Phone: 574-607-8120
Shelley Pillado 
There is a simple truth we don’t say often enough in dementia care. Dementia behaviors are communication, not defiance. We, the sapphire brains, can choose.Amber and ruby brains cannot. And yet, far too often, we expect them to. A Story We Need to Pay Attention To I’ve been working closely with a family whose mother … Read more
(The small moments most families ignore—and why preparation matters long before panic sets in) Mom was being stubborn again. At least, that’s what I call it when she absolutely will not see the big picture and cannot understand why she can’t drive anymore. One day she’s perfectly logical about it and hands me the keys. … Read more
Before we get into this story, here’s something I didn’t fully appreciate until recently. Some of the most valuable occupational therapy learning doesn’t happen inside a clinic at all. It happens in the messy, unpredictable, beautifully human environments where people actually live their lives. How This Opportunity Came About For the first time in my … Read more
(and what that moment reveals about stress and choice) Terminal L. Gate 28A. The sign states my flight has been pushed back an hour. Sigh. Oh, but wait. What do I see on the board? Another flight to South Bend, an hour earlier than mine. Perfect. We landed a little early anyway. I huff it … Read more
(Until Home Becomes a Cage) If you’re caring for an aging parent, you’ve probably heard this phrase more times than you can count: “There’s just no place like home.” Sometimes it’s said warmly.Sometimes defensively.And sometimes with a kind of quiet fear underneath it. And yes, home can absolutely be comforting. Familiar.Predictable.Wrapped in memories like a … Read more
(While Building Something to Prevent Bricks) There I was… Preparing to stand in front of a room full of people and talk about how to avoid crisis when it comes to aging parents. You know…the whole “don’t wait until everything is on fire” conversation. The program.A system I built.And a platform designed to guide families … Read more
Notice Anything? Look closely. What do you see that’s different than a typical public bathroom?Doesn’t matter if it’s men’s or women’s. Pause for a second.Really look. Do you see it yet? This one’s going to be a little funny. I’ve been writing blogs for HolistiCare Homes and the Save Our Sanity Society for the past … Read more
The Call That Jolts You Awake The buzz of my watch and the sharp ring of my phone cut straight through sleep. Those calls don’t ever come at a good time.They come in the middle of the night—when your guard is down and your mind is still trying to catch up. “Hello, Shelley, this is … Read more
How to Respond to Accusations Without Damaging Trust When Accusations Start One of the hardest moments for families is when a loved one with dementia says someone has stolen their belongings. Joanna struggled with this often. She would accuse other residents or staff of taking her things. One day, it was her undergarments. We searched … Read more
She didn’t say it angrily.She said it almost to herself—like a realization that came too late. “They told me dehydration can cause UTIs.It sure would have been nice to know that some time ago.Mom really struggles to drink water.” This was after at least four hospitalizations for UTIs. Four. This Is How Families Get Blindsided … Read more
Instead, they see calm.
Connection.
Conversation.
Laughter coming from the kitchen.
Care partners who KNOW their loved one’s routines, preferences, fears, stories, and personality.
And something inside them finally loosens.
Because after months, sometimes years, of stress, second-guessing, exhaustion, and wondering if they’re making the right decision…
They can finally breathe again.
With only seven residents and two dedicated care partners, your loved one receives the kind of attention that larger settings simply cannot consistently provide.
Not because we say the right things.
Because there is actually TIME to notice the little things.
The subtle changes.
The quiet emotions.
The “something feels off today” moments that matter.
Here, your loved one is not treated like a task list.
They are treated like a human being whose comfort, dignity, safety, and emotional well-being matter deeply.
This is the kind of place where families stop feeling constantly on edge.
Where visits feel warmer.
Where meals feel more personal.
Where relationships grow.
Where trust is rebuilt.
And where families finally stop feeling like they have to carry everything alone.
Because at HolistiCare Homes, we are not simply providing care.
We are helping families feel safe again.
