Avoiding "Blahs” in Dementia Blogging: Insights & Tips to Blogging on Dementia Care

As the dentist prodded the abscessed tooth, his patient’s mind was preoccupied with his cell phone screen.

"The tooth has got to come out now," the dentist advised. "If you wait any longer to pull it, you may die from the infection."

The man reclining in the dental chair turned his attention toward the dentist and replied, "I'm sorry. It will have to wait. Just give me an antibiotic and I’ll be on my way. I’ll try to get back here tomorrow.”

The patient, a caregiver to his wife with dementia, had been viewing his wife via an app on his phone, linked to a baby monitor. She was alone at home and had become extremely agitated. That event was the hinge point he had been dreading since her diagnosis over five years earlier. It was no longer safe for his wife to remain home by herself.

“I have to go now. Let's try again tomorrow,” he said while removing the paper napkin from under his chin. It was several weeks before he returned for dental treatment.

How is this story about a trip to the dentist relevant to dementia blogging? This true story illustrates a need for the caregiver that wasn’t being met. He did his best to care for his sweetheart with dementia while still caring for himself, but a balance in caregiving doesn't always go smoothly. Anya Grundmann, senior vice president at NPR said, "Stories bring information to life." This real-life experience illustrates the desperate need for better support for those living with dementia. Thousands more stories are waiting to be heard.

Caregiver sacrifices are common, especially for spouses with little outside assistance. Many family caregivers do not know what community resources are available, let alone how to access them. Creating a blog with stories and helpful information about dementia care is a great way to help many caregivers. This blog on blogging will provide you with 10 Tips and Tricks for creating a sustainable blog on dementia caregiving. Before I begin, let's learn a little about dementia.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notes, "Dementia is a range of neurological conditions affecting the brain that gets worse over time." According to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) in Washington, D.C., over 7 million people in the United States live with dementia. Its progression results in people being unable to effectively reason, recall accurately and function as they once did. The disease eventually leads to complete dependence on others for round-the-clock care.

The PRB's statement substantiates the demands of dementia caregiving, "people with probable dementia receive more than twice as many hours of monthly care than adults without dementia: 171 hours vs. 66 hours." A well-developed blog to support dementia caregivers is a time-saving tool they can access using their cell phones, laptops or desktop computers.

Tip#1: Be Passionate About Your Topic

I believe passion is the driving force behind creating a great blog.

Making connections and engaging with your audience provides opportunities for bloggers and their audiences to form a bond. When I embarked on creating a blog, it was my experiences and stories from dementia care that motivated me to stick with it.

One memory I particularly enjoy remembering is the day Margo began using her voice. She had not spoken for over three years when I introduced a sing-along to her. Using music that was popular during her youth, I put together a playlist of songs I thought she’d enjoy. Grabbing my phone and a small speaker, I was off to her room to share some tunes. It took only a few lines of “Tennessee Waltz” to bring a smile to her face. By the second chorus, she was humming along. Finally, we made a connection. I was curious about what memories this song might have had for her. Over time, Margo started coming out of her room, enjoying the company of fellow singers. To people unfamiliar with the effects of dementia, this encounter may seem minor, but for me, it was a moment not to be forgotten.

Sharing the stories of people living with dementia is a critical need I focus on in my writing. For Nicole Defenbaugh, a former health care communication specialist, podcaster and blogger, her journey through health care motivated her to start a blog. Defenbaugh said, "I wanted to help people understand how to navigate the health care system." She included her medical colleagues and her friends in her health stories too. Adding to her previous comment, Defenbaugh stated, "What I didn't want it to do was to have the blog be for one particular audience. I wanted clinicians to hear patients’ stories and the patients to hear clinicians’ stories."

You will find your unique angle to capture your tribe of readership. Ask yourself the following questions:

· What topic do I love?

· Is the topic broad enough to create ongoing, engaging posts on my blog?

· How will my blog stand out among other blogs?

· What value am I adding to my readers' lives?

· Is my blog relevant to my area of focus?

Tip #2 Figure Out Your "Why" for Blogging

I recognized a need when my mother began exhibiting dementia symptoms. Her primary care doctor told me, "I'm sorry. It looks like your mom has dementia. Here are some pamphlets from the Alzheimer's Association." That was his prescription for caring for my mom. Pamphlets didn't put me in contact with research studies, medications, clinicians and support groups. I ended up placing my mother in a mental hospital for weeks. My heart broke each night when she was allowed to call me. Her wails of desperation had me feeling like I had abandoned her. That was the lowest point in my caregiving. I vowed to find a better way. That's my "why" for creating a blog.

Well-known author and speaker, Simon Sinek, coined the phrase, "Start With Why." He notes that having a reason for action will provide you with more "clarity, discipline and consistency" in your work. More recently he added that people need a purpose for doing. Knowing why you're writing a blog will help you stay focused. You'll gain readership as subscribers trust your reasons for blogging. Stay true to your people.

Tip #3: Know Your Audience

Knowing your audience is critical to a successful blog.

You'll want to focus on the people you want reading your blog and listen to many of their stories. Research your target audience to understand their worries and struggles. You can gain insights by knowing about people’s living situations, lifestyles, and circles of support. Learning more about your readership will provide you with opportunities for richer content. Listening with an open heart and mind will allow you to connect with your readers. Yes, define the demographics of your readership but most importantly, honor them by hearing what they have to say.

I heard a story in graduate school about a writer who had a picture of a person displayed on his computer. When asked about why the image was there, he stated that it was his way of focusing on writing for a specific person. A picture of someone from your target audience is a great way to remember why you're writing a blog.

Get to know those you're serving by asking yourself the following questions:

· Who is my audience?

· What are their needs?

· What resources are they lacking?

Tip #4: Research What Technology Your Readers Use

It's important to know what technology your audience is using when they want to find your blog. I'll help you a bit with the research. According to statcounter.com, a reputable online research company, over 58% of online searches originate from a mobile device. Knowing readers will likely use their cell phones will help you design your blog for mobile device audiences and computer users.

Consider where your readers might be when reading your blog. Many cell phone users read blogs while in line at the grocery store or in a drive-thru. They may be in a doctor's waiting room, a hair salon, or at a child's soccer practice. A blog for readers to easily find and easy to navigate will be an asset to your audience.

Tip #5: Consider Podcasting

For caregivers without a lot of free time to read, podcasts are an economical and convenient way to expand your blog. In an interview with blogger Nicole Defenbaugh, she explained that her blog became the information access point for her podcasts. She used real people telling their stories about health care experiences and then wrote a blog correlating it with the podcast. When interviewing guests, she would mention how her listeners could find more information on her blog. A podcast and blog can work symbiotically to enhance your readers' experience. For commuters, a podcast lasting 20-30 minutes is ideal.

Popular dementia blogger Rachael Wonderlin noted, "My blog, 'Dementia By Day,' started as a simple blog on my company website and Tumblr in 2014. Over the years, I've had to broaden my platforms to other social media so my target audience can find me. I've grown from a blogger to an author with three books, an owner of a successful consulting business and a podcaster."

Tip #6: KISS- Keep your Information Simple and Succinct

Uncomplicated writing that is concise and easy to understand will benefit your readers. Uncomplicated and concise writing is critical when writing a blog. According to a Stanford University technical writing guide, “Writing clearly and concisely means choosing your words deliberately and precisely, constructing your sentences carefully to eliminate deadwood, and using grammar properly,” they said, “By writing clearly and concisely, you will get straight to your point in a way your audience can easily comprehend” One goal of a blog is to allow your readers to enjoy their reading experience and stay interested. Writing for understanding will benefit that cause. It is also important to avoid using unfamiliar terms or jargon. Such practices can isolate your readers and dissuade them from following your blog.

Going along with being succinct and concise, it’s always a good idea to have a few knowledgeable professionals in dementia care read your post before you publish it. You may think you’ve done a great job but reading and rereading your work can result in oversight. Judy Mandell, writing for “Observer” magazine states, “Our brains can fill in blanks to meet our expectations.” Having a different set of eyes looking at your work will help catch writing errors, confusing content and poor word usage. Use their feedback to improve your writing skills.

Here are two paragraphs identical in content but different in succinctness.

1. Dementia is one of the most expensive diseases in the United States, increasing health care costs three times over those without dementia. Until now, studies on the costs of different dementia subtypes were limited by small sample sizes. In the first population-based study estimating health care costs by type of dementia, Lewy body dementia (LBD) was identified as the costliest form of dementia.

vs.

2. Dementia is a costly disease in the United States. It increases health care costs three times over those without dementia.

Tip #7: Use Bullet Points

Bullet points are essential in blogging. According to the Bracken Communications Clinic (BCC) at the University of Montana, bullet points are an effective way to enhance your writing. In the clinic's effort to assist their business students, they maintain bullet points are able to draw attention to important information, improve readers scanning ability and communicate information more effectively.

"Effective bullet points rely on strong headings within a document. The effective

use of headings signals to the reader the type of information your bullet points will cover, and helps the reader identify key areas of information and improves the reader's ability

to scan for pertinent topics of interest."

Here's an example of good use of bullet points:

Dementia is a term used to describe people's struggles with one or more brain processes. These symptoms include memory loss, language issues, loss of problem-solving skills and an inability to be autonomous in daily living.

The majority of people with dementia are diagnosed with the following diseases:

· Alzheimer's Disease

· Lewy Body Dementia

· Frontotemporal Dementia

· Vascular Dementia

· Mixed Dementia

Just remember not to overdo it.

Tip #8 Use Hyperlinks to Increase your Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Consider including hyperlinks for keywords and topics within your post. Hyperlinks take the reader directly to the source of information, allowing readers quick access to references. As the writer, you decide the destination of the hyperlink. Make sure it works before going live with your post. If some information isn't critical to what you're trying to convey, reference those sources only at the end of your post.

According to Memorial University, internet search engines are searching for hyperlinks within your page. This allows optimization in reaching the people looking for your information. Hyperlinks help artificial intelligence (AI) decipher the content of your web page, so it isn’t limited to just your writing. Hyperlinks are also advised by Ron Hendricks, an SEO expert. He explained that hyperlinks get your website ranked higher on search results.

Google has over 92% of search engine queries. That is a remarkable feat. The reason for Google’s popularity is the use of AI. Using RankBrain, an online AI learning machine, Google "measures how users interact with the search results and ranks them accordingly," according to Hendricks. "RankBrain tweaks the algorithm on its own." Using hyperlinks will help you have some say in how RankBrain looks at your blog.

As a blogger, you'll want to keep those critical points in mind as you develop your online presence. Henricks says, "To stand out, your result needs to scream 'click on me!'…or else it'll be ignored." By using these key elements and reputable sources, your readers will come to depend on your posts. Your expertise will be authentic and readers will trust your work. Google search engines will also take notice.

Tip #9: Use Captivating Headlines

Last year, I posted a blog about caregiver isolation.

The headline read: "Feeling Alone as a Dementia Caregiver? Let's Connect!" The headline asks for interaction between the blogger and the reader. This type of engagement pairs well with reader retention. I could have used, "Dementia Caregivers More Likely to Feel Lonely,” but that doesn’t bring the connection factor to the piece. A caregiver feeling pretty isolated read the post on connecting and reached out to me. She searched online for someone to visit with her about caring for her husband with dementia and found a link to my post in an email she had received.

Intrigue your readers with a great headline. It's human nature to peruse information for a fascinating headline. Once you've piqued their interest, the readers' likelihood of seeking more information is much greater than simple fact-based headlines.

Tip #10: Include Data Rich Images

Enhancing your blog with images and videos will improve the reachability of your target audience. Researchers have shown that having images increase the length of time a person remains on a webpage. With SEO always collecting data, it is vital to include and update images on your blog.

A study conducted by Social Media Manager made the point that images help readers with long-term retention. Sixty-five percent of the people who viewed a blog post with images retained the blog information longer than those viewing a blog with no pictures. Your readers will appreciate the enhanced visuals and the ability to recall what they've learned from your blog.

You also need to be mindful of the images you are posting. Weber State University (WSU) web designer Jeremy Harvey emphasized the importance of image choice. "Images on the web need to be at least 72 dpi, with 150 dpi being optimal for bigger screens or high-resolution screens,” he said. Be careful not to drag down your web page by having too many high-resolution pictures. He showed me where to find free-to-use high-quality images on Google images. You can also get images from free accounts at Canva or Adobe Spark. You can always pay for images too. Additional elements of images to consider when posting an image are whether you have the legal right to post the image and is the image enhancing or detracting from the content of the post.

BlueAdz Marketing offered a tip about the importance of breaking up large amounts of text with images. They observed that long articles can be overwhelming to readers. By using images to break up the text, readers will likely remain engaged longer on your page.

According to BuzzSumo, posts should have an image of approximately 75-100 words to be shared more often SEO looks at the number of shares a webpage has and will rank that webpage higher as more people share your content. Don’t be afraid to use high-quality images.

Conclusion

“Blogging can help to maximize the impact of research findings," noted a recent study published in Biometric Central (BMC).

Writing a dementia caregiving blog doesn’t need to be overwhelming. By using these 10 tips and tricks as your foundation, you can focus on your content and provide your readers with a richer experience. Keep your content relevant by being observant of the latest advances in medicine and care. Defenbaugh stated, “Health care is changing all the time. If I were doing a podcast again, I’d be looking for people who were addressing relevant topics.”

Treatments and cures for dementia are slow in coming. While waiting for a cure, quality support needs to be readily available for caregivers. Information and assistance need to be accessible wherever a caregiver is located. A blog. for both mobile devices and home computers, is a useful forum for cumulating research and synthesizing information. It can be a place of connection for those caring for people with dementia.

The need is evident! Get out there! Start writing! Be the answer for someone in need.