Author

Elise Vaumier

Where memory meets meaning

If you arrived here looking for caregiving guidance, you're in the right place. These articles explore dementia care, caregiver wellbeing, and daily support strategies — written to be practical and human.

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Caregiver FAQ: energy, guilt, and limits

Structured FAQ addressing common caregiver concerns about energy, guilt, anger, and setting limits. Honest answers to the questions caregivers are often afraid to ask.

A realistic self-care plan for caregivers (that doesn't feel impossible)

A realistic, step-by-step approach to sustainable caregiver self-care. No spa days required. Just practical, small actions that prevent burnout and keep you going.

A simple dementia care binder: what to include and why

A dementia care binder helps centralize important medical, legal, and daily care information in one accessible place. Learn what to include and how to set it up simply, without overwhelm.

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This Day, Gently

Elise Vaumier is a writer, researcher, and digital memory specialist born in the late 1980s. At 37, she brings together nearly fifteen years of experience working at the intersection of writing, technology, and human-centered design. Her work focuses on how individuals and families can consciously document their lives, preserve personal narratives, and create meaningful archives that endure over time.

Topics covered

caregiver emotions caregiver burnout self-compassion family caregiving feeling overwhelmed first steps

Articles by Elise Vaumier

caregiver identity caregiver emotions family caregiving self-compassion daily decision-making

When Does Helping Become Dementia Caregiving?

The shift from helping a loved one to becoming a dementia caregiver happens gradually — an extra phone call, managing medications, scheduling appointments, making decisions alone. This article helps family members recognize signs like constant mental load, adjusting your own life around their needs, and feeling responsible for their well-being. Naming this change is the first step toward caring sustainably.

March 3, 2026

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Trust, Fear, and Letting Go: A Dementia Caregiver's Guide

When you care for someone with early-stage dementia, fear and trust pull you in opposite directions. This article explores how to resist the urge to over-control, why small steps like letting them go somewhere familiar or make a decision alone can build confidence, and how tools like medication tracking and assessing reasonable risks can ease anxiety. Letting go is not abandoning responsibility—it is an act of love that preserves dignity and capability.

February 22, 2026

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When Helping Too Much Starts to Hurt: Dementia Caregiver Guide

Well-intentioned help can sometimes reduce confidence and independence in early-stage dementia. When you finish sentences, take over tasks, or answer questions before the person has time to try, it sends an unspoken message. This article explores how over-helping becomes an invisible habit, why it may cause someone to stop trying, and how caregivers can recalibrate with small adjustments like asking "Would you like a hand?" instead of stepping in.

February 10, 2026

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What Matters More Than Memory

Memory feels like everything after a dementia diagnosis, but presence, kindness, and emotional connection matter more. This article explores how feelings outlast facts, why the present moment is precious, and how your love doesn't depend on your loved one's ability to remember. Connection transcends recall.

February 4, 2025

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When Roles Begin to Shift Quietly

The roles in your relationship may be shifting—quietly, gradually. This article explores the emotional weight of becoming the one who remembers, the grief of role reversal, and how to protect dignity while taking on new responsibilities. You're still partners, even as things change.

February 4, 2025

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Doing Less Can Sometimes Help More

When caring for someone with dementia, the instinct is to do more. But sometimes simplicity serves everyone better. This article encourages caregivers to embrace rest, protect energy, and trust that presence matters more than productivity. Doing less doesn't mean caring less—it means caring wisely.

January 22, 2025

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What Stays the Same in the Early Stages of Dementia?

After an early-stage dementia diagnosis, it's easy to focus on loss—but so much remains the same. This article reassures caregivers that personality, emotional connection, preferences, and daily routines often continue unchanged. The person you love is still here, still themselves, and the present moment still holds deep meaning.

January 15, 2025

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What If I'm Not Ready for This?

When someone you love is diagnosed with dementia, you might feel completely unprepared. The truth is, no one is ever really "ready" for this. Readiness isn't a requirement for showing up. You learn as you go, and that's enough.

January 15, 2025

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What to Do the Day After a Dementia Diagnosis

The day after a dementia diagnosis can feel overwhelming. But there's no urgency to have all the answers right now. This article offers gentle guidance for caregivers navigating the quiet aftermath—validating emotions, reducing pressure to act immediately, and reminding you that small, ordinary moments still matter.

January 15, 2025

Supporting caregivers, one day at a time

This Day With You provides tools, guides, and resources designed for families navigating dementia and Alzheimer's care. Discover practical support that fits your daily life.

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