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What if the dementia journey didn’t have to be defined by fear, confusion, and guilt, but by clarity, compassion, and better days at home?
In this heartfelt and practical episode of Designing Healthcare That Cares, Dr. Laura Suttin welcomes Amy Shaw, drawing from her unique path; from primate cognition research and wedding photography to palliative care and dementia support, Amy shares why our current medical model often fails families navigating dementia and how thoughtful, well-timed conversations can change everything.
They discuss:
- The critical importance of goals-of-care conversations
- The “Arc of Conversation” framework from Amy’s medical textbook
- Why dementia is frequently missed in clinic visits
- How caregivers can become “cognitive detectives” using practical, brain-based strategies
Amy also introduces her upcoming book for family caregivers and her new self-paced education course designed to give families a clear roadmap through every stage of the journey.
This episode is essential listening for clinicians, caregivers, and anyone who wants to design healthcare that truly cares for both patients and the families who love them.
Three Actionable Takeaways:
- Start Goals-of-Care Conversations Early and Often: Normalize end-of-life and goals-of-care discussions during routine visits rather than waiting for a crisis. Use a structured approach like the Arc of Conversation to explore what the patient and family understand, fill in educational gaps, investigate their values and wishes, and then align care with what matters most to them.
- Separate Family Conversations from Patient Visits When Needed: Dementia by definition affects a person’s ability to serve as a reliable historian. Meet with family members separately to have frank, detailed conversations about what’s really happening at home. This preserves the patient’s dignity while giving caregivers the practical tools and understanding they need.
- Give Caregivers a Clear Roadmap and Practical Strategies: Equip families with education about the dementia journey from the very beginning. Teach them stage-specific communication and support strategies that align with what is actually breaking in the brain. When caregivers understand the “what, when, and why” of dementia, stress decreases, guilt lightens, and they can respond with compassion instead of confusion or conflict.
About the Show:
Designing Healthcare That Cares is where leadership meets humanity. Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin, the show explores what happens when compassion, connection, and courage come together to transform how we care—for our patients, our teams, and ourselves.
About the Guest:
Amy Shaw, P.A, is a dementia clinician, educator, and founder of Better Dementia, a national platform dedicated to helping families care for loved ones with clarity, confidence, and compassion. She is the author of The Arc of Conversation: A How-to Guide for Goals of Care Conversations, a medical textbook used by clinicians and educators.
Amy offer private one-on-one family guidance sessions online, which is especially helpful when families are spread out geographically. She also recently launched a self-paced digital course that teaches caregivers everything they need to understand the dementia journey, including the stages, how to recognize where a loved one is, how to align communication and support strategies in ways that preserve dignity and reduce conflict, and what to expect medically as the disease progresses. The course also addresses when hospice care can begin and what hospice care can provide. It is a comprehensive framework designed to help families navigate this journey with clarity and avoid unnecessary crisis along the way.
Connect with Amy Shaw:
Website: betterdementia.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterdementia
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterdementia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterdementia
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@betterdementia
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amyshawpa
About the Host:
Dr. Laura Suttin is a physician, leadership coach, and lifelong advocate for designing systems that truly care. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare, she realized that compassion and connection aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re the foundation of great medicine.
Today, Laura brings that vision to life through her work as a consultant, speaker, and host of Designing Healthcare That Cares. She helps healthcare leaders and clinicians rediscover their purpose, build resilient teams, and lead with both strategy and soul.
When she’s not interviewing changemakers or guiding organizations, you can find her sharing stories that remind us all why we got into medicine in the first place—to make a difference, together.
🌐 Website: drlaurasuttin.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md/
📸 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD
Register for the Clinician Leadership Compass course to combat overwhelm and burnout.: www.thepurposefulmd.com/courses
Tags:
Dementia Care, Goals of Care Conversations, Caregiver Support, Palliative Care, End of Life Conversations, Better Dementia, Family Caregiving, Compassionate Care, Dementia Education, Hospice Care
Social Media Hashtags:
#DesigningHealthcareThatCares, #BetterDementia, #DementiaCare, #GoalsOfCare, #CaregiverSupport, #PalliativeCare, #EndOfLifeConversations, #FamilyCaregiving
#CompassionateCare, #DementiaJourney
YouTube Show Notes
Compassionate Conversations: Transforming Dementia Care with Amy Shaw | Ep61
🩺 Hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin with guest Amy Shaw
What if we could transform the dementia journey from one of fear and overwhelm into one of clarity, confidence, and compassion?
In this rich conversation, Dr. Laura Suttin speaks with Amy Shaw about why our medical system often misses dementia, the power of early and structured goals-of-care conversations, and practical tools that help families navigate every stage with dignity.
Inside:
- From wedding photographer to dementia clinician – the surprising preparation
- Why medical training leaves clinicians unprepared for end-of-life conversations
- The Arc of Conversation framework for goals-of-care discussions
- Why dementia care must include the whole family
- Becoming a “cognitive detective” – practical strategies for caregivers
- The new self-paced education course and upcoming book for families
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Amy Shaw
01:00 – From primate cognition to wedding photography to palliative care
04:00 – The gap in medical training around end-of-life conversations
08:00 – The Arc of Conversation: Goals of care done right
13:00 – Normalizing death and hospice discussions
17:00 – Why dementia is missed in traditional clinic visits
20:00 – Better Dementia: Education, strategies & reducing caregiver stress
25:00 – Meeting with families separately to preserve dignity
28:00 – Practical tools for communication and conflict at home
32:00 – Self-paced education course and resources for families
Thanks for listening! If this episode resonated, share it with a clinician colleague or a family member caring for someone with dementia.
#DesigningHealthcareThatCares #BetterDementia #DementiaCare #GoalsOfCare #PalliativeCare #CaregiverSupport #EndOfLifeConversations #HospiceCare #FamilyCaregiving #CompassionateCare
The Designing Healthcare That Cares Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding personal or organizational decisions.
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