We’re revisiting this episode because its insights remain as powerful and relevant today as when it first aired.

In this episode of Truth, Lies & Alzheimer's, host Lisa Skinner discusses the person-centered approach to Alzheimer's and dementia caregiving. The person-centered approach allows loved ones to retain dignity and autonomy by focusing care plans on the individual's needs rather than on the symptoms of the disease.

Lisa covers the four principles of a person-centered approach which were developed to help caregivers see beyond the disease and to help loved ones live independent and fulfilling lives. Lisa also discusses a story from her book Truth, Lies & Alzheimer's: Its Secret Faces, and examines how a person-centered approach would apply.

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.

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In today’s episode, Lisa sheds light on how actor and singer, Kris Kristofferson, was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and treated for three years, when he was actually suffering from Lyme disease. She shares the details of the story behind it, including what symptoms he was displaying before, during, and after the Alzheimer’s diagnosis and what led to testing him for Lyme disease. According to Lisa Meyers, Kristofferson’s wife, his doctors didn’t even think to test for Lyme disease until he had already been treated with Alzheimer’s disease medication for three years. Additionally, Lisa discusses the true story of Shania Twain, who was also diagnosed with Lyme disease and how the disease almost ended her singing career! Finally, Lisa goes into details about many of the common symptoms displayed after contracting Lyme disease and why it’s not surprising how Alzheimer’s disease can easily be mistaken for Lyme disease.

You won’t want to miss this important episode! Nearly 500,000 people a year are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the U.S,…be aware and informed by listening to this podcast.

Mentioned Resources:

1) 7 Surprising Symptoms of Lyme Disease, Time Magazine: https://time.com written by Angela Haupt, June 18, 2025

2) What We Know About Kris Kristofferson’s Health After Alzheimer’s Misdiagnosis, thelist.com: https://www.thelist.com written by Roger Froilan, February 10, 2024

3) Shania Twain Reveals ‘Scary” Lyme Disease Symptoms: ‘I Thought That Was It’, Prevention Magazine: https://www.prevention.com, written by Arieille Weg, July 22, 2027.

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge,...

In today’s episode, Lisa talks with her special guest, Mr. Bill Walters, of Perfectly Imperfect Families. Before Bill became an advisor, he cared for his mother who suffered from dementia, caused by both Lewey Body Disease as well as Alzheimer’s Disease. With no long-term care coverage in place, and being an only child, he had to do everything himself – keeping an eye out, cooking meals, cleaning up after her, setting up rails so she wouldn’t fall. When she passed away, he made a promise to himself that he would do everything in his power to make sure other families wouldn’t go through what he did. Bill brings valuable insights and advise to the show today for other’s to learn from his 6 year experience with dementia. He provides heartfelt tips and strategies of what worked for him and his mom, and what didn’t.

You won’t want to miss this important episode!

Mentioned Resources:

https://www.perfectlyimperfectfamilies.com

About the Guest:

Before Bill Walters became a Financial Guru, he cared for his mother through 6 years of dementia. He also spent his fatherhood raising a daughter with emotional, medical, and psychological needs. He says he knows what it’s like to deal with complicated family needs.

In addition to Bill’s experience in finance and management, he has co-authored two international bestsellers (The Equation and Cracking the Success Code). He also serves on the board of directors for three non-profit organizations and coached street hockey and individuals on the Special Olympics track and hockey teams.

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from...