In this episode of Dementia Lifeboat: Port of Call, dementia educator Laura Wayman and certified life coach Jocelyn Ives sit down with Jennifer Gilbertson to talk about what dementia symptoms can look like in real life, long before many families recognize what is happening.

Jennifer shares the early changes her family noticed in her mother: repeated stories, difficulty following familiar routines, challenges with communication, and a gradual loss of interest in activities she once loved. At first, these moments seemed small. Easy to explain away as stress, aging, or simple forgetfulness.

But over time, the pattern became harder to ignore.

This conversation explores what many families experience during the early stages of dementia: the confusion, the denial, the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to start, and the emotional weight that can come with realizing someone you love is changing.

We also talk about the questions caregivers often face during this stage:

• How do you recognize when something is truly wrong?
• Why can getting a diagnosis be so difficult?
• What happens when families finally hear the words “dementia diagnosis,” but are given very little guidance on what to do next?

Laura and Jocelyn discuss why understanding dementia symptoms, especially the loss of executive brain function, is so important for caregivers. When families begin to understand what is happening neurologically, it becomes easier to shift away from trying to fix or correct behaviors and instead learn how to support someone whose brain is changing.

Jennifer also shares the emotional side of caregiving: the guilt many families feel for not noticing sooner, the stress of navigating the medical system, and the relief that can come when caregivers finally gain the knowledge and support they need.

This episode reminds caregivers of something many need to hear: you did the best you could with the information you had, and you are not alone on this journey.

If you want more support while caregiving for someone with dementia symptoms, or if you believe someone in your life may be experiencing cognitive changes, we invite you to join our monthly Dementia Lifeboat: Poolside Chat, where caregivers come together to share experiences and support one another.

You can join us for FREE by registering here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PRzPtXKIRf-NNdHzhSToUg

Or become a paid member of our Dementia Lifeboat Skool community for exclusive trainings, early podcast access, and a supportive community available 24/7:
https://www.skool.com/dementia-lifeboat/about

You’re not expected to have all the answers.
You’re invited to learn, manage what’s in front of you, and feel less alone as you do.

laurawayman.com/podcast