Rewriting the Dementia Caregiving Story - Guest Post with Mary Osborne

This month we’re excited to hear from Mary Osborne, founder of Your Dementia Therapist. Mary is an occupational therapist and certified life coach, who provides education and support to family caregivers. Read on to learn more about Mary and her involvement within dementia care.

Introduce yourself and share about your background. How did you come to be a part of the dementia care community?
Hi, I’m Mary, founder of Your Dementia Therapist. I’m an Occupational Therapist and a certified life coach. I’ve spent over a decade treating individuals living with dementia, while providing education to professional and family caregivers. 

Throughout my career, I recognized a critical gap in caregiver support—many families are left overwhelmed and underprepared after a dementia diagnosis. To help bridge that gap, I’ve developed tools and resources designed to simplify care, reduce stress, and offer the guidance so many caregivers are searching for.

My mission is to empower caregivers with clear, compassionate strategies that support not just the person living with dementia, but the caregiver’s well-being too. Everything I create is grounded in a holistic approach—centered on education, empowerment, and a deep sense of love and compassion for everyone navigating this journey.

What specific services or tools do you provide to support caregivers and families dealing with dementia? Can you share an example of how your services have positively impacted a caregiver or family?
After a dementia diagnosis, families are often sent home with little to no information about what to expect next. I hear this all the time: “We walked out of that appointment with little to no information on dementia." That’s why I created the Calm Caregiver Toolkit—a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use resource that helps caregivers feel more prepared, less overwhelmed, and more empowered in their daily roles.

The toolkit includes a year’s worth of short, supportive coaching videos to offer consistent encouragement and strategies so caregivers feel supported and not alone. It features my signature course, Understanding Dementia Together, which breaks down complex information about navigating a dementia diagnosis into digestible, actionable steps. It also provides an activity eBook and daily planner to help create meaningful moments, a 14-day roadmap to reduce stress, and expert interviews on essential subjects like grief, medical planning, and communication—answering the questions caregivers often don’t know to ask.

The best part is that caregivers can access this information on their own schedule, at their own pace—no pressure, just support when they need it most. The Calm Caregiver Toolkit has already helped countless caregivers feel more grounded and confident in their daily lives. One caregiver shared, “Mary helped make a confusing time much more approachable.” 

Many other caregivers are using these tools to reduce daily tension and create more peaceful interactions. They’re discovering dementia-friendly activities that bring meaning and purpose back into their loved one’s day—and restoring a sense of connection that so many feared was lost. Most importantly, they’re learning how to support their person while also supporting themselves—and that changes everything.

And that’s exactly my goal: to walk alongside families through the uncertainty, offering not just information, but clarity, comfort, and real-world strategies that truly make a difference.

How does your approach differ from other resources or services available for individuals with dementia and their caregivers?
What sets my approach apart is how I blend occupational therapy principles, caregiver coaching, neuroscience, and real-life experience into practical, easy-to-implement strategies. I focus on helping caregivers truly understand why certain behaviors or challenges happen after a dementia diagnosis—so they can respond with more clarity, confidence, and calm.

Caring for someone living with dementia requires a shift in both mindset and approach. I guide caregivers through that shift by providing tools that support both their caregiving responsibilities and their own well-being. I help caregivers feel more in control, more supported, and more connected to their “why.”

My method is rooted in compassion, education, and empowerment—because when caregivers feel stronger, they’re able to provide even better care to the people they love.

What positive change or impact are you passionate about making in the dementia care community?
I’m passionate about helping caregivers rewrite their dementia caregiving story. So often, after a diagnosis, families are left feeling hopeless—like there’s nothing more they can do. But the truth is, there is so much we can do. We just need the right support and the right toolkit.

I want caregivers to know they don’t have to carry the burden alone—and they don’t need to do everything perfectly to make a meaningful impact. I’m deeply committed to creating resources that empower caregivers, helping them find clarity and confidence in their roles.

The transformation I care most about is watching caregivers move from a place of burnout to one of balance—where they feel more in control, more supported, and more connected to the person they’re caring for.

I’m also incredibly passionate about expanding dementia education into communities—especially for professional caregivers. Through my programs, I equip care staff with the tools to reduce challenging behaviors, prevent falls, and improve the overall quality of life for their residents. Because when caregivers feel confident and prepared, everyone benefits.

Let’s talk about resources and support for family members caring for a loved one living with dementia. Where are we lacking in addressing their needs?
One of the biggest gaps I see is that family caregivers are often left to figure things out on their own. After the diagnosis, there’s usually no roadmap, and there’s minimal guidance on how to actually care for someone living with dementia—physically, emotionally, or practically.

We’re missing accessible, straightforward education that meets caregivers right where they are. They need tools that are evidence-based but also realistic, especially when time is limited. There’s also a significant lack of emotional support—many caregivers bear guilt, fear, and exhaustion in silence.

I believe the solution lies in a more integrated approach: blending practical resources, simple mindset tools, and community-based education. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to create workshops and resources that not only inform but also uplift. Caregivers deserve to feel less alone and more empowered as they navigate what comes next.

Who or what inspires you in your work each day?
The caregivers. Always the caregivers. Their stories of love, sacrifice, and dedication inspire me every single day. Even in the face of exhaustion, uncertainty, and heartbreak, they keep showing up—and that kind of strength moves me deeply. It’s what fuels my passion to create the tools, education, and support they deserve.

I’m also a lifelong learner, especially when it comes to the brain. I’m endlessly fascinated by how we can take what we know from research and hands-on experience and turn it into practical strategies that truly improve quality of life—for both caregivers and the person living with dementia.

Watching caregivers feel seen, equipped, and even hopeful again—that’s what keeps me going.

What’s your message to family caregivers?
You’re doing far more than you realize. Even if you feel like it’s never enough, the very fact that you’re here—learning about dementia and looking for ways to better support your loved one—speaks volumes about your dedication.

As you care for your loved one, remember to offer yourself the same compassion and kindness you give them. You’re not meant to carry this alone. It’s okay to rest and to ask for help. You don’t need to do it all perfectly to make a real impact.

You’re already doing an incredible job simply by loving, trying, and showing up. Don’t forget: you deserve support, too.

Thank you for the love you give, the strength you show, and the difference you make every single day.