Navacare

Confusion can be upsetting for both the older adult experiencing it and the person trying to help.

When someone is disoriented, repeatedly correcting them or arguing about what is “actually true” can sometimes make the moment more stressful.
Start with reassurance. Speak calmly. Give them a little time. Try to understand what they may be feeling before trying to redirect the conversation or move them to something more familiar.

Simple things can help too: reducing noise, keeping routines consistent, using familiar objects, and giving one instruction at a time instead of several at once.
And one important distinction: sudden confusion is different from a gradual memory change. If an older adult suddenly becomes much more confused than usual, especially if there are other symptoms or a major change in behavior, it’s worth getting medical guidance promptly.

💛 If your loved one’s cognitive changes are making you wonder what level of support or care may be needed next, Navacare can help your family understand the options and figure out what comes next.

Visit navacare.org to work with us.

A memory evaluation isn’t something you need to study for—or practice drawing a clock for. 🧠💛

In this Sacred Seasons conversation, Kim Saberi from BayCare’s Memory Disorder Center explains that the goal is to understand how someone is functioning on a typical day. Her advice before an appointment is simple: get a good night’s sleep, arrive well rested, and be yourself.

And the support doesn’t necessarily end with an evaluation or diagnosis.
The Memory Disorder Center works with individuals and families to plan for the future, navigate day-to-day life, maximize safety and independence, and find ways to reduce stress along the way.

Understanding what’s happening is one step. Knowing what to do next matters, too.

This clip is part of Sacred Seasons, a Navacare-produced educational series connecting families with trusted professionals across the senior care continuum.

If you’re searching for senior living online, pay attention to where you’re submitting your information. The website that appears in your search results may not be the community itself.

Finding assisted living for a parent is already overwhelming. The last thing you need is 12 communities calling you at once.

Mary Ellen recently spoke with a daughter who thought she was requesting information about a specific assisted living community online. Instead, her information was shared with multiple communities, and suddenly her phone was flooded with calls.

The bigger problem? She still didn’t know which communities were actually appropriate for her mom. She spent time touring places that weren’t the right fit and eventually reached out to Navacare feeling completely frustrated.

💛 Want guidance without sorting through dozens of options on your own? Work with Navacare. We help families narrow the search based on their loved one’s actual needs and guide them through the placement process.

Visit navacare.org to get started.

People may see the doctor’s appointment. They don’t always see everything it took to get there.

The calls made between everything else. The insurance paperwork.

Prescriptions that need refilling. Groceries, laundry, schedules, interrupted sleep—and the constant awareness that someone you love is depending on you.

So when caregiving feels exhausting, remember that you’re not only carrying the moments other people can see. There’s an entire layer of work, planning, and worry happening quietly in the background.

It’s okay to acknowledge that it’s a lot. 💛

And when the decisions about your loved one’s care become part of that weight, you don’t have to navigate them alone.

Navacare can help your family understand the options and figure out what comes next.

Visit navacare.org to work with us.