Phone: 574-607-8120
Shelley Pillado 
(And What Most People Do Wrong) Mom had an appointment.I came over early to help her get ready, because getting ready is a thing now. It takes forever. She can’t stay on task. That morning, though, things were actually going well. She was dressed. Shoes on. Purse ready. All that was left was brushing her … Read more
She Changed Everything. Her name was Gladys. ∞ ∞ ∞ Her eyes were soft with a voice was strong, though worn by years of living.You could still see pieces of who she had been, even as dementia slowly took them away. When Families Arrive Exhausted But in many ways, the ones who carried the weight … Read more
(And What Does) Yes, They Can Still Learn—Here’s How to Reach Them Many people are surprised to hear this, but it’s true: People with dementia can still learn. They just learn differently. Instead of learning through words and explanations, they learn through the senses, much like young children do. Some parts of the brain change, … Read more
She called me Mom again today. “Mom, what should we do next? What do we still need to do?” Her voice floated across the kitchen table, soft and earnest, like someone trying to find their footing in a room that suddenly feels bigger than they remember. And even though this isn’t the first time, it … Read more
Until It’s Too Late. And by the time they realize what to ask, the damage is already done. Most families don’t make bad decisions.They make uninformed decisions — under pressure. Not because they didn’t care.Not because they ignored warning signs.But because no one ever told them there were rules to learn in the first place. … Read more
Planning an open house and climbing a mountain feel oddly similar to me. Sweaty palms.Second-guessing every decision.Feeling exhausted before you even start. Party planning is not my gift. The weeks leading up to our assisted living open house felt like I needed hiking poles, trail mix — and maybe a Sherpa. June 22, 2022 arrived … Read more
It’s Just Making Everything Heavier. Guilt has a way of sneaking into care partnerships and making everything feel heavier than it already is. And honestly? It doesn’t deserve the power we give it. As I was writing this, the song War by Edwin Starr popped into my head. Suddenly, my brain rewrote it: 🎵 Guilt! … Read more
Here’s Why I’d Do It Again. By the Fourth of July, we welcomed our second resident. Her name was Marla. Marla wasn’t a stranger to me. She had once been my patient in a long-term care facility. She broke her hip, went to rehab, but something wasn’t right. The bone wasn’t healing. Further testing showed … Read more
(And Why “Support” Has to Mean More Than Just Listening) A close friend reached out to me recently and asked a simple question: “Do you know of any support groups?” She didn’t ask dramatically.She didn’t fall apart on the phone.She asked the way doers ask. You know the type. The people who don’t let the … Read more
We learn during seasons of change. This is what I learned. I Cried Today. The text came out of nowhere. The words are heavy.Weighted down with exhaustion and guilt. I knew it was coming eventually.But I didn’t expect it to be at 7:35 p.m. on a Sunday night, while I was stretched out in the … Read more
