It’s a strange and painful feeling when the person you love begins to change because of dementia. The disease starts quietly, without warning, and little by little, the person you know begins to feel different. The hardest part isn’t just the memory loss—it’s seeing them act in ways you don’t understand, or feeling helpless because you can’t make sense of it. One day, they are themselves; the next, they’re frightened, confused, or saying things that break your heart. Families often step into this world feeling lost, carrying guilt, fear, and the heavy weight of uncertainty.
Lisa Skinner, Certified Dementia Practitioner, Trainer, and Dementia Care Expert, understands this struggle deeply. Inspired by her experiences with her grandmother and other family members, she has spent over 30 years transforming dementia care with compassion, practical guidance, and education. From creating memory-care units and training staff as a regional director to consulting directly with families, Lisa brings hands-on expertise and leadership to every aspect of care.
Today, she reaches a global audience through books, seminars, podcasts, and her streaming TV show—offering families clear, practical guidance to reduce conflict, preserve dignity, and strengthen connections. By blending timeless behavioral principles with the latest science, Lisa Skinner helps turn fear and helplessness into understanding, calm, and hope.
Over 30 Years of Dedication
Lisa’s work with dementia began very personally. As a teenager, she went to show her grandmother her new driver’s licence, expecting a normal conversation. Instead, her grandmother talked about birds in her mattress, rats on the floor, and men trying to steal her jewellery. Confused but caring, Lisa listened, validated her grandmother’s fears, and offered help.
Later, she learned these were signs of dementia—hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. That experience stayed with her. Over time, seven more family members developed dementia. Lisa didn’t plan to work in this field—it chose her. Seeing loved ones struggle made her want to help other families.
She studied behavioural science and started as a community counsellor in assisted living and memory care. Over the years, she became a regional director, designed memory-care units, trained staff, and guided caregivers. She also became a certified dementia practitioner and trainer.
For more than three decades, Lisa has taught families and caregivers how to reduce stress, preserve dignity, and keep meaningful connections with loved ones—even as dementia changes their behavior.
Responding to Emotion
Over the years, Lisa Skinner has seen dementia care change in important ways. When she first started, the common approach was to “correct” people with dementia—reminding them of the date, the facts, or what was really happening. Even though it was meant to help, she realised it often made things worse. It confused people more, increased their anxiety, and sometimes led to emotional outbursts.
With time, research and real-life experience showed a better way. Instead of forcing someone back into reality, caregivers began focusing on understanding their feelings. If a person believes someone is trying to break into the house, arguing with them doesn’t calm them—it scares them more. But saying, “I can see this is frightening. You’re safe, and I’m here with you,” helps them relax and feel supported.
This shift—from correcting to understanding—completely changed how Lisa approaches dementia care. She has learned that responding to emotion, not just words, builds trust, reduces stress, and makes daily life easier for the person with dementia and their caregiver. It’s a gentler, kinder, and far more effective way to care.
Recognizing the Full Spectrum of Dementia Symptoms
Early in her career, Lisa Skinner focused on one-on-one consulting, working directly with families in their homes and supporting care staff within memory-care settings. She spent years building memory-care units, training staff, and guiding families through the challenges of daily care. In recent years, she has shifted her focus to broader-scale education and advocacy, recognizing that dementia is a systemic issue: millions of people worldwide are affected, yet most of the general public lacks a full understanding of these diseases.
Many people still equate dementia solely with memory loss and fail to recognize other common symptoms, such as hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, and loss of reasoning. This lack of awareness often leaves families unprepared, and their first instinct may unintentionally worsen situations. Lisa’s work is designed to change that.
Her approach centers on three key areas:
- Education on brain changes: Helping people understand what to expect as dementia progresses.
- Communication techniques: Strategies that reduce conflict through validation, meeting individuals where they are, and de-escalation.
- Professional training: Giving healthcare providers the tools for stronger post-diagnostic support and bridging gaps in clinical education.
Lisa Skinner shares her expertise through speaking engagements at medical conferences and professional meetings, as well as through public-facing platforms. She hosts The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s Show, a weekly podcast that has reached the top 10% of podcasts globally, and a streaming television show on E360 TV with the same name. She also writes books that focus on core principles and real-life stories, offering practical guidance for families and caregivers.
Through all of these initiatives, Lisa aims to improve quality of life for those affected by dementia: reducing crises, fostering meaningful interactions, and providing stronger support for caregivers.
Compassionate and Accurate Guidance
Lisa builds her work on two key pillars: Timeless behavioral fundamentals and ongoing scientific updates. Her books focus on the fundamentals—explaining how diseases that cause dementia affect the brain and why certain behaviors occur. Because these principles remain consistent over time, her books continue to be relevant and practical, serving as “evergreen” resources for families and professionals alike.
At the same time, Lisa Skinner stays current with new research, medications, and clinical findings. Through her podcast and TV show, she shares updates on clinical developments, emerging treatments, and evolving evidence, helping families and professionals separate fact from fiction. She also actively addresses myths and misinformation that can create unnecessary confusion or fear.
By combining a solid foundation in behavioral science with regular reviews of the latest research, Lisa ensures her guidance is compassionate and accurate. Families benefit from humane communication strategies rooted in how the brain actually functions, while staying informed about medical or clinical advances that may impact care.
Clear, Accessible, and Reliable Dementia Education For Every Family
Lisa explains that her work is not driven by one major partnership, but by a commitment to reaching more people with accurate, easy-to-understand dementia education. Her passion comes from what she saw with her grandmother—very few resources, almost no guidance after diagnosis, and even professionals who dismissed her grandmother’s symptoms. These experiences pushed her to make dementia education more accessible for everyone.
Looking ahead, Lisa Skinner plans to keep expanding what has worked best: public education, caregiver training, and correcting common myths about dementia. She also aims to stay up to date with new treatments and research so families get the most current information. Her goal is simple—to remain a trusted guide, helping families feel supported and giving professionals practical tools they can use alongside medical care.
Technology as a Helper, Not a Substitute
Lisa Skinner emphasizes the role of technology and innovation, noting that tools like online information, caregiver apps, remote monitoring, and AI can make dementia care easier and more accessible. These tools help families get quick answers and manage daily challenges more smoothly.
But she also reminds us that dementia care is deeply human. Real comfort comes from empathy, presence, and gentle support—things technology cannot replace. Because many people live with dementia for many years, the steady love and involvement of family, friends, and caregivers matter most. Technology can support care, but human connection is what truly makes a difference.
Understanding Changes Everything
Lisa Skinner’s message to readers and caregivers is simple: understanding changes everything. When families learn how dementia affects the brain and why certain behaviors occur, fear and confusion begin to ease. With the right knowledge and communication techniques, they can reduce conflict, protect dignity, and stay connected to their loved ones. In the end, understanding turns helplessness into calm, confidence, and compassionate action.
From Leaders, For Leaders:
Lead with humility, commit to lifelong learning, and pair knowledge with empathy. True impact comes from understanding families, applying practical skills, and combining clinical expertise with genuine human connection.
