Table of Contents:
Quote of the day
Memory Air
Interesting stories this week
Caregiver Insights from Our Latest Survey
Living With Dementia – A Personal Story
Responding to YOU!
Look for something posititve in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder.
Introducing Memory Air – the all-in-one olfactory enrichment device.
Memory Air brings this science backed olfactory enrichment approach to your house in an easy-to-use device that works while you sleep.
Developed in partnership with Professor Emeritus of Neurobiology at the University of California Irvine, Dr Michael Leon is one of the world’s leading neuroscientists.
Memory Air was designed using proven science:
226% memory improvements in adults aged 60-85
300% memory improvements in people living with Alzheimer’s / other dementias
Only available in the USA
Interesting Stories This Week:
Could an eye exam predict Alzheimer’s before symptoms?
How schools are helping fight dementia loneliness
Music therapy may ease distress in dementia wards
Supporting a loved one with Alzheimer’s
Portable brain scanner offers quicker dementia diagnosis
Caregiver Insights from Our Latest Survey
A huge thank you to the 500+ of you who took part in our recent survey. Your honesty, your experiences, and your perspectives help us shape the support we create — and the results were incredibly insightful.
Here’s what stood out:
Clear, simple Alzheimer’s information really matters
Most of you said you would trust a local professional more if they sent clear, easy-to-understand information about Alzheimer’s.
81% said yes or yes, I think so.
The most common praise for the sample information was that it was easy to understand — something caregivers often tell us is hard to find.
Receiving this type of information builds confidence
Over 50% of you said that receiving information like this would make you more likely to contact a lawyer, homecare provider, or care home in the future.
Many of you also said it helped put into words what you’re seeing day-to-day, which can make conversations with professionals much easier.
How helpful was the example information?
You rated the sample with an average helpfulness score of 2.33 out of 5, with
59% rating it a 1 or 2 (very helpful/helpful),
and only 5% finding it not helpful.
Your feedback tells us that resources like this are valued — and needed.
Would weekly information feel supportive?
We also asked how you’d feel if a local professional sent you information like this once a week:
60% said this would feel very helpful or helpful.
Around 30% said it might feel too frequent, a reminder that every caregiver’s capacity is different, and support shouldn’t feel overwhelming.
And finally, what should professionals do?
An important stat: 60.36% of you said professionals should be sending this kind of information.
Your message is clear: caregivers want reliable, compassionate, easy-to-digest guidance, and they want it proactively.
Living With Dementia – A Personal Story
Mike Simpson still has his own tractor-slasher business.
He speaks up and out about what it’s like living with dementia.
The battle with dementia begins well before a formal diagnosis.
It starts with unsettling changes.
A creeping sense that something isn’t quite right.
Then a diagnosis.
The next 9-12 months are very hard.
A key point is if 20 people are diagnosed with the same type of dementia, not 1 of them will experience it the same.
It attacks both mind and body, the way we think, act, walk, communicate and work.
When first diagnosed, we are still us.
We can still work, contribute, love, think and move.
His experience has been a mix of depression, slower movement, intense emotions and memory loss.
The hardest thing is losing faces of friends and family.
Sometimes he’s in bed for a couple of days or even a week.
The energy isn’t there.
But he then gets up and pushes forward…’I’ve got to keep going’….’I’m not as bad as others’….
There’s a lot of stigma and deception around dementia.
We say we’re doing ok even when we’re not.
Stigma makes many of us keep hidden away from people closest to us.
We talk to doctors about medications but what’s really on our minds is – how long do we get to live as our full selves?
We keep speaking, we keep trying and we are still here.
A Problem Shared is a Problem Halved
Every week, we share an honest story from a caregiver — the things most people are too afraid to say out loud.
This Week’s Caregiver Story-
“She keeps asking when her parents are coming for Christmas, they passed away years ago, but she gets upset every time I tell her. I don’t know what to say anymore.”
Harvey says:
It’s incredibly hard when someone you love is reaching back into memories that no longer match today’s reality. When those memories involve parents, traditions or Christmas, the emotions can run even deeper.
Correcting them, even gently, can often bring more distress. Instead, it may help to lean into the feeling rather than the facts.
You could try saying something like, “They’re not here right now, but you’re safe, and I’m here with you,” or redirect the moment towards something comforting: a warm drink, a favourite song, or a simple activity you can do together.
Talking about their parents in a warm, non-confrontational way can also soothe anxiety:
“What was your mum best at cooking?” or “Did your dad have any funny holiday traditions?”
This keeps the connection, without reopening grief.
Please know this isn’t a sign that you’re failing; it’s a sign of how deeply dementia can reshape memories.
You’re handling something incredibly emotional with patience, even when it feels exhausting.
You’re doing far better than you think.
Harvey
If something’s been on your heart lately, let us know. We read every word. Your voice could offer comfort to someone else navigating the same journey.
At All About Alzheimer's we're dementia professionals but we're not medical doctors or lawyers. The information we provide is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for medical diagnoses, treatment or any health related concerns and consult with a lawyer on any legal issue.
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