Redwood Area Dementia Awareness Network

08/20/2026

RADAN is preparing to host another dementia education event. Please see details below.

08/03/2026

06/30/2026

For more information and caregiver support i. Redwood County, call Susann in the ACE office at 507.627.1016

06/09/2026

It's just a few short weeks until Summer Splash weekend! Check out the schedule for a couple of new things--parade starts at 6pm this year for an extra hour at Memorial Field, there's a Sand Volleyball tournament (Elway Berg) at Legion Park Saturday morning and get in on the Dunk Tank fundraiser for Discover Downtown Redwood Falls Pocket Park project later on Saturday! More info on our website and we'll post more details over the next few weeks about our other activities!

06/09/2026

Most people think Parkinson’s disease is about tremors.

But Parkinson’s is much more than shaking hands.

It is a progressive neurological condition that can affect movement, thinking, sleep, mood, vision, and eventually memory.

The four classic motor symptoms are:

• Tremor
• Slowness of movement (bradykinesia)
• Muscle rigidity (stiffness)
• Balance and coordination difficulties

What many families don’t realize is that changes in the brain can begin years before memory problems appear.

Loss of smell, acting out dreams during sleep, depression, anxiety, excessive daytime sleepiness, and a shuffling gait may all be early warning signs.

As Parkinson’s progresses, some individuals develop Parkinson’s Disease Dementia, a condition that can affect attention, planning, problem solving, visual perception, and memory. This occurs because abnormal proteins called Lewy bodies spread through areas of the brain responsible for movement, thinking, emotions, and perception.

The good news is that a diagnosis is not the end of the story.

Research continues to show that exercise, social engagement, quality sleep, cognitive stimulation, proper nutrition, and meaningful relationships can help support brain health and quality of life.

For care partners, remember this:

The person you love is still there.

The disease may change how they move, think, or communicate, but it does not change their need for dignity, connection, purpose, and love.

Parkinson’s may slow the body, but it does not erase the person. Beneath every tremor is a life story still worth hearing, a heart still worth knowing, and a soul still worth loving.

carepartner caregiving neurology aging dementiacareathome

04/16/2026

When a loved one living with dementia starts making accusations, your natural instinct is to defend yourself. However, because the brain’s logic center is damaged, defending yourself usually makes the paranoia worse.
The goal isn't to "win" the argument, it’s to lower their anxiety. Here are specific scripts and techniques to use:

1. The "Valuables" Script (When they accuse you of stealing)

* The Wrong Way: "I didn’t take your purse! I have my own money, why would I steal yours?" (This feels like an attack to them.)

* The Right Way: "Oh no, that is so frustrating. I know how much that purse means to you. Let’s look for it together, I bet it’s just 'hiding' somewhere safe."

* The "Secret" Move: If they frequently lose a specific item (like a wallet or purse/handbag), buy a duplicate. When they claim it's stolen, "find" the backup in a drawer and say, "Is this the one? Thank goodness we found it!"

Share your secret moves in the comments. You might help someone struggling with this.👇🏼