Updates from Carlyn Lenfestey

The Best Activities for Someone with Dementia Who Won’t Engage

Sun, 31 May 2026 18:35:48 CDT

Most activity advice for dementia caregivers starts in the wrong place. The Wheel of Function Framework™ gives caregivers and care professionals a clinically grounded way to read what the brain needs before any activity begins. Learn what actually works when nothing else has.

They Told Me Everything: A Memorial Day Reflection From a Physical Therapist

Mon, 25 May 2026 07:54:18 CDT

In 11 years at the Maine Veterans’ Home, physical therapist Carlyn Lenfestey witnessed something that still catches her off guard: veterans who could not tell her what year it was could describe the color of the water at Omaha Beach at first light. This Memorial Day, she writes about the neuroscience behind why emotional memories often outlast dementia, and what that understanding means for everyone who cares for someone living with it.

The Caregiver Behind the Care Plan: What Families Have Been Trying to Tell Us About Dementia Care

Mon, 18 May 2026 07:29:00 CDT

Researchers and healthcare leaders are finally beginning to talk more openly about the daily realities of dementia caregiving. But for many families, these conversations are long overdue.

In this article, Carlyn Lenfestey, physical therapist and creator of the Wheel of Function Framework, explores why caregivers often recognize changes in function long before healthcare systems do, and why behavior in dementia should be understood as a signal instead of simply a problem to manage.

Drawing from both personal family experience and years of clinical work in dementia care, this post examines:

why dementia care is about more than memory loss
how sensory overload, emotional regulation, and changing brain function affect daily life
why caregivers need interpretation tools, not just instructions
what current dementia research is beginning to recognize about caregiver insight and real-world support

If you have ever felt like you were trying to navigate dementia without a roadmap, this article will help you understand why.

What the New Alzheimer's Drug Means for Family Caregivers: A Straight Answer

Mon, 11 May 2026 08:04:00 CDT

The FDA has approved an at-home injectable form of Leqembi for early Alzheimer's disease. But what does that actually mean for the caregiver managing a full day of dementia care? A licensed physical therapist and dementia care specialist attended a caregiver conference this week where a neurologist overseeing Leqembi infusions addressed the room directly. This is the straight answer caregivers, professionals, and supporters need right now, including who qualifies, what the process looks like, and why the drug and the daily caregiving are two parallel tracks that both still matter.

Part 5: How to Stop Dementia Mealtime Meltdowns Before They Start

Mon, 04 May 2026 10:53:00 CDT

Prevent the mealtime meltdown before it starts. In the final part of our series, we explore how to master the Environment and Emotional spokes of the Wheel of Function™ to ensure peace at the table.

Part 4: Dementia and Finger Foods: How to Maintain Independence When Utensils Fail

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:27:00 CDT

When a fork becomes a barrier, it is time to change the tactic, not the goal. Learn how to use finger foods and texture modification to preserve dignity and nutrition in mid-to-late stage dementia.

Part 3: Stop the Mealtime Battle- How to Support Eating When Dementia Gets

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:19:00 CDT

Stop fighting the symptoms and start repairing the wheel. This guide provides practical, stage-aware strategies to fix the physical, sensory, and cognitive "misfires" that disrupt dementia mealtimes using the Wheel of Function Framework™.

Part 2: How Dementia Affects Eating at Every Stage

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:12:00 CDT

Dementia is a progressive journey of brain failure. In Part 2 of our series, we map the Wheel of Function™ to the early, middle, and late stages of the disease to help you stay ahead of mealtime challenges.

Part 1: Why the Table is the Ultimate Stress Test in Dementia Care

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:10:00 CDT

Mealtime is the most complex task we ask a person with dementia to perform. Explore why the kitchen table is the "ultimate stress test" and learn how the Wheel of Function Framework™ can help you identify and repair the specific obstacles stopping the meal.

Alzheimer’s Speaks Podcast: Why Dementia Behaviors Make Sense Once You Understand the Brain

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:08:03 CDT