Are you finding yourself stuck in the same arguments with your loved one, feeling exhausted and unheard? You’re not alone. Dementia and other age-related changes can impact how someone sees the world and responds to it. Aging and dementia care educator Elaine Poker-Yount encourages care partners to step back, reassess, and shift their mindset from controlling outcomes to fostering understanding. When you change the way you approach conversations, you reduce frustration and create a deeper emotional connection for both of you.

Elaine Poker-Yount, Aging and Dementia Care Educator at Successful Aging AZ, challenges us to rethink our role in supporting a loved one with dementia. Are we care givers, focused on tasks, or care partners, fostering connection and autonomy? Shifting from doing things for someone to doing things with them preserves dignity, encourages engagement, and strengthens relationships. Who do you want to be in your loved one’s journey? This simple mindset shift can make all the difference.