About this episode

Teepa and Greg discuss the challenges care partners face when individuals with dementia refuse assistive devices like hearing aids and dentures, exploring the underlying brain changes that contribute to this behavior.

Three hearing aids. Two sets of dentures. Glasses that keep going missing. If you're a care partner who feels like you're throwing money away on devices that get rejected or lost, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Teepa and Greg unpack one of the most frustrating patterns families face: when a person living with dementia refuses the very devices meant to help them. The surprising insight? The problem often isn't the device — it's brain change. In this episode, Teepa explains: Why hearing loss is sometimes actually brain change — and why simply turning up the volume makes things worse How switching between near and far vision creates brain fatigue (and why an individual might stop eating because of it) Why dentures can block the sensory feedback a person relies on to chew and enjoy food When to put the hearing aid in — and when to take it out How to shift from giving care to partnering in care You'll walk away with a new lens for understanding refusal, and practical ways to support the person you love. If today's episode opened up more questions than it answered, here's a great place to keep learning. Accepting the Challenge is a three-hour on-demand training led by…

More episodes of Dementia Care Partner Podcast with Teepa Snow

• 358: Rethinking Brain Change with Neuroplasticity in Mind · May 29, 2026 · 6 min
• 356: Rethinking Environments for People Living with Dementia · May 15, 2026 · 8 min

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