Can Dementia Be Delayed? | What They Can't Say & How To Hear it Anyway! with Lisa Skinner | SL #27

"They may not recognize your face. They may not know your name — depending on the day. But they will remember for a long time how you made them feel." — Lisa Skinner

Episode Summary
What does it actually mean when a doctor says 'Alzheimer's'? Lisa Skinner has spent 50 years answering that question — first as a teenage granddaughter watching her grandmother describe birds living in her mattress, and later as one of the world's leading dementia behavioral specialists. In this episode, she cuts through five decades of myth and fear with the clarity that only comes from having lived it.

Lisa unpacks the difference between normal aging forgetfulness and the early warning signs that actually warrant concern — and she names the medical conditions (including a UTI) that can look exactly like dementia but are completely treatable. She explains why 62% of primary care physicians are still behind the curve, and why that makes patient self-advocacy more critical than ever. The conversation goes deep on one of the most painful moments in the dementia journey: when a loved one no longer recognizes you — and Lisa's 'light switch' analogy may permanently change the way you understand it.

They also play Two Truths and a Lie — and it turns out Lisa's life has included a pet mountain lion, a near-miss with a rattlesnake, and a hike that may or may not have ended in a lake in Tahoe. Jeanne guesses right.

Guest Bio
Lisa Skinner is a two-time international bestselling author and behavioral specialist with over 30 years of experience in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, host of the Truth, Lies & Alzheimer's Show, and an internationally recognized TEDx speaker. She has appeared in Forbes Celebrity Magazine and on the NASDAQ Times Square display.

Guest Links
Website: https://www.dementiaawarenessspeaker.com/
Website: https://www.mindingdementia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaSkinnerAuthor/
X / Twitter: https://x.com/LisaSkinner2015
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaskinnerauthor/
YouTube: Lisa Skinner https://www.youtube.com/@LisaSkinnerOfficial

Guest CTA

LEARN MORE about Dementia:

https://www.dementiaawarenessspeaker.com/
https://www.mindingdementia.com/

Chapter Markers:
00:00:15 - Intro
00:01:15 - Lisa Skinner Joins the Conversation
00:02:20 - The Biggest Misconception About Alzheimer's
00:08:39 - UTIs, Thyroid Conditions, and What Mimics Dementia
00:17:01 - A Family's 50-Year Journey With Alzheimer's
00:25:16 - When a Loved One Doesn't Recognize You
00:27:30 - The Light Switch Analogy
00:31:00 - Why "Joining Their Reality" Matters
00:36:06 - Animatronic Pets and Quality of Life
00:42:12 - Supporting Purpose, Comfort, and Connection
00:43:10 - Two Truths & A Lie
00:57:01 - Free Resources for Families and Caregivers
00:58:51 - Closing Thoughts and Words of Wisdom

????️ Project Candor — Ordinary People. Unexpected Stories.

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