It’s Tax Time, Caregiver — Will You Write-off into the Sunset?

Also in this edition: what improv comedy can teach us about dementia communication; educational resources requested in the last poll (and a new poll!); uplifting reading suggestions to get you though tough spots.

Author

Ben Couch
March 22, 2025

In this edition:

• Top News of the Week: Tax Tips for Caregivers
• Ben’s Corner: What can improv comedy teach us about dementia communication?
• Rock the Vote: I’d love to get your input on a new poll. I’ve also included training resources based on the last poll!
• Need a Lift? Check out this week’s picks for uplifting reading.

Top News of the Week: Tax Tips for Caregivers

It’s tax time. Here are some helpful articles about filing taxes and possible state credits, as well as a proposed federal tax credit that will hopefully be coming for next year.

Ben’s Corner: An Evening at the Improv

Are you familiar with improv comedy, caregiver? Even if the term isn’t familiar, you’ve probably seen it. Improv is sketch comedy that is made up on the spot, spontaneously and unscripted, often from prompts offered by the audience.

The most famous recent examples might be the show Whose Line Is It Anyway? (Click the link if you need a laugh. You’ll thank me later.) 🤣 Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler are considered among the most prominent improvisational comedians today.

To understand how this applies to caregiving, we need to know the most important principle of improv comedy: “yes, and”

Here’s the theory: improv comedy is spontaneous, but there are certain rules that allow it to flow. When you’re making things up on the fly with a fellow performer and you say “no” to what they offer in the moment, you’re going to break the flow, shut down the scene, and bomb.

However, when you say “yes, and,” “yes” is the acceptance of what is presented in this exact moment. You look at what you have been given to work with and accept that “this is what I have.” “And” is how you build on that and move forward.4 If you want to be able to respond effectively to your loved one, work on your ability to say “yes, and.”

Take a look at the clip from master improviser Tina Fey below. She explains the importance of this distinction beautifully.

Improv Guide to Dementia Communication

For this edition of the newsletter, I created a guide with several common dementia communication scenarios, the “traditional” response that equates to “no,” and a “yes, and” response that keeps the conversation flowing and validates your loved one.

Get Your Guide: “Using the ‘Yes, And’ Improv Comedy Formula for Dementia Communication

The “yes, and” improv formula helps caregivers validate a loved one’s reality, rather than shutting down the conversation with a “no” or a correction. Let’s look at some scenarios to see how we can open conversations with loved ones using this method.

🎸 Rock the (Caregiver) Vote! ☑️ 

Poll: How has being a caregiver affected your finances?

This is a completely anonymous poll. Click the choice below that best matches your feelings on finances.

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

You asked for it! Education Resources based on Your Poll Results

In a recent poll about educational preferences, the favorite methods of learning for this group were online training followed closely by short guides. Here are a couple of free training options from the Dementia Newsletter’s parent company, elumenEd. I’ve included one online training and one downloadable guide, and both are offered at no charge.

If dementia is affecting you or your loved one, arming yourself with knowledge about the disease is the first step. There is no charge for this online course that will teach you:

  • What dementia actually is (and isn’t)

  • Different types of dementia: Alzheimer’s disease is not the only one

  • The difference between reversible and irreversible dementia

  • Causes of dementia and their effects

  • Recognizing Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease

This guide will give you strategies to calm agitation and restlessness for your loved one while reclaiming some peace of mind for yourself as well. You’ll learn:

  • The five most likely culprits that create agitation for people with dementia.

  • Effective ways to assess and address these needs.

  • Ideas that you can test and implement right now to reduce your loved one’s anxiety.

Need a Lift? Great Words for Difficult Moments.

I wanted to share a couple texts, old and new, that have kept me moving forward this week.

When You’ve Only Got a Minute

  • “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver is a crisp poem that puts our humanity, our emotions, and our journeys into the context of the rhythms of life.

If You Have More Time

  • God Lives in Glass by Dr Robert J. Landy. This a favorite book from my library. It is a collection of children’s responses to questions about spirituality, along with their artwork. I always have a bit of a “good cry” when I pick this one up. Many faiths and nationalities are represented, and I think it can speak to everyone regardless of your feelings regarding the metaphysical.1

Do you have a recommendation for suggested reading, watching, or listening? Send it to [email protected] and if I pick your suggestion I’ll credit you in the Dementia Newsletter that week.

🎉 Support the Cause 🎉 

Hi newsletter family! For months, I have operated this publication “in the red” because I believe so strongly in its vital importance. That’s also why I write it the “old-fashioned” way, without using AI. Now that I’m doing this full time, it has to pay the bills. I need your support. Any donations or purchases you make will go a long way toward keeping this project viable into the future!

PS, if you think giving just a dollar isn’t a big deal, we have 15,000 subscribers now! If everyone gave a dollar a month, this newsletter would be secure well into the future. I don’t mean to go all “PBS telethon” on you, but every donation or purchase is sorely needed right now! You can scan the QR code below to donate, click this link, or browse our products to help the cause.

Want to support The Dementia Newsletter and get something great in return? Try out one of our affordable courses that teach pragmatic skills you can use today. If they aren’t exactly what you need, you get your money back: no questions asked.

Check out my book on Amazon!

Hi! I’m Ben, and I’m the author of this newsletter as well as a new book on Amazon: Creating Purposeful Engagement.

From the book’s description:

“For those of us caring for loved ones living with cognitive change and dementia, engaging them in daily life can be both difficult and rewarding. When it doesn’t work, we might see the confusion in their eyes or watch them retreat into themselves. But when we get it right, when we draw them into an activity or conversation, we have given them an invitation to participate in the world for a time. These successful moments can be orchestrated, improved, and created reliably. Getting confident with engaging your loved one is what this guide is all about.”

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I’ve been a dementia professional for over 20 years, but the fight against this disease has become much more personal for me as I am engaged in my mother’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease. I started The Dementia Newsletter as well as it’s parent company, elumenEd, to help caregivers, specifically home and family caregivers, gain access to the very best training and information available at an affordable price.

At The Dementia Newsletter, we’re dementia professionals but we’re not medical doctors or lawyers. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for medical diagnosis, treatment, or any health-related concerns and consult with a lawyer regarding any legal matters.

1  I’m suggesting books through the Amazon “affiliate” program. This did NOT affect the choice of any particular book. These are my top picks for The Dementia Newsletter this week! If you pick up a copy of a book through this program, buying it through the link above helps to support the newsletter, and you still pay the same price. Happy reading!

2  In the interview, Key references a skit called “Substitute Teacher” with his character Mr. Garvey. It aired on Comedy Central’s Key & Peele show, and if you’d like to have a laugh, you can check it out here. (FYI: there’s some lightweight swearing.)

3  If you like that one, enjoy check out this clip of her doing a similar exercise with Dave Letterman.

4  You don’t literally have to say “yes, and” in improv, of course. You just need to have the spirit of that concept when you respond. The same is true for caregivers.