Medication, Backup Plans, and Person-Centered Dementia Care
By: Hey Woman Podcast | Episode 7: Hogeweyk Part 2
What If Dementia Care Focused Less on Managing Symptoms and More on Supporting the Person?
When families begin navigating dementia, it’s easy to focus entirely on symptoms, medications, and safety concerns.
But what if some of the most effective dementia care strategies weren’t about adding more interventions?
What if they were about understanding the person behind the diagnosis?
In Episode 7 of the Hey Woman Podcast, Julie and Cortney continue their discussion of Hogeweyk, the innovative dementia village in the Netherlands. Building on the lessons from Episode 6, they explore medication use, meaningful activities, caregiver backup plans, pets, alternative therapies, and the idea that behaviors are often forms of communication.
The episode challenges caregivers to think beyond symptom management and consider how environment, routine, purpose, and connection influence quality of life.
“Hogeweyk’s model challenges families to ask whether medications are still serving the person.”
Are All Medications Still Necessary?
Many people living with dementia take multiple medications as their needs change over time.
While medication can be an important part of care, this episode encourages families to regularly revisit an important question:
Is this medication still helping achieve the person’s goals?
As dementia progresses, priorities may shift.
Families may begin focusing more on:
- Comfort
- Quality of life
- Meaningful experiences
- Daily functioning
- Emotional well-being
The conversation isn’t about stopping medications.
It’s about making sure treatment decisions continue to align with what’s most important to the individual.
The Caregiver Takeaway
Regular medication reviews with healthcare providers can help ensure care remains person-centered rather than automatic.
The Role of Activity in Dementia Care
One of the most powerful observations from Hogeweyk is that residents remain engaged in everyday life.
They aren’t simply being cared for.
They are participating.
Activities may include:
- Walking
- Socializing
- Shopping
- Cooking
- Gardening
- Household routines
Movement and meaningful engagement often contribute to overall well-being.
In some cases, increasing activity and environmental support may help address challenges that families initially assume require additional interventions.
Why This Matters
People living with dementia still need purpose, routine, and opportunities for meaningful participation.
Those needs don’t disappear after a diagnosis.
Every Caregiver Needs a Backup Plan
One of the most practical lessons from this episode is the importance of planning for caregiver absences.
Many caregivers become the primary source of support and eventually find themselves asking:
“What happens if something happens to me?”
Caregiving plans should account for both temporary and long-term situations.
Temporary Backup Planning
Unexpected situations happen.
Caregivers may experience:
- Illness
- Emergencies
- Travel requirements
- Family obligations
- Burnout
Families should identify who can step in when immediate support is needed.
Long-Term Backup Planning
In addition to short-term coverage, families should discuss:
- Future care needs
- Additional caregiving support
- Long-term care options
- Decision-making responsibilities
- Financial and legal planning
Planning ahead creates flexibility and reduces stress during unexpected situations.
The Caregiver Takeaway
A backup plan is not a sign of failure.
It’s an essential part of a sustainable care strategy.
Pets, Music, and Familiar Comforts Matter
This episode also highlights the importance of non-medical approaches to support well-being.
Many people living with dementia respond positively to:
- Pets
- Music
- Familiar traditions
- Favorite routines
- Meaningful objects
- Comfort items
- Sensory experiences
These tools help reinforce identity, familiarity, and emotional security.
The Power of Familiarity
A favorite song.
A beloved pet.
A family recipe.
A treasured blanket.
These seemingly small details can sometimes provide comfort in ways that words cannot.
Understanding Behavior as Communication
One of the most important dementia care lessons discussed in this episode is that behavior often communicates something important.
When someone experiences:
- Agitation
- Anger
- Resistance
- Restlessness
- Withdrawal
- Frustration
the behavior itself may not be the problem.
It may be the signal.
“Behavior may be communication about an unmet need or environmental trigger.”
Questions Caregivers Can Ask
Instead of asking:
“How do I stop this behavior?”
Try asking:
- Are they in pain?
- Are they hungry?
- Are they overwhelmed?
- Is the environment creating stress?
- Are they tired?
- Are they scared?
- Is something unfamiliar happening?
Viewing behavior as communication often leads to more compassionate and effective responses.
Looking Beyond the Diagnosis
Families often become focused on dementia itself.
While understanding the disease is important, this episode encourages caregivers to remember the individual behind it.
Ask yourself:
- What routines matter most?
- What activities bring joy?
- What relationships provide comfort?
- What helps this person feel successful?
- What supports dignity and purpose?
The answers to those questions often guide better care decisions than the diagnosis alone.
The Caregiver Takeaway
Person-centered care begins by understanding who the person is—not simply what condition they have.
Four Practical Steps Caregivers Can Take Today
1. Review Current Medications
Schedule a conversation with healthcare providers about whether current medications still support today’s goals and priorities.
2. Create a Backup Care Plan
Identify both short-term and long-term caregiving support before a crisis occurs.
3. Include Comfort and Connection in Care Plans
Consider how pets, music, favorite routines, traditions, and meaningful activities can support overall well-being.
4. Look for the Message Behind the Behavior
Before reacting to challenging behaviors, ask what unmet need may be driving them.
Professional Support Can Help Families Build Better Plans
Dementia care often requires both emotional and practical support.
Families may benefit from guidance from:
- Elder law attorneys
- Estate planning professionals
- Care coordinators
- Social workers
- Medical providers
- Memory care specialists
- Hospice teams
- Community organizations
These professionals can help families navigate difficult decisions while preserving dignity and quality of life.
Listen & Learn More
Listen to the Hey Woman Podcast for real-life caregiving stories, practical guidance, and family-centered conversations.
Visit Planning & Protecting for caregiver resources, dementia support tools, and guidance from professionals who understand the challenges of aging, memory loss, and long-term care planning.