Episodes

David Moss, Founder of InMuneBio A brief history of Alzheimer's Disease: 1906: Discovery of brain disease → later named Alzheimer's disease in 1910 1976: Neurologist Robert Katzman identifies Alzheimer's as the most common cause of dementia and a public health challenge 1983: Researchers George Glenner and Cai'ne Wong identify beta-amyloid, a key component of Alzheimer's brain plaques 1986: Discovery of tau protein as a key component of tangles in Alzheimer's disease 1987: First clinical t...

Ryan Herd, Caregiver turned creator. As the population ages, the caregiver role has become increasingly common among Americans. Caring for an older family member can be challenging and demanding. Fortunately, there is a solution that can alleviate some of the stress and time constraints associated with caregiving. In this episode, Ryan Herd shares his journey that led to the creation of Caregiver Smart Solutions. As a caregiver, Ryan recognized the need for assistance in monitoring a loved one...

In the blink of an eye, Kera's world shattered. The joy of welcoming her newborn clashed with the devastating loss of her mother. At that moment, she craved her mother's wisdom more than ever. And thus, Legacy Letters emerged as a beautiful conduit for maternal guidance beyond the boundaries of time. We make memories, take photographs, and tell stories always to remember life's most beautiful moments... But what if we could capture our thoughts, advice, and words of encouragement too? How much...

Get ready for an enlightening conversation because this week's guest, Terri Pease, brings a fresh perspective to caregiving. While many people describe caregiving as a journey, Terri challenges this notion and questions whether it genuinely captures the essence of the experience. Instead, she draws an intriguing parallel, likening caregiving to wandering in a vast forest, where the path and destination remain unknown. . In our discussion, we delve into the realities of caregiving, particularl...

Are you tired of spending a significant amount of time managing your medication? Have you ever encountered the frustration of prescription errors, such as taking the wrong dose or feeling confused about which medication to take and when? I understand firsthand the difficulties of managing medication, particularly when my father entered hospice care and I had to handle his extensive array of drugs. It was nearly inevitable to make mistakes due to the pills looking alike. However, there's a dyna...

Imagine receiving news that your 55-year-old spouse has been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The world as you know it comes to a screeching halt, and you're left wondering what to do next. It's a condition that involves a decline in cognitive function beyond what is considered normal aging, yet not severe enough to disrupt daily life. This was the reality for Steve and Gincy Heins, whose lives were forever changed by the diagnosis. But rather than succumbing to despair, they dec...

Caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer's face a range of challenges, including emotional stress, physical exhaustion, and financial strain. One way that caregivers can cope with these challenges is by engaging in creative expression. Using poetry as a form of bite-sized journaling can be an effective way for caregivers to process their experiences and emotions. Joining me this week is Margaret Stawoway. Margaret is the editor of the compilation book, "Storms of the Inland Sea: Poems of Alzheim...

Joining me this week is the esteemed Dr. Jonathan Fellows, a dynamic neurologist hailing from the Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders. With his finger on the pulse of medical advancements, Dr. Fellows is here to enlighten us on the cutting-edge treatments available for the relentless Alzheimer's disease. At the forefront of groundbreaking medical care, the Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders (MIND) stands as a beacon of hope for adult patients and their families grappling wi...

Join us this week for an exhilarating exploration of a profound question that lies at the core of our existence: Can acknowledging the inevitability of death leads us to a state of profound happiness and fulfillment? Prepare to be captivated as we welcome Barbara Becker, an extraordinary author of "Heartwood - The Art of Living With The End In Mind," to delve into the depths of this provocative concept. Barbara, an interfaith minister and an eternal seeker, invites us to embrace the extraordina...

On the show this week is Jimmy Zollo of Joe And Bella. Joe & Bella is the first contemporary adaptive-apparel brand for older adults. They make stylish, comfortable clothes that innovatively balance form and function, making dressing easier, stress-free, and more dignified. Joe & Bella is a "passion project" of a single-family whose all-too-common experience of caring and advocating for aging parents has led them to innovate and create the finest adaptive clothing for older adults. Though Joe &...

When professional ballerina Rachel Bar hung up her pointe shoes, she became a scientist who focused on pioneering ways to improve the lives of those with dementia through dance. "You can take the dancer from the dance, but you can't take the dance out of the dancer," said Bar. She started a ground-breaking MRI study that examined dancers' brains while they learned new choreography. "I found a learning curve in the brain associated with dance," she added. Learning a particular dance fires up mo...

Protecting an older adult's finances and other assets can be a complex and challenging task, but there are several steps you can take to safeguard them. Here are some suggestions: Establish a durable power of attorney: This legal document allows the older adult to appoint someone they trust to manage their finances and other assets if they become unable to do so themselves. Set up automatic bill payment: Consider setting up automatic bill payment for the older adult's regular bills, such as ut...

Rena Yudkowsky, Memory Coach How many of us have a moment of panic when we forget what we're doing or can't form the words to our thoughts? Is it a sign of inevitable cognitive decline starting or something else? Many times, it's something else, but what causes these memory lapses? With me on the show this week is Rena Yudkowsky. She's a geriatric social worker with over 20 years of experience and a memory coach who teaches online memory courses. She's here to talk about strengthening our memo...

Ryan McEniff, podcaster, care home owner, National Aging in Place Council I'm pleased to bring you a well-informed guest this week. With me is Ryan McEniff. Ryan is involved with the National Aging in Place Council, which is something like a networking group for senior care. He also owns several care homes but knows the need for more in-home care options. This need is why he became involved with Well Aware Care. In this episode, we discuss how Well Aware Care can extend your loved one's indepe...

With me this week is Kay Adams, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of Compassion Works, LLC. I have over 30 years of experience counseling and coaching individuals and families around complex emotional and health-related challenges. Observing the huge gaps around providing adequate support and education to care partners first-hand has fueled her desire to dedicate time and energy to improving care partners' lives in meaningful ways. That desire culminated in starting Compassion Works...

Debbie DeMoss Compton Joining me on the show this week is Debbie DeMoss Compton. Debbie is a Certified Caregiving Consultant & Advocate/Speaker/Author/Caregiver. She was traveling coast to coast in upper-middle management. Life was good - until it wasn't. It's not fun to be on the coast and get a call that your mom has passed out in OKC and is on the way to the hospital. Also, not fun is being on the opposite coast and finding out your Dad has taken your mom's pills by mistake and is nearly co...

Melissa Bernstein demonstrates how to engage with our loved ones in the kitchen. Cooking together in the kitchen can provide meaningful activities for loved ones battling neurodegenerative illness. However, getting a meal on the table and focusing on meaningful engagement at the same time can be a challenge. That's where this episode comes in handy! It may be longer than a typical episode, but it's well worth a listen or even checking out the video on YouTube. In this jam-packed conversation, ...

Candace Delacona, Elder Law Attorney Today we're talking about how to avoid the pitfalls of elder financial abuse. Elder financial abuse is a growing problem that can have devastating effects on the lives of seniors. Do you know the warning signs? These can include sudden changes in their financial situation, such as unexplained withdrawals or transfers of funds, a sudden decrease in their standard of living, or unpaid bills despite having sufficient funds. Other warning signs may include a ne...

Mary Anne Ogelesby Have you ever wished for a friend who understood your caregiving journey? A friend who had all the answers you needed? Haven't we all hoped for this friend at one time or another? There is the next best thing. You can hire a dementia doula to walk with you. Doula is an ancient Greek word meaning a woman who serves. Interesting, yes? Historically a doula is an experienced mother who assists new mothers. The doula title works well with experienced Alzheimer's caregivers who as...

IMP ad Are you inundated with daily, unwanted phone calls? Has your loved one been scammed just because they answered their telephone? Did you know that, on average, people lose just over $500 a year to phone scams? Thankfully, there is an answer. Recently I was introduced to Imp, a product that stops 100% of unwanted calls. Plug the device into a phone jack; Imp will only allow wanted callers to ring through. Imp pairs your smartphone contacts with your landline to create a list of callers w...

Jessica and her Mother, CG. When we think of someone caring for a loved one, our first impression isn't of a person in their mid-twenties. Generally, we think of an older adult spouse or middle-aged child caring for a parent. However, a rapidly growing population of caregivers are millennials. While millennial caregivers face all the same ups and downs as their older peers, they're also at a point in their lives that can compound the challenges of caregiving. They're often in less financially ...

Michael Rost, psycholinguist & author Michael Rost, the author of The Journey Home, Portraits of Healing, has been active in language teaching, learning technology, and language acquisition research for over 25 years. He cared for his parents and gave us a simple message. Have the meaningful conversations while you can. Starting with the onset of his mother's Alzheimer's and proceeding through the eventual admission of both his parents to a nursing home, Michael explores the complex and intima...

Animal-assisted therapy is beneficial for various ailments, including Dementia, Alzheimer's, PTSD, anxiety, depression, healing after surgical procedures, loneliness, behavioral issues, and the chronically ill. While I'm familiar with therapy dogs & equine therapy, using a cow therapeutically was new to me. An interesting fact not shared during our conversation is that compared to humans, cows have a higher body temperature and slower heart rate, making the cuddling experience more relaxing tha...

Do? An end-of-life doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support to individuals and their families during the end-of-life process. They are not medical professionals but offer a holistic and compassionate approach to end-of-life care. End-of-life doulas work with individuals and their families to understand their values, beliefs, and goals for the end of life care and help them navigate the often complex and overwhelming process of preparing for and ex...