
S – Share With Others This is the last step in the CARES® Approach. Sharing with others in dementia care is very important. It helps
E – Evaluate What Works to Bring Comfort and Connection
E – Evaluate What Works The fourth step in the CARES® Approach encourages us to gently reflect on what truly helps in a caregiving moment.
R – Respond with Care When Connection Is Hard
R – Responding with Care This step in the CARES® Approach is all about using what you know and what you’ve noticed to respond in
A – Assess Behavior to Find the Meaning Behind the Changes You See
A – Assess Behavior The second step of the CARES® Approach is to gently assess behavior. When someone is no longer able to speak or
C – Connecting with the person
C – Connect with the Person “Connect with the person” is the first step in the CARES® Approach to dementia care. To truly connect with
Adjust Your Approach
When interacting with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia, it’s essential to focus on their abilities—not just their limitations. Every
Helping the Person Succeed
When supporting someone with dementia, it’s easy to focus on what they’ve lost. But to truly engage them, we also need to see their strength
Providing a Sense of Purpose
Connecting with a person living with dementia can often begin with a simple conversation—especially when that conversation centers around something meaningful to them. Talking about
How to Easily Connect with a Person Who Has Dementia
Talking to someone with dementia can feel a little tricky at first, especially if you’re unsure what to say or how to keep the conversation
Everything Is an Opportunity to Connect
People living with dementia have the same need for connection as everyone else. Every interaction—whether during dressing, meals, or daily activities—is an opportunity to engage
New Way of Caregiving by Connecting with the Person
What does it mean to “make a connection” with the people with dementia? It means that you have done something with or for them where
Assessment and Care Planning: Putting It All Together
Caring for a person with dementia requires ongoing assessment and care planning to ensure their evolving needs are met while fostering trust between caregivers and
The CARES® Approach Can Save You Time!
Caring for someone with dementia can be challenging, but the CARES® Approach makes it easier by reducing stress and improving efficiency. Instead of adding extra
Respecting Differences in Dementia Care
Every person receiving care is unique, with different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, and identities. As caregivers, embracing these differences fosters meaningful connections and ensures compassionate, person-centered
How Does Your Approach Feel to Others?
How Does Your Approach Feel to Others? You learned about the Positive Physical Approach in Key #2. To truly understand its impact, try this simple
Keys to Success with CARES® Approach
As you apply the CARES® Approach, you’ll discover that some strategies work better than others. Here are 10 essential keys to success when caring for
Using the CARES® Approach for Daily Activities
For people with dementia, everyday tasks can become challenging. Familiar items like a toothbrush or comb can cause confusion, and performing routine activities may feel
Making Dementia Care Easier with the CARES® Approach
The CARES approach by Healthcare Interactive is a structured method for person-centered dementia care. It stands for Connect, Assess, Respond, Evaluate, and Share, forming the
Impact of the Pandemic on Dementia Care
COVID-19 has significantly changed how we provide care, especially for people living with dementia. It’s a tough time for everyone, but the challenges are even
Keeping People with Dementia Safe and Thriving
You are an important part of creating a safe environment for those you care for. Safety isn’t just about physical spaces—it includes emotional well-being and
Dementia and Elder Abuse
If you have tried everything to understand a person’s behavior but still feel uneasy, elderly abuse in dementia could be the cause. As Alzheimer’s disease
Change Your Approach and the Environment
As you know, dementia leads to confusion and affects how well people can manage things, which then influences their behavior. Since people with dementia can’t
What Does Your Behavior Communicate?
A Person living with dementia may struggle to understand the words you say, but they will understand How you communicate—the tone of your voice, your
Dealing with Challenging Behaviors in Dementia Care
Caring for someone with dementia involves understanding a variety of behaviors, such as repeating phrases, hoarding items, or wandering. These behaviors and others are normal
Understanding Nonverbal Communication in Dementia
Understanding non-verbal communication is essential when working with people living with dementia. Nonverbal communication refers to how we use body language, facial expressions, gestures, tone
Responding to “I Want to Go Home” in Dementia Care
Understanding the Situation People living with dementia often express a desire to “go home,” even when they are in a place they consider their home.
What is “Real” to the Person Living with Dementia?
Dementia patients often have a “sense of reality” that differs from our own. However, what does this actually mean for the way you treat the
Common Causes of Behavioral Changes in Dementia
There are often multiple reasons behind a single behavior. Some common causes of dementia related behavior changes include: • Physical discomfort (such as feeling hungry,
Getting to Know the Person Behind the Dementia
To truly understand people living with dementia and their behavior, you must first get to know them. You need to learn what is typical and
Observing and Connecting with Purpose in Dementia
Getting to know the person and building a connection is key to understanding their behavior. By observing their actions closely, you can find behavior clues
Alzheimer’s Care: Antipsychotic Medications
Some of the people you care for may be taking antipsychotic medications. These are meant to treat serious mental illnesses (SMI) like major depression, bipolar
Understanding Dementia Behavior as Communication
Understanding Behavior Dementia changes how people think and understand their surroundings. As time goes on, it becomes harder for them to process and respond to