Welcome, Friends! We are excited to host our first virtual Caregiver Forum Discussion—Let’s Get Moving! This month’s topic will be focused on how to get your loved one moving with helpful tips and tricks and will last from 5:00 pm to 6:00 PDT. To get the conversation started, here is a helpful idea: Start with familiar activities that were once enjoyed by your loved one. Walking, dancing, gardening, and even helping with laundry can help get someone moving! Familiarity can help create a sense of comfort and motivation, which can help get your loved one engaged in physical activity. I know my mom loved Elvis, so I would often turn on his music when I was with her. I remember "dancing" around with her when she was first diagnosed with FTD, and Elvis' happy tunes would help us get some steps in!

I've been listening to a few podcasts on dementia, and this question came up, "How do you maintain autonomy for your loved one?" How do you help maintain a sense of purpose for your loved one? What job or role do you have them do that helps maintain a sense of autonomy but also keeps them safe? What helps build up their self-esteem? Likewise, how do you maintain your autonomy as the care partner? What are your recommendations for others? Your answers will probably vary depending on what stage your loved one is at, but I'd love to hear your strategies.