Amy Shaw, PA

"One of the most comforting things Amy does is listen. She dug deep to understand all of the complex issues we were struggling with and cared about our feelings, and kept us informed every step of the way."

Amy Shaw, PA-C is a nationally recognized dementia clinician and Medical Director for multiple memory care communities in Wyoming and Illinois. She has trained thousands of caregivers and is known for her ability to translate complex brain changes into practical, compassionate guidance that families can apply immediately.

With more than a decade of clinical experience across geriatrics, palliative medicine, and complex symptom management, Amy specializes in helping families understand the what, when, and why of dementia so they can master the how of caregiving with competence, clarity, and calm.

She is the author of The Arc of Conversation: A How-to Guide for Goals of Care Conversations (Springer, 2025) and the forthcoming Better Dementia: From Overwhelmed to Empowered (Bloomsbury, 2027).

Amy Shaw, PA-C

Medical Director • Dementia Clinician • Author
Founder, Better Dementia™

Empowering caregivers with the knowledge and support to navigate dementia with confidence and compassion.

Amy’s work is shaped by a unique blend of clinical training, scientific study, and decades of helping families through life’s most meaningful moments.

Early Academic Foundations

Amy studied primate cognition and child development at Emory University, conducting research in Uganda and Puerto Rico. This early focus on behavior and neurocognitive development became a foundation for her later work in dementia — helping her understand how the brain learns, changes, and adapts.

Entrepreneurship & Family Support

Before entering medicine, Amy founded and ran a successful wedding photography business. Supporting families during high-stress events taught her how to remain calm, emotionally present, and deeply attuned to what people need — skills she brings to every caregiver conversation today.

Becoming a Physician Assistant

Amy trained as a PA with a focus on chronic illness, geriatrics, and patient-centered care. Her early clinical work revealed a gap in dementia education and support — one that families consistently struggled to bridge alone.

Amy's Path to Dementia Expertise

Specializing in Dementia Care

Determined to change this, Amy built the first comprehensive dementia care program in Wyoming and has since cared for more than 600 patients and their families. She provides direct dementia care, leads end-of-life conversations, and teaches families how to preserve dignity through every stage of the disease.

Medical Director

Today, Amy serves as the Medical Director for the Cottonwood and Aspen Creeks memory care communities in Wyoming and Illinois, where she oversees dementia care, supports families, and ensures high-quality guidance for residents with complex needs.

Author & Educator

Recognizing the need for clear, medically grounded dementia education, Amy published The Arc of Conversation and is currently writing Better Dementia — a practical guide that teaches families how dementia truly works and how to respond with confidence.

Amy founded BetterDementia.com to make clinically grounded,
expert-level dementia education accessible to families everywhere.

Her work includes:

• one-on-one dementia consulting for families nationwide

• a self-paced digital course for dementia caregivers (coming soon)

• comprehensive teaching on stages, behavior, communication,
  and psychiatric symptoms

• resources that help families caregive with competence, clarity, and calm

Better Dementia™: A National Platform for Caregiver Support

Caring for a loved one with dementia is overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. Amy is here to guide you through the journey, providing the knowledge and support you need to navigate dementia caregiving with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

My husband and I met Amy Shaw during a very difficult time when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Amy's patience, knowledge of dementia, regular check-ins, and compassion were a blessing. She guided us through rough spots and tough decisions and always made herself available to help. It was a blessing to have Amy come to our house when it was difficult to get my husband to the doctor and into town. Amy’s professionalism showed through and in no way dimmed her compassion. She understands the issues caregivers face and always gave me as much care and concern as she gave my husband. When it came time to consider hospice care, Amy was very supportive and explained everything, including how his body would start giving out with cascading failures. Amy’s education and support helped me feel better prepared and not taken by surprise at each step of the way.

Brenda, Family Caregiver

★★★★★