The Dementia Collective #36 is Live!

This episode can be found HERE

What can one year of dementia conversations teach us about care, stigma, grief, advocacy, and hope?

In this special one-year anniversary episode of The Dementia Collective, Andrew Karesa steps out of the interviewer’s chair and becomes the guest. Joined by guest host Anoushka Fernandes, Andrew reflects on how the show began almost by accident, what it has grown into, and what a year of conversations with caregivers, people living with dementia, researchers, advocates, clinicians, authors, and public voices has taught him.

Together, Andrew and Anoushka look back on the moments that shaped the show, from the first caregiver support webinar to the powerful stories that changed how Andrew thinks about dementia, personhood, stigma, family, grief, regret, and hope.

They also go behind the scenes of The Dementia Collective, including the emotional weight of listening to deeply personal caregiving stories, the work that goes into producing the show, and where Andrew hopes to take it in year two.

In this episode:
• How The Dementia Collective began by accident
• What Andrew has learned from caregivers, experts, and people living with dementia
• The stories and guests that stayed with him most
• Why dementia stigma remains so harmful
• The emotional weight of hearing caregiving stories
• What goes into producing the show behind the scenes
• Where Andrew hopes to take The Dementia Collective in year two
• A special lightning round with Anoushka
• Details on the one-year birthday giveaway

Whether you have followed from the beginning or this is your first episode, this conversation is a reflection on why these stories matter and why no caregiver, family, or person living with dementia should feel alone.

Birthday Giveaway:

To celebrate one year of The Dementia Collective, we’re giving away a special prize to one member of our community.

To enter:
• Subscribe to The Dementia Collective wherever you watch or listen to the show
• Like this episode
• Comment with the phrase “Remember the Person”
• Share one episode, moment, guest, or topic from TDC that stayed with you

Contest closes July 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM MST. The winner will be contacted by the official blueBell Village account.

Join 'The Village' on Patreon

If you believe in what we are building, I’m inviting you to stand with us. For only $5 per month (less than a Starbucks coffee), you can help us grow this movement, reach more families, and continue breaking the stigma around dementia care.

Your support truly makes a difference.

Village Members receive:

• Early access to new episodes

• The ability to submit questions for upcoming guests

• Occasional behind the scenes updates or voice memos from the host

• Optional name listing on our website’s “Thank You Wall”

This work cannot be done alone. Every conversation, every story, and every episode helps shift how the world understands dementia. Your five dollars directly strengthens that impact.

Join The Village HERE and help us bring more voices, more stories, and more hope to caregivers everywhere.

Don’t Forget to Sign Up for blueBell Connect

We are excited to announce that our patent-pending tool, blueBell Connect is now available for caregivers to sign up. 

blueBell Connect provides caregivers clinically valid, personally specific and culturally appropriate support recommendations in your daily care for individuals living with dementia. 

Click HERE for a blueBell Connect brochure

For more information, check out bluebellconnect.ca or email [email protected]

Click HERE to sign up