In honor of National Alzheimer and Dementia Care Educators Week (Feb 14–21), Teepa Snow and Greg Phelps take on a specific headline that reads: You can be a dementia therapy practitioner by next week. They unpack why quick certification promises can miss what matters most—building real, person-centered skills that help you respond to brain change in the moment, with confidence and respect.

Ready to move beyond quick-fix dementia training? Join the Positive Approach to Care® Dementia Trainer Certification (live online) to build practical, person-centered skills you can use—and teach. Next live online dates: Feb 17–18, 2026

This podcast is distributed on third-party platforms (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts) to make listening more accessible and convenient for our community. Our presence on any platform does not indicate endorsement of that platform, its owners, its policies, moderation decisions, advertising practices, or any other content hosted or shared there. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Positive Approach to Care® (PAC™).

Is dementia the same thing as Alzheimer disease? Not exactly, and that difference can matter a lot when new symptoms show up.

In this episode, Teepa Snow and Greg Phelps explain that dementia is an umbrella term and Alzheimer disease is one specific type of dementia under that umbrella. They then discuss the way that each form of dementia, with its specific pattern of brain change, can result in different real-life challenges—such as how visual hallucinations and frequent falls are far more common in some forms (like Lewy body dementia) and why sudden hallucinations in someone diagnosed with Alzheimer dementia may be a cue to look for something else that may be going on (illness, medication issues, etc.).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What dementia means—and why it’s not one single diagnosis

• The basics of what’s often typical in Alzheimer patterns over time

• Why hallucinations, delusions, and sudden body changes can be important to notice

Want a deeper dive beyond today’s episode? Watch Teepa’s Understanding Different Dementias (12-part recorded series) to learn common patterns, changes to notice, and how your approach can shift based on the type of dementia.

This podcast is educational and not medical advice. If symptoms change suddenly or feel urgent, consider contacting a licensed healthcare professional.

This podcast is distributed on third-party platforms (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts) to make listening more accessible and convenient for our community. Our presence on any platform does not indicate endorsement of that platform, its owners, its policies, moderation decisions, advertising practices, or any other content hosted or shared there. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Positive Approach to Care® (PAC™).

When you or someone you know is diagnosed with dementia, the advice avalanche soon follows: diets, supplements, medications, gadgets, and more. In this episode, Teepa Snow and Greg Phelps slow it all down and start where care partners actually need to start: pause, take a breath, and take inventory.

Teepa explains why a dementia diagnosis can mean many different things—and why jumping straight into trying to fix things can create more fear and confusion. Instead, she offers a steadier path: get curious about what’s happening right now, name what you’re feeling, and reduce the urgency so you can make clearer decisions.

You’ll also hear a simple, powerful reset that helps someone move out of panic mode: “Are you okay?”—a small interruption that creates space for real support.

Helpful next step (product tie-in): If you want personalized guidance (without chasing fast fixes), consider a Care Partner Consult with a PAC-trained mentor—an individual conversation to talk through what’s happening and identify practical first steps to move forward.

To inquire, email info@teepasnow.com.

Our content is available on Spotify to make it easy for our community to listen to. Our presence on Spotify does not indicate endorsement of Spotify, or its owners, its policies, moderation decisions, advertising, or any content shared on the platform. The views and opinions expressed during this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Positive Approach to Care® (PAC™)