Nicole Scheidl

As one of the founders and creative minds behind Fit Minds Inc., Nicole has been creating cognitive stimulation therapy programming since 2010. An experienced curriculum developer, teacher and coach, she brings a wealth of experience to creating and teaching the Fit Minds Program.

Nicole has trained hundreds of professional and family caregivers who have touched the lives of thousands of individuals living with a cognitive impairment. Nicole also holds a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, a Master’s in Law from Queen’s University specializing in Negotiations and is a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging.

Dealing with Repetitive Behaviour

Your mom or dad may repeat the same actions over and over. Mom may ask the same questions. Dad may continuously tap his leg or pace the room. They may repeat actions or questions without realizing that they had done the same thing moments before. Behaviour like this can be frustrating for the caregiver. After […]

Coping After the Diagnosis of Dementia – Six Questions to Ask Yourself

When someone you love receives a diagnosis of dementia, it is common to feel anxious and stressed. One of the biggest challenges is to know how much care to provide at the early states. Your mom or dad may still be very independent. They may be working, driving, and taking care of their physical needs. […]

Why This Behaviour? 12 Tips for Reducing Outbursts or Difficult Behaviour

When behaviour is so different from the norm, caregivers are often left scratching their heads. What should they do? How should they react? What is going on in their loved one’s head? The cause for outbursts may not always be obvious but often it is due to discomfort or pain, anxiety or insecurity, or a […]

The Art of Redirection – Useful Tips for Distracting and Redirecting Someone with Dementia

All of us can become fixated on an issue or very upset about an event. But for an individual with dementia, the ability to move past the event or let go of the issue can be very difficult. That is why it is so important to be able to redirect conversations and actions.

Dance Your Way to Better Brain Health

Recent research has identified dancing as having a significant positive effect on age-related decline in both mental and physical activities. We know that the brain shrinks as we age. And lower brain size is related to memory problems and diseases like Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

Building Emotional Resilience in the Face of Adversity

In the wake of her husband’s unexpected death, Sheryl Sandberg co-wrote a compelling book about overcoming grief. Option B — Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy tells the story of the first two years of her journey.

To Play or Not to Play? Video Games Do Affect Gray Matter

The research has been mixed on whether video games are good or bad for the brain. Three recent studies produced results about video games and their effect on the gray matter in the brain that may start to answer this question.

The Stigma of Dementia

The diagnosis of dementia is stigmatizing. Many individuals report a great loneliness when they receive this diagnosis — their family and friends melt away. Why is this so?

Mom Has Dementia – When Should I Be Making the Decisions?

There was a crisis in the family. Mom, diagnosed with dementia, has a fall, and was admitted to hospital. Their daughter was worried that Dad would not be able to care for Mom at home. Dad was sure that he could. Daughter was sure that he couldn’t. What to do? This scenario is a common […]

Thirty-Five Percent of Dementia Cases Can be Attributed to Lifestyle

Nine lifestyle factors are responsible for 35% of dementia. As shown in the FINGER study, lifestyle changes can make a big impact on lowering dementia risk.