Dementia coach Jeannine Forrest centers caregiving on comfort and connection

Jeannine Forrest, founder of Through the Forrest, was featured on Close Up Radio in an August 13 interview about dementia care and family caregiving. The Chicago-area nurse-turned-coach says families can reduce fear and conflict by adjusting expectations, communication and support as dementia progresses.

Why it matters: - Forrest’s approach targets one of dementia care’s biggest pain points: how families respond when memory, language and behavior change. - Her coaching is aimed at helping caregivers stay calm, prevent avoidable conflict and keep connection intact as the disease advances. - Forrest argues that dementia changes abilities, not a person’s worth, and that love, dignity, purpose and connection still matter.

What happened: - Close Up Radio featured Jeannine Forrest, founder of Through the Forrest, in an interview with Jim Masters on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. Eastern. - Forrest discussed her work as a dementia coach and her private support practice, Dementia Coach On Call®. - Forrest also highlighted her role as director of the Dementia Horizons Academy through the Dementia Society of America.

The details: - Forrest became focused on dementia care after her mother told her, “I’m living in a house of strangers.” - Forrest said that moment, paired with her experience as a registered nurse, showed her she was not prepared to understand what her mother was experiencing. - Through the Forrest works directly with family caregivers. - Forrest’s core framework is that families do better when they understand what is happening, have a plan and feel supported. - Forrest says caregivers are also overwhelmed by stress and new information. - Forrest gives families three anchors: alter expectations, adapt communication and ask for help. - Forrest describes dementia as a syndrome and a “big umbrella” that includes multiple underlying conditions, including injuries and diseases. - Forrest said Alzheimer’s often involves repeated questioning and some awareness that thinking is impaired. - Forrest said frontotemporal dementia can bring major personality and behavior changes while memory stays intact longer. - Forrest’s communication method is to “learn, listen and observe.” - Forrest tells caregivers to study background, preferences, timing cues and favorite topics such as sports, holidays or pets. - Forrest said tone of voice and body language often reveal more than words. - Forrest described using scent, touch, music and familiar foods to comfort people when language fades. - Forrest said a favorite lotion, a hand massage, a loved song or a childhood food can help trigger comfort and memory. - Forrest encourages caregivers to move from problem solver to “compassionate presence.” - Forrest said caregivers did not cause dementia and cannot reverse it, but can still provide empathy and connection. - Forrest said behavior has meaning and distress often signals unmet needs. - Forrest said a caregiver’s rushed, tired or frustrated expression can trigger conflict before care begins. - Forrest distinguishes palliative care, which can manage symptoms at any stage, from hospice care, which applies when a person is expected to live six months or less. - Forrest said families often need help shifting from a cure mindset to a comfort mindset in late-stage dementia.

Between the lines: - Forrest’s message is less about managing symptoms alone and more about reshaping the caregiver’s mindset. - The emphasis on observation, sensory cues and nonverbal communication reflects a practical response to dementia’s later stages, when speech and reasoning often weaken. - Her comments also push back on a common misconception that a dementia diagnosis erases identity.

What’s next: - Forrest continues offering private coaching to families through Through the Forrest. - She also continues building online caregiver programs through the Dementia Horizons Academy. - More information is available at Jeannine Forrest’s website. - The interview is available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart and Spotify.

The bottom line: - Forrest’s core message is simple: dementia care works better when families trade panic for patience, and diagnosis for understanding.