Podcast
Dementia Careblazers
Hosted by Dr. Natali Edmonds · EN
We prepare dementia caregivers for success. Say goodbye to the overwhelm & struggle and learn the real tips, strategies, and solutions that help make dementia caregiving easier. With board certified geropsychologist, Dr. Natali Edmonds
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23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Surprising Reason Why Dementia Gets Worse In the Evening
1w ago00:11:26Tap to summarizeHave you noticed your loved one with dementia seems like a completely different person every evening? The confusion, the agitation, the restlessness — and then the nights when they're up convinced it's morning — it's exhausting in a way that's hard to put into words. It is not something you caused or something you missed. New research published in December 2025 finally gives us a neurological explanation for why dementia gets worse in the evening, and it has nothing to do with what you are doing. In this episode I walk you through what the science reveals, what actually helps, and what tends to make it harder. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - What evenings look like for many dementia caregivers 1:45 - What sundowning actually is 3:18 - New brain research: what's happening inside the brain 5:22 - 5 things that can help 8:11 - What tends to make it harder #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →5 Reasons Dementia Caregivers Struggle Making Hard Decisions
2w ago00:12:43Tap to summarizeMaking caregiving decisions is hard in a way most people around you won't understand. The stakes are real. The information is incomplete. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you're already afraid of being wrong. If you've been circling a decision for weeks — or months — and still can't seem to make a move, your brain isn't broken. There are five specific thought patterns that make caregiving decisions feel nearly impossible, and once you can name them, something shifts. In this video I walk you through all five and what to actually do about them. Ready to work through a real decision you've been dreading? Join me here: https://tinyurl.com/difficult-decisions-pod ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - The decision you've been avoiding 2:05 - Why not deciding still costs you 2:50 - The 5 thought patterns keeping you stuck 9:50 - What to do before this video ends 11:30 - The Difficult Decisions live class #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →How to Respond When Someone with Dementia Accuses You of Stealing
4w ago00:13:23Tap to summarizeBeing accused of stealing by the person you are giving everything to is one of the most quietly devastating things that happens in dementia caregiving. It does not just feel unfair. It strikes at your identity, your dignity, and the relationship you had before all of this. And because it can happen over and over, with no memory that it happened before, many caregivers absorb these accusations alone, without ever really being told why it happens or what they can actually do. There is a neurological reason for this. And it has nothing to do with how your loved one truly feels about you. In this episode I walk you through what is happening in the dementia brain that causes stealing accusations, why the instinct to defend yourself almost always backfires, and four specific things you can try the next time it happens. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - You are not alone: naming the experience 1:40 - The many ways stealing accusations show up 2:45 - Three things happening in the dementia brain 6:30 - Responses that unintentionally make things worse 9:00 - Four strategies that actually help #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →When Family Doesn't Believe the Dementia Diagnosis
May 700:15:51Tap to summarizeWhen your family doesn't believe the dementia diagnosis, it can feel like you are grieving two losses at once. Family denial is one of the most painful and isolating experiences a dementia caregiver can go through. In this episode, I'm going to explain why it happens and what you can actually do about it. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast Chapters: 0:00 When family doesn't believe the diagnosis 2:13 Why this feels so isolating 4:04 Reason 1: Denial is protective 5:00 Reason 2: Visiting isn't caregiving 6:27 Reason 3: Anosognosia 7:30 You didn't cause this 8:00 Why convincing them backfires 10:00 What actually helps 12:26 What you're allowed to feel #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →The Blood Test That Detects Alzheimer's Years Before Symptoms
Apr 3000:14:56Tap to summarizeA new Alzheimer's blood test was just approved by the FDA and it changes everything about how families get answers. For years, confirming Alzheimer's disease meant expensive brain scans or invasive procedures most people couldn't access. Now a simple blood draw can detect Alzheimer's markers in the body... up to 3 to 4 years before symptoms even begin. In this episode I break down what the Alzheimer's blood test actually measures, how accurate it is, and what you can ask your doctor right now. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast CHAPTERS 00:00 You are not imagining this 01:18 Why an Alzheimer's diagnosis has always been so hard to get 03:30 What doctors were working with before 05:00 The new blood test: what it measures and how it works 07:15 How accurate is it? 08:30 What this means for you right now 11:00 What can still make this harder #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →Why Someone With Dementia Stops Doing Things
Apr 2300:10:28Tap to summarizeIf your loved one used to fix things, run the household, stay busy and now they just sit there, you're probably wondering what happened. Are they depressed? Have they given up? Do they even care anymore? They do. And what's happening is not what it looks like. In this episode, I'm breaking down why someone with dementia withdraws from daily life, why their brain learns to stop trying, and why nothing you say seems to change it. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/re-sales-podcast Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Why ability declines faster than awareness 03:30 How the brain learns to avoid what feels bad 04:35 Three neurological shifts behind the withdrawal 07:00 Why reassurance stops working 08:15 When to talk to their doctor #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →What Causes Bathroom Problems In Dementia
Apr 1600:12:56Tap to summarizeBathroom challenges are one of the most common, and least talked about, parts of dementia caregiving. You've tried asking. You've tried reminding. You've tried everything. And it still isn't working. This isn't defiance. It isn't stubbornness. What's happening in the brain is making the bathroom one of the hardest spaces for someone with dementia to navigate. The bathroom requires more brain systems working together than almost any other room in the home. In this episode I walk through the most common reasons people with dementia struggle with the bathroom — and what you can do about it. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/re-sales-podcast Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Introduction 0:24 - Common bathroom behaviors caregivers are dealing with 1:00 - Why the bathroom is cognitively demanding 2:00 - Interoception: why they don't know they have to go 3:15 - Apraxia and difficulty sequencing bathroom steps 4:15 - Aphasia and not understanding instructions 4:45 - Why the bathroom environment increases confusion 8:00 - Practical strategies to try #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #dementiacaregiver --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →Dementia Caregivers, You Don't Have to Wait Until It Gets Worse
Apr 900:11:21Tap to summarizeThe number one mistake dementia caregivers make is waiting. Waiting until things get harder. Waiting for the right moment. Waiting until they feel like they really need support. And it makes complete sense why. When difficulty builds slowly, your brain adapts. What felt overwhelming six months ago becomes your new normal. And before long, you stop being able to accurately measure just how much your life has changed. But here is what I want you to hear. The moment things feel manageable is not the least important time to get support. It is one of the most important. In this episode I explain exactly why our brains convince us to wait, why getting support early makes such a meaningful difference, and what you can do right now even if things feel okay. You don't have to be drowning to deserve support. → Join the Care Collective: https://tinyurl.com/re-sales-podcast If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 - The number one mistake dementia caregivers make 1:29 - You are already in it even if it doesn't feel that way 2:43 - Why your brain convinces you to wait (the science behind it) 5:45 - Why waiting until crisis makes everything harder 7:00 - What to do right now even if things feel manageable --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →What Causes Sudden Decline In Dementia?
Apr 200:11:54Tap to summarizeSudden decline in dementia is one of the scariest things a caregiver can witness. One day they were walking. One day they were talking. And then almost overnight, they weren't. Most caregivers in this moment think they missed something. Or that this is just the next stage. But sudden dramatic changes are not typically how dementia progresses. And knowing the difference between expected progression and a medical red flag could change everything for your loved one right now. Gradual change fits dementia. Sudden change requires investigation. In this episode I walk you through the most common medical causes of sudden decline in dementia, how to tell the difference, and exactly what to say when a doctor tells you it's just the dementia. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast Learn more about the Care Collective: https://careblazers.com/for-families --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →Why Some People With Dementia Become Mean
Mar 2600:10:30Tap to summarizeIf your loved one with dementia has become mean, sharp, cruel, or just completely different toward you, I want you to hear this first: you are not imagining it. And you are not failing. This is one of the most painful parts of dementia caregiving because it doesn't just feel hard. It feels personal. In this episode I explain exactly what is happening in the brain that causes this, why it is not their true personality coming out, and how to understand it in a way that protects both your heart and your sanity. If you'd like to see this episode on video, you can hop on over to my YouTube channel here. Learn more about the Care Collective: https://careblazers.com/for-families Get free weekly tools and tips in my newsletter, The Dementia Dose: https://tinyurl.com/dementiadose-podcast --- Hi, I'm Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board-certified geropsychologist specializing in dementia care. Whether your loved one has Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, vascular, or mixed dementia, we believe that to create a dementia-friendly world, we must first create a caregiver-friendly world. This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical guidance.
Transcribe →