Is This Normal? Aging, Dementia, and the Questions We Don’t Always Ask Out Loud
If you’ve found yourself wondering “Is this normal?” more often lately, you’re not alone.
Changes in memory. Changes in energy. Changes in how someone you love communicates, reacts, or moves through the world. Aging brings questions, and when dementia is part of the picture, those questions can feel heavier, more urgent, and sometimes frightening.
One of the most common things I hear from families and caregivers is this:
“I just wish someone would tell me what’s normal… and what isn’t.”
The Problem Isn’t the Question — It’s the Silence Around It
In dementia care and aging, we don’t always leave enough room for honest, everyday questions. Too often, people feel they should already know the answers, or they worry that asking means something is “wrong.”
But here’s the truth:
- Wondering is normal
- Noticing change is normal
- Feeling unsure is normal
- Wanting reassurance is normal
What’s not helpful is facing those questions alone.
At Living Well With Dementia, we’ve always believed that education doesn’t have to be clinical, overwhelming, or fear-based. It should be grounded, human, and reassuring, centered on connection rather than correction. That belief is at the heart of everything we do, from caregiver education to sensory-based approaches that prioritize emotional safety and presence over testing or “getting it right” .
Meeting People Where They Are
One of the most important lessons in dementia care is this:
You don’t bring someone back to who they were.
You meet them exactly where they are.
The same applies to families and caregivers.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need perfect language. You don’t need to be “caught up” or fully informed to deserve support and clarity.
You just need a place where questions are welcomed.
A New Way to Talk About Aging
That’s why I’m getting ready to launch a new YouTube channel called:
Is This Normal? Aging Edition
It’s designed to be a space for short, approachable conversations about aging, dementia, and caregiving — the kind of conversations many people wish they could overhear or ask privately.
No jargon.
No scare tactics.
No shame.
Just honest explanations, context, and reassurance around the things people notice every day and quietly worry about.
Some episodes will explore what is a typical part of aging. Others will talk about when changes might signal something more — and how to approach that gently and thoughtfully.
Why I’m Starting Here
Before launching something new, it felt important to come back here , to writing, to reflection, to slowing down long enough to say:
You’re not behind.
You’re not missing something obvious.
You’re not failing if you’re unsure.
You’re learning in real time, and that’s exactly how this journey works.
This blog, like the upcoming channel, will continue to focus on living well, even when things are changing. Especially when things are changing.
Thank you for being here, for reading, and for asking the questions that matter, even when they’re hard to put into words.
More soon.
Warmly,
Living Well With Dementia