Hi, I’m Larea.

I Help Families Understand the WHY Behind Dementia

RN • Certified Dementia Specialist • Dementia Care Educator

For almost 30 years, I’ve cared for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

But dementia has also become part of my own family’s story.

Today, I use what I’ve learned as a nurse, dementia educator, and family member to help caregivers understand what is happening, recognize changes, and feel more prepared for what comes next.

Dementia is more than forgetting. And understanding the changing brain can change the way we provide care.

It Started With a Caregiver I Never Forgot

Years ago, while working as a nurse in the hospital, I cared for an older gentleman with Alzheimer’s disease.

His wife was his caregiver.

When they arrived, she looked exhausted.

After we settled her husband into the hospital, she went home for the night. When she returned the next day, she told me something I have never forgotten.

It was the first good night’s sleep she had gotten in a very long time.

As we talked over the next few days, I began to understand just how much she was doing at home.

She was helping with meals, bathing, dressing, medications, safety, behaviors and all the other needs that came with his dementia.

I did many of those same things as his nurse.

But there was a big difference.

I had help.

If I needed another pair of hands, another nurse was nearby.

My shift eventually ended.

Her shift never ended.

She was doing what amounted to around-the-clock dementia care at home, mostly by herself.

I shared every nursing tip and caregiving idea I could think of with her.

Then came the day they were going home.

As we reviewed the discharge instructions, I watched the worry return to her face.

I can still remember that look.

She loved her husband. She wanted to care for him.

She just needed someone to teach her how.

That experience stayed with me.

And eventually, it helped lead me to create Alzheimer’s In Your Home in 2009.

I Know Dementia From Both Sides

For many years, I understood dementia from the nurse’s side of the bed.

Then dementia became personal.

Both of my parents developed dementia.

Suddenly, many of the things I had taught families for years became part of my own family’s life.

Knowing about dementia doesn’t remove the sadness, frustration, uncertainty, or difficult decisions that come with watching someone you love change.

But understanding WHY something is happening can help you know what to do next.

That experience has strengthened something I believed long before dementia entered my own family:

Caregivers need more than instructions. They need understanding.

You need to understand what dementia is doing to the brain.

Why behaviors happen.

Why communication changes.

Why something that worked yesterday may not work today.

What changes to watch for.

And how to prepare for what may come next.

Over 30 Years of Nursing Experience

Throughout my nursing career, I’ve cared for people with dementia in many different settings:

Hospitals • Nursing Homes • Assisted Living • Home Care • Hospice

I’m a Registered Nurse and Certified Dementia Specialist, and my experience has allowed me to see dementia care from many different angles.

I’ve cared for the person living with dementia.

I’ve worked alongside overwhelmed families.

I’ve helped caregivers prepare to take someone home from the hospital.

I’ve seen families struggle with behaviors they didn’t understand.

I’ve watched dementia progress from the early changes through advanced care and end-of-life.

And now I’ve experienced dementia within my own family.

All of those experiences shape the way I teach dementia care today.

Dementia Is More Than Forgetting

Memory loss may be the change everyone notices first.

But dementia can also affect:

🧠 How the brain processes information
💬 Communication
❤️ Emotions and reactions
👀 How someone understands what they see
🧩 Problem-solving and decision-making
🚿 Everyday tasks and personal care
🏠 How safe and familiar the environment feels

That’s why so much of my dementia education focuses on one simple question:

WHY?

Why did this behavior suddenly start?

Why are they refusing?

Why are they following me everywhere?

Why are they asking the same question again?

Why can’t they do something they’ve done for years?

Why did today suddenly become so difficult?

Sometimes the behavior is not the problem.

It’s the clue.

I encourage caregivers to become Dementia Detectives:

Notice the change.
Look for clues.
Ask what may be causing it.
Track what you see.
Connect the patterns.

Understanding the WHY can help you respond to the need instead of simply reacting to the behavior.

My Mission Is Pretty Simple

I don’t expect you to become a dementia expert.

I want to help you become a better-prepared dementia partner.

I want you to understand enough about dementia that you can say:

“Okay. This makes more sense now.”

I want you to recognize changes sooner.

Know what information your doctor needs.

Understand why your approach matters.

Know when something may be more than dementia.

And have tools available when caregiving gets harder.

Most importantly, I want you to know where to turn when you don’t know what to do next.

Start With What You Need Today

A Little Caregiver Wisdom Each Week

Pearls of Wisdom for Dementia Caregivers

You don’t have to learn everything at once.

Each week, I share practical dementia education, caregiving tips, new resources, and little “pearls” I’ve learned through years of caring for people with dementia.

I’m Glad You Found Your Way Here

If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, there will probably be days when you have more questions than answers.

That’s okay.

Start with the question in front of you.

Learn a little at a time.

Watch for changes.

Write things down.

And keep asking WHY.

Look for the clue. Write it down. Watch for the pattern.

That’s how we begin making sense of dementia.

And that’s what Alzheimer’s In Your Home is here to help you do.

Larea McQueen, RN
Certified Dementia Care
Dementia Care Educator
Founder, Alzheimer’s In Your Home