As 2025 comes to a close, dementia care expert Teepa Snow reflects on progress made—and shares what gives her hope for the year ahead: stronger foundations, global connection, and care that truly delivers what it promises. This forward-looking conversation invites care partners, professionals, and organizations to rethink awareness, skill-building, and what it really means to create communities that work well for everyone.

If we’re going to build dementia care that truly delivers on its promises, we need a shared understanding of how brain change unfolds — and how support must shift along the way. Progression of Dementia: Seeing GEMS® — Not Just Loss offers a hopeful, practical framework for recognizing abilities, adjusting expectations, and responding with intention at every stage. This DVD supports the future-focused conversation in this episode by helping care partners, professionals, and communities build stronger foundations rooted in skill, awareness, and respect.

Depression and anxiety are widespread in long-term care—but they often go unrecognized and untreated. In this episode, Teepa Snow explores how environmental stressors, lack of meaningful engagement, staffing pressures, and unmet needs all contribute to low mood and distress for residents, families, and professionals alike.

Teepa and Greg discuss why quick fixes fall short, what meaningful change requires, and how leadership and staff can work together to build a community where well-being is possible.

You’ll also hear how PAC™ supports organizations through training experiences, mentorship, and sustainable culture-change initiatives.

Teepa’s discussion of widespread low mood in care facilities underscores that meaningful change – not quick fixes – is needed to improve quality of life. For those looking to foster a better care environment, the Culture Change Bundle (DVD) is an excellent fit. It includes Dementia Care Provision: Reducing Risk by Changing Care Strategies, a training video showing how adjusting staff approaches and routines can dramatically reduce distress behaviors and accidents in professional care settings. Teepa’s methods teach leadership and staff to address unmet needs through non-pharmacological skills, rather than defaulting to medication or restraint. By equipping your team with these positive strategies (along with the bundled PAC Skills DVD), you’ll be empowered to start transforming your community’s culture – building the kind of engagement and emotional support that Teepa describes as being essential for true well-being.

What’s the difference between Alzheimer disease and dementia—and how important is it to get an accurate diagnosis? In this episode, Teepa Snow clearly explains dementia as a syndrome, breaks down how Alzheimer disease fits under the umbrella of dementia, and highlights why different forms of neurodegeneration require different approaches.

You’ll learn how patterns of brain change influence abilities, behaviors, and support needs, and why getting curious about strengths and shifts sometimes matters more than chasing a perfect diagnosis.

Teepa also shares how PAC™ complimentary resource cards and no-cost initial consults can help you take the next right step with confidence.

When tackling the distinctions between Alzheimer disease and other dementias, Teepa stresses getting curious about abilities and support needs rather than spending excessive time chasing a diagnosis. A helpful resource here is the PAC Resource Cards set – handy reference cards covering core concepts like the GEMS® model of dementia progression and the “umbrella” of different dementia types. These cards are packed with essential tips and insights, providing families and professionals at-a-glance guidance to adjust care approaches for different brain changes. Even better, Teepa’s team offers a complimentary 30-minute initial consultation for personalized advice. Together, the resource cards and a no-cost consult can help you confidently take the next right step after learning about what makes each dementia unique.