About 10 years ago, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It was an upsetting time for our family as we scrambled to find her help.

We hired two primary caregivers. One was basically a sitter who attended to my mother’s physical needs and little else. My mom’s dementia seemed to get worse every day she spent with her. The other caretaker, however, engaged my mother in conversation and encouraged her to take part in activities. When my mom spent time with this second person, her mood brightened.