In this episode of the Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s, we talk about what families and caregivers need to know about end-of-life care in Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Dementia is a progressive, terminal illness, and understanding what to expect can help families make informed, compassionate decisions that prioritize comfort, dignity, and quality of life.

In This Episode:

1. Why early end-of-life conversations matter
2. How dementia progresses into late and terminal stages
3. Shifting care goals from treatment to comfort
4. Hospice vs. palliative care and when each may help
5. Managing pain, agitation, eating changes, and comfort needs
6. Supporting caregivers through emotional and physical challenges

Key Takeaway:

End-of-life care in dementia is about honoring values, reducing suffering, and ensuring no one walks this journey alone. With planning, support, and open communication, families can navigate this stage with greater clarity and peace.

https://www.mindingdementiasummit.com/

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.

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In this episode of the Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s podcast, we explore neuroplasticity—the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganize, adapt, and form new neural connections throughout life.

Neuroplasticity isn’t just something that happens in childhood. It continues across the lifespan and plays a powerful role in learning, recovery, habit change, and even how we adapt to cognitive challenges like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. What neuroplasticity is and how it works
2. Why learning, experience, and environment shape the brain
3. How neuroplasticity supports memory, skill-building, and recovery after injury
4. The difference between structural and functional brain changes
5. Why “use it or lose it” really matters
6. How adults and older adults can still create meaningful brain change

Real-Life Examples Discussed:

1. How musical training reshapes the brain
2. Why learning a new skill (like juggling or a language) changes neural pathways
3. The impact of meditation and mindfulness on attention and focus
4. How consistent habits influence long-term brain health

Practical Takeaways:

1. Small, repeated actions can lead to lasting brain change
2. Sleep plays a critical role in consolidating learning
3. Physical activity supports brain growth and circulation
4. Mental challenge and novelty keep the brain engaged
5. Stress management is essential for healthy plasticity

A Simple 3-Step Way to Apply Neuroplasticity:

1. Identify the skill or behavior you want to change
2. Practice deliberately and consistently
3. Reinforce learning with rest, repetition, and time

Key Message:

The brain is not fixed. It is dynamic, adaptable, and always responding to how we live, think, and engage with the world. With intention and consistency, neuroplasticity can be harnessed at any age.

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues...

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative condition that primarily affects a person’s ability to communicate. Unlike aphasia caused by stroke or brain injury, PPA develops gradually and worsens over time, impacting speech, reading, writing, and language comprehension.

In this episode, we clarify common misconceptions surrounding aphasia and dementia, including why aphasia itself is not dementia — but how PPA can be a subtype of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). We also discuss why not everyone with aphasia has dementia, and why not everyone with dementia develops aphasia.

Listeners will learn:

1. What Primary Progressive Aphasia is and how it differs from other forms of aphasia
2. How PPA fits under the umbrella of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
3. Early signs of PPA and why diagnosis is often delayed
4. Typical age of onset and how symptoms progress through stages
5. Why early diagnosis and supportive therapies matter
6. The three main variants of PPA:
7. - Nonfluent/Agrammatic Variant
8. - Semantic Variant
9. - Logopenic Variant

This episode also addresses public confusion following high-profile diagnoses and explains the progression from PPA to FTD in some individuals. Understanding PPA helps caregivers and families better navigate communication changes while preserving dignity and connection for as long as possible.

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has...