Clear thinking for one of life's most complex journeys.

After submitting the manuscript for my upcoming book, Better Dementia, I spent time planting a wildflower garden. What I discovered among the native grasses and flowering perennials reminded me of one of the most important lessons I teach families: dementia care works best when we align with the person rather than expect the person to adapt to us.

Amy Shaw, PA-C, joins host Gregory Anne Cox on the Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle podcast to discuss why dementia is often missed early, what caregivers experience long before diagnosis, and how understanding the brain can reduce confusion and unnecessary suffering.

Dementia often feels overwhelming and unpredictable to caregivers. But beneath that experience are recognizable patterns of cognitive change. Understanding these patterns can help families make sense of behavior, anticipate what comes next, and navigate the dementia journey with greater clarity and confidence.

Dementia does not just affect memory—it breaks the assumptions our medical system relies on. Learn why the early signs are often missed and how families can recognize patterns of cognitive decline at home.

Most caregivers are told to “be patient” or “don’t argue,” but few are taught why dementia changes behavior. Understanding dementia gives caregivers the clarity they need to respond with confidence instead of frustration.

Is Alzheimer’s the same as dementia? Learn the clear difference, why the terms are often confused, and what caregivers need to understand from the very beginning.

Families often notice changes long before dementia is formally recognized. This post explains why dementia is missed for years, how the medical system is structured to overlook it, and why caregiver education matters before diagnosis.

Dementia caregiving is not intuitive, yet families are expected to navigate it with little education or preparation. In this CareSmartz360 feature, I share why dementia caregiver education—understanding the what, when, and why of dementia—changes outcomes long before crisis hits.

One in five employees is caring for a loved one with dementia—often years before a formal diagnosis. These caregivers are quietly managing emotional, financial, and behavioral changes while trying to remain productive at work. Understanding this hidden reality is the first step toward supporting employees earlier and more effectively.

Dementia challenges the assumptions medicine is built on. When insight is lost, traditional diagnostic conversations stop working — and families are left navigating care without a framework. Understanding the what, when, and why of dementia changes everything about how care should be delivered.

A clinician-led, comprehensive online course designed to help dementia caregivers understand the what, when, and why of dementia—so they can care with confidence.

Join Amy Shaw, PA—Medical Director, Dementia Care Specialist, and author of The Arc of Conversation: A How-to Guide for Goals of Care Conversations—for a live AGE-U-Cate webinar on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The event continues the national conversation sparked by the PBS documentary Aging in America: Survive or Thrive, exploring how we can move from awareness to lasting impact in aging and dementia care.

September is World Alzheimer’s Month—a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind families they are not alone. Learn how the Better Dementia Framework helps caregivers understand the what, when, and why of dementia to master the how of caregiving with confidence and compassion.