Author: Elaine Poker-Yount

While May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, aging and dementia care expert Elaine Poker-Yount reminds us that our mental well-being deserves attention year-round.

What if your loved one with dementia could tell you exactly how they feel? Aging and dementia care expert Elaine Poker-Yount shares a powerful anonymous letter that offers a rare window into the emotional world of someone living with dementia—reminding us that even when words are lost, the person is still there.

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.