San Mateo Senior Roundtable Event Recap | July 30, 2026 | San Carlos Elms
On July 30th, the San Mateo Senior Roundtable gathered once again, this time to tackle one of the most personally challenging journeys in elder care: working with people living with dementia and the caregivers who love them. The evening was led by a speaker whose depth of knowledge and compassion left every person in the room with something new to think about, and something practical to take home.
By the Numbers: Why This Conversation Cannot Wait
Dementia caregiving is one of the most demanding roles a person can take on, and the statistics make clear just how widespread the need for support truly is.
- 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer’s dementia, with care costs projected to reach $360 billion annually.
- 11.5 million family caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care in 2023 alone, averaging 31 hours per week per caregiver.
- Dementia caregiving increases burnout risk by 3 times compared to caregiving for other conditions.
- Over 53 million American adults provide unpaid family care each year, and 2 in 3 report difficulty finding resources and support for their own needs.
These are not just numbers. They are the daily reality of the families and professionals in that room.
Our Special Speaker: Dr. Uyen-Khanh (UK) Quang-Dang
Geriatric Psychiatrist
Dr. UK Quang-Dang brought both clinical expertise and genuine warmth to an evening that asked a lot of its audience. As a geriatric psychiatrist specializing in dementia care, she has spent her career at the intersection of medicine, behavior, and human connection. Her presentation was a masterclass in what most of us do not know, and what we need to.
Things You Likely Do Not Know About Medication
One of the most eye-opening parts of the evening was Dr. UK’s discussion of medication in dementia care. Many families and even care professionals assume that medication is the primary tool for managing dementia symptoms. The reality is far more nuanced.
Not all behavioral symptoms in dementia are best addressed with medication. In many cases, non-pharmacological approaches are not only equally effective but carry far fewer risks for older adults whose bodies process medications very differently than younger patients. Understanding what a medication is actually targeting, what side effects to watch for, and when to question a prescription, is knowledge every caregiver deserves to have.
Validation Therapy: Meeting People Where They Are
Dr. UK introduced the group to validation therapy, a communication approach that has transformed the way many professionals and families interact with people living with dementia. Rather than correcting or redirecting a person who may be confused about time, place, or people, validation therapy focuses on acknowledging the emotion behind the words.
If a person with dementia believes they need to pick up their children from school, the instinct is often to correct them. Validation therapy asks instead: what is the feeling underneath that thought? Often it is love, responsibility, or purpose. Responding to that feeling, rather than the factual error, reduces agitation, builds trust, and preserves dignity.
This is a skill that can be learned, and it changes everything.
Caregiver Burnout: Recognizing It Before It Breaks You
Perhaps the most emotionally resonant part of the evening was the honest conversation about caregiver burnout. Dr. UK reminded us that burnout is not a personal failure. It is a predictable outcome of sustained, high-intensity caregiving without adequate support.
The warning signs include chronic exhaustion that sleep does not fix, withdrawal from friends and activities, growing resentment, declining physical health, and a sense of hopelessness about the future. Left unaddressed, burnout does not just harm the caregiver. It ultimately affects the quality of care the person with dementia receives as well.
Treatment for caregiver burnout is real and it works. It includes respite care, counseling, peer support groups, and in some cases medical intervention. The first step is recognizing that asking for help is not weakness. It is wisdom.
Light Therapy, Weight Training, and More
Dr. UK also introduced the group to some of the more surprising tools emerging in dementia care. Light therapy, which uses controlled exposure to bright light at specific times of day, has shown meaningful results in improving sleep patterns, reducing agitation, and supporting circadian rhythm in people with dementia. Weight training and structured physical activity have similarly demonstrated benefits for cognitive function and mood, not just for the person with dementia but for their caregiver as well.
These are accessible, low-cost interventions that more families should know about and that more care professionals should be recommending.
The Role of the Geriatric Care Manager
For those of us in care management, the evening reinforced something we return to again and again: the geriatric care manager is uniquely positioned to connect all of these pieces. Medication review, behavioral strategies, caregiver support, and access to emerging therapies, these are not separate conversations. They are one conversation, and it requires someone who knows the whole person to lead it.
At Maxwell Senior Care, this is the work we do every day. We do not just respond to crises. We build relationships over time so that when challenges arise, we already know the baseline, the family dynamics, and the right questions to ask.
Read our Solo Ager planning guide to learn more about how proactive care management protects independence and quality of life.
Thank You to Our Community
Evenings like this one remind me why the San Mateo Senior Roundtable exists. We are a community of professionals who refuse to work in silos. Our collective knowledge, when shared openly and generously, makes us all better advocates for the elders we serve.
My deepest gratitude to Dr. UK Quang-Dang for her extraordinary generosity with her knowledge and her time. Thank you to our co-sponsors Active In-Home Therapy, Neighborly Senior Placement, and Right at Home for making this evening possible. And thank you to every professional who showed up, asked hard questions, and left a little more equipped than before.
The next roundtable is coming. Stay connected and keep showing up.
Are You Caring for Someone with Dementia and Not Sure Where to Turn?
Patricia and the Maxwell Senior Care team are here to help you navigate every aspect of dementia care, from medication questions to caregiver support to long-term planning.
📞 650-218-5234
✉️ patricia@mscsgcm.com
🌐 maxwellseniorcare.com
About Maxwell Senior Care Services, LLC
Maxwell Senior Care Services, LLC is a certified Aging Life Care practice serving older adults and their families across the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded by Patricia Player-Maxwell, a nursing professional with extensive experience in elder care, the practice offers comprehensive geriatric care management including care coordination, healthcare advocacy, home safety planning, legal and financial guidance, and Solo Ager support. Patricia and her team are available around the clock, bringing compassion, clinical expertise, and a fierce dedication to ensuring every client receives individualized, high-quality care. Maxwell Senior Care proudly serves Atherton, Burlingame, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, San Jose, San Mateo, and neighboring communities.
Phone: 650-218-5234
Email: patricia@mscsgcm.com
Website: maxwellseniorcare.com
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