Episodes

There are many things a trustee needs to know… My sister and I were both a trustee of our parents’ estate. Because there are a lot of details neither of us was aware needed handling, it was a good thing for us. There are a number of complicated steps required by law when administering a trust & that’s what we’re discussing on the show. You may be saying, “But, doesn’t having a trust avoid the legal work associated with a death?” Unfortunately not. When someone dies, the process is very nearly th...

My Name is Sharon is more than the story of one woman’s journey with Alzheimer’s. Dominick Domasky is just a guy trying to find success. That’s what it says on his website Motivation Champs. Despite being successful in publishing books, giving speeches, and working with non-profit organizations to share their message, Dominick struggled to talk about Alzheimer’s. Writing allowed Dom to pour out his emotions and tell the story of his Mom. My Name is Sharon is her story not just the telling of her...

The Long Goodbye – is a musical tribute based on Brets Dads ‘ Alzheimer’s journey. The long goodbye, it’s something that all of us have dealt with. Some of you are probably still working your way through this goodbye. Today’s guest is Bret Sweet. He’s a musician turned caregiver who used writing music to help him through his grieving process even as his father was still alive. Bret decided to use a hip-hop album to help caregivers draw energy from and gain a sense of connection with other caregi...

Art is one of the most enjoyable ways to connect with an older adult. Participating in art can provide older adults with multiple benefits and enhanced cognitive function. One of the challenges caregivers face is handling frustration when confusion is common. When our loved ones lose control because their memory is failing, they frequently lash out. Art for older adults can help relieve this fear and anger by; helping individuals relax; providing a sense of control; reducing depression and anxie...

We plan for nearly everything except, how to be our own best caregiver. We’re talking today about how to be your own best caregiver. Living with chronic illnesses, dealing with a lifetime of accumulations, worrying about money; it seems we prepare for everything in life except how to handle the challenges of its later years. About 22% of older adults in the United States can be considered elder orphans or solo agers. More are at risk of becoming one. The first group—elder orphans—are older peopl...

Are there really dementia interpreters in this world? Do dementia interpreters exist? I could have used some interpretation when Mom was alive. Mom spoke in actual English words and complete sentences, but there was no context to help me understand what she was trying to tell me. It took me too long to realize that my attempts to “decipher” her conversations made her angry. Eventually, I understood it was better for both of us if I went along as if I understood. I talk to Malora Jackson of Secon...

What Is Aftercloud? AfterCloud is for capturing life’s moments. It’s an online memory vault. It’s your private place to securely store memories, thoughts, wishes, and important or meaningful information that you can share with your loved ones. YOUR life story in an app! With Aftercloud, you can record your voice, write or dictate letters, upload images, create links, and record in-app videos and share them as a moment or include them on your Timeline. It’s a way of enhancing or recording a pictu...

What is a Virtual Dementia Tour? Is it a Zoom thing? If you aren’t familiar with a Virtual Dementia Tour, you may think it’s an online resource. Not quite. We’re all much more familiar with virtual worlds thanks to the pandemic, but Virtual Dementia tours pre-date these times. A Virtual Dementia Tour put us, the caregiver, into the world of someone living with a form of dementia. I had the opportunity to participate in a dementia tour back in 2019, and it was definitely a learning opportunity. I...

Podcaster & responsible cannabis lifestyle coach talked to me about the Neuroprotective qualities of THC. While it’s not well known, there are neuroprotective qualities in THC. I was a teenager during the “just say no to drugs” era. Internalizing that message makes it hard for me to embrace this idea fully. Using natural remedies has always been my preferred method of care. However, it’s still hard for me to accept that marijuana is natural. That doesn’t stop me from reading the latest research ...

Author, Sue Ryan Welcome to A Perfectly Imperfect Journey with Sue Ryan Are you caregiving and feeling exhausted mentally, physically, or emotionally? How about “all of the above?” Do you feel you should be doing more and aren't sure what “more” looks like? Are you overwhelmed and not sure what to expect next? Congratulations! You're on a perfectly imperfect journey. In this episode, I chat with best-selling author Sue Ryan, who cares for her husband. Like most of us, she knew nothing about Alzh...

Ian Tolson - Successful Solutions We all get into routines that work for us. No one likes having their routine messed with. These are two truths that fit most of the human population. Creating better habits takes time, initiative, and a nearly guaranteed outcome before we make a change. Even if a different routine, habit, or mindset makes us happier, we're still resistant to change. Learn More About Ian Here Why are we discussing how to create better habits? Sometimes it takes a nudge to move ...

Peter Berry uses cycling as a way to remove the stigma from a dementia diagnosis. Deb Bunt's life changed when she meet cyclist, Peter Berry (who had an early-onset dementia diagnosis at age 50). As she and Peter cycled together, their friendship grew and he started to share the story of his dementia diagnosis. When he said, “I fear I am just going to forget who I am,” Deb offered to keep a note of his thoughts for him. Thus the beginnings of the book Slow Puncture, Living Well With Dementia was...

Oral Care & Dementia has their own challenges and rewards. Oral care for people living with dementia presents unique challenges to their care partners. Imagine, arranging for a dental house call because Mom's breath is horrible, only to discover she has dentures! This is just one of many fascinating stories today's guest, Dr. Joy V. Poskozim shares with us. We discussed many practical tips for assisting our loved ones in oral care, dental appointments, and more. There’s an old saying about the e...

Utilizing Teepa Snow's GEMS Model will help you have less frustration in your care responsibilities. I'm excited to have Teepa Snow as my guest for my 200th episode. We discussed her Gems Model for dementia care along with many laughs and a few personal insights. When creating her Gems model, Teepas's goal was to help care partners provide better support for a person with ever-changing conditions. It is a way to help them live fully in the moment. I found a great understanding of how to provide ...

Finding quality advice for the advanced stages of Alzheimer's can be a challenge. Caring for someone with advanced Alzheimer's disease is a challenge. It can make you feel like you're on a hamster wheel – running in circles, trying the same things over and over with no effect on your loved one. You may find it challenging to connect with your loved one ad to understand what those living with Alzheimer's disease are going through. The Busy Caregivers Guide to Advanced Alzheimer's Disease gives yo...

Dementia Caregiving is something most of us continue to share even after our caregiving is over. Are you looking for dementia caregiving advice? When you think of caregiving, what feelings come to mind? Surely, overwhelmed, exhausted, hopelessness and loneliness are some of the top emotions you're experiencing. If you don't know where to get help or support, this is the episode for you! Finding Alzheimer's support is almost as challenging as caregiving itself. When learning of the diagnosis, mos...

Dementia is likely only one factor in the support a care partner needs. As a care partner, you must learn how to navigate your family situation healthily for everyone involved. A dementia diagnosis is often not the only factor at play in a family situation. Each family brings their unique experiences, roles, values, goals, and expectations of each other. Differing perspectives and opinions are natural and to be expected. Being a care partner involves adapting to your current circumstances. Addit...

How do health disparities affect African American's? This is another conversation with Dr. Howard, this time on the health disparities the African American community faces. He's passionate about teaching the African American community about brain health. He's put together talks and programs in communities of color and the topic of why blacks don't like to go to the doctor was a natural suggestion from him. As is normal for us, we start on the topic, but we meander on to other, related topics, th...

Memory Health supplements have undergone clinical trials. They're definitely worth a try. It changes your whole world when a loved one begins to suffer from the effects of memory loss, brain injury, or brain disease. Ed personally experienced this with his mother, who one day had no idea who he was. She was suffering from a form of dementia and it was painful for him to watch her fade away and eventually lose her life to a debilitating brain disease. EdI felt compelled to do something, anything,...

Neurofeed back in the earlier stages could help plateau the disease. Louloua Smadi understands the desperation of loving someone with a life limiting cognitive disease. Her brother, Milo, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at two and a half years of age. Today, he is training to become a professional pastry chef. Everything began to change when the family met Dr. Lynette Louise. Her integrative approach using neurofeedback and play was the catalyst that helped Milo to thrive and g...

Started in honor of a Grandma with Alzheimer’s & a son with Autism… As if caregiving weren't full of enough responsibilities, coordinating with others adds an entire layer to an already complicated process. I'm sure you've asked yourself if there were an easier way that perhaps you were overlooking. Today I'd like to introduce you to Our Little Peace of Mind. Started in honor of a Grandma with Alzheimer's and a son with Autism, their primary focus is creating medical binders and portfolios that ...

Echobox is a fun, easy way to store & share memories. Looking for ways of sharing memories with my Mom was the main reason I started this podcast. I was searching for better ways to connect with my Mom and all the advice I read wasn't working. Having all the tools I needed but not easily accessed is the problem that today's guests are trying to solve. Echobox reconnects us with ourselves and our loved ones by sparking memories, kindling, stimulating conversation, and boosting cognitive function....

When the cosmic tumblers click into place & the universe opens its vault, miracles can happen. Overcoming challenges happen. All of us have crossroads in life, challenges we have to overcome. Those of us who have had the experience of caring for a parent with Alzheimer's seem to have more crossroads and more challenges. Coping with the disease, what it does to everyone's life, even the eventual end, poses decisions and heartache. How can we honor our loved ones while also healing ourselves? Can ...

Long-term care is expensive. This episode tells you how to get Medicaid to pay without going broke first. Sickness. Incapacity. Death. These are among the most challenging subjects to contemplate, yet some of the most universal. Most of us don't think about financial planning for long-term care needs, which is surprising, because going broke is also a big concern as we age. Money worries people. The news is riddled with talking heads discussing the stock market and economy. But, statistically sp...