When dementia behaviors feel overwhelming or out of control, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
I help families and care partners understand and respond to dementia-related behaviors early, so distress doesn’t turn into crisis.
One way this works is through a dignity-first, role-centered approach to engagement—so families can reduce distress and reconnect without pressure.
You’re not doing anything wrong. Dementia behaviors are confusing, and support should make things clearer, not harder.
If this Feels Familiar, You’re in the Right Place
You may be dealing with sudden anger, refusal of care, pacing, agitation, or moments that escalate faster than you expect. These behaviors can feel personal, frightening, or impossible to predict — especially when you’ve been told “this is just part of dementia” without being shown how to respond.
Most care partners are given information about dementia, but very little help understanding what to do in the moment when behavior changes.
Dementia Behaviors Are Not Random- And Not Intentional
Behaviors are often signals of stress, confusion, discomfort, or a narrowing ability to cope with the environment. What looks like resistance, agitation, or refusal is frequently distress showing up the only way it can.
I help people understand what the person living with dementia is expressing — before distress becomes a crisis.
Dementia-Ready Role-Based Engagement
My work is increasingly focused on helping families and organizations become more dementia-ready — preserving identity, understanding behavior, and supporting meaningful engagement as cognition changes.
This includes developing role-based tools and practical frameworks that reduce burden on care partners and staff.
Find the Support That Fits You
For Families & Care Partners
If you’re supporting a parent, spouse, or loved one and want practical, compassionate guidance to help daily moments feel calmer and more manageable, start here.
For Organizations & Professionals
If you support people living with dementia in a professional setting and want education or consulting focused on understanding behaviors early and reducing risk, start here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “behavior is communication” mean in dementia care?
Behavior in dementia is rarely random or intentional misbehavior. It is most often a response to an unmet need, environmental stressor, confusion, or loss of control. When we interpret behavior as communication, we shift from trying to stop the behavior to understanding and supporting the person.
Why do people with dementia refuse care or activities?
Refusal usually reflects discomfort, fear, confusion, fatigue, or loss of perceived control rather than unwillingness to cooperate. Tasks that feel unfamiliar, rushed, or infantilizing can increase resistance. Adjusting approach, timing, and role expectations often reduces refusal more effectively than persuasion.
What is role-centered engagement for people with dementia?
Role-centered engagement focuses on preserving meaningful identity-based roles rather than assigning generic activities. People with dementia can often still contribute, advise, curate, or assist when expectations match their abilities. This approach supports dignity, purpose, and emotional regulation
Who are your services designed for?
Services are designed for families, care partners, and organizations supporting people with early through later-stage dementia. Guidance is grounded in geriatric clinical expertise and focuses on practical, compassionate, and evidence-informed strategies.
What makes Living Well With Dementia different from other dementia programs?
This approach integrates clinical reasoning, dignity-centered values, and role-based engagement rather than relying primarily on activity-based or behavior-control models. The emphasis is on understanding needs, preserving identity, and reducing distress through thoughtful environmental and relational supports.