Fading Memories: Alzheimer's/Dementia Caregiver Support
793 episodes - English - Latest episode: 19 days ago - ★★★★★ - 63 ratingsFading Memories is a podcast for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. It provides insights and guidance on how to communicate effectively, manage stress, and cope with grief and loss. The lessons are relevant to anyone caring for a loved one with a chronic illness or disability. By prioritizing the well-being of both caregivers and their loved ones, the podcast's messages of empathy and self-care have the potential to benefit everyone facing these challenges.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Food As Medicine? Dawn Renee’s Caregiving Experiences
March 24, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 111 MBCan we use food as a medicine? My guest, Dawn Renee has a compelling story of self-care & recovery. After a debilitating month in bed and a lifetime of chronic illnesses, Dawn believes you can. She has spent the past decade learning from others while assisting them with their daily health issues. Their experiences demonstrate that nutritional support and detoxing the body are crucial to maintaining good health. Dawn Renee is currently devoted to the care of a woman with stage 4 ALS. Focus...
103 - Food As Medicine? Dawn Renee’s Caregiving Experiences
March 24, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 85.1 MBCan we use food as a medicine? My guest, Dawn Renee has a compelling story of self-care & recovery. After a debilitating month in bed and a lifetime of chronic illnesses, Dawn believes you can. She has spent the past decade learning from others while assisting them with their daily health issues. Their experiences demonstrate that nutritional support and detoxing the body are crucial to maintaining good health. Dawn Renee is currently devoted to the care of a woman with stage 4 ALS. Focus...
Caregiver Stress Reduction Techniques
March 17, 2020 10:00 - 54 minutes - 74.4 MBA caregiver's journey is not an easy one. There's stress, frustration, sadness, even anger. There are many ways to cope with these feelings, some good, some not so good. Learning mindfulness from my guest helped me tremendously. Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Tune in to learn how mindfulness can help you with your caregiver stress reduction.
102 - Caregiver Stress Reduction Techniques
March 17, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 111 MBA caregiver's journey is not an easy one. There's stress, frustration, sadness, and even anger. There are many ways to cope with these feelings, some good, some not so good. Learning mindfulness from my guest helped me tremendously. Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Tune in to learn how mindfulness can help reduce your caregiver stress. I learned Sc...
101 - Family Caregiving Blueprint
March 10, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 96.4 MBThis week I'm talking to Cindy and her son Cory about their family's experience with caregiving and the formation of their family caregiving committee. It's a heartwarming tale that reminds us of the power of unity and compassion in the face of caregiving challenges. It was a difficult time for our family when my dad realized he couldn't handle the responsibility of caring for my mom on his own anymore. He threw up the white flag and asked his children to find a care home for her. Instead of...
Family Caregiving Blueprint
March 10, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 96.4 MBWhen Cindy's Dad threw up the white flag & asked his kids to find a care home for their Mom, the entire family stepped up and formed a family caregiving committee. This podcast episode is a conversation with Cindy and her son Cory about the loved ones the committee has and is currently caring for.
100 - Bonus Ep: My Family History Film
March 06, 2020 20:59 - 37 minutes - 52 MBMy Family History film creates personalized movies based on your family history. The process works wonders for older family members, letting them relive their memories not just by helping to make the fils but by watching them.
Bonus Ep: My Family History Film
March 06, 2020 20:59 - 37 minutes - 52 MBMy Family History film creates personalized movies based on your family history. The process works wonders for older family members, letting them relive their memories not just by helping to make the fils but by watching them.
Visits With Mom (Jen’s Journey)
March 03, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 91.9 MBVisits With Mom (Jen’s Journey). Frustrated by failed visits with Mom, I searched for support, but found nothing. So, I created this podcast! Family caregivers deserve a break, not endless research. This episode is dedicated to two amazing women who saw the value in sharing the realities - good, bad, and the journey of finding a better way to connect. Join me as I learn to navigate Mom's world, one visit at a time. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Related Episodes: Misty Tales Ep...
099 - Visiting With Mom (Jen’s Journey)
March 03, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 90.5 MBVisiting Mom, trying to connect, and giving her pleasant times is a bigger challenge than I ever expected. Trying to connect with her, failing, researching better options, and coming up short was the impetus for creating this podcast. Not only did I realize that family caregivers didn't have time to do such in-depth research, I knew that a podcast would be an easy way to get support. It's what I looked for, and not finding it, I created it myself. Equally important, I want to dedicate this ...
Visiting With Mom (Jen’s Journey)
March 03, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 90.5 MBVisiting Mom, trying to connect and give her pleasant times is a bigger challenge than I ever expected. Trying to connect with her and failing, researching better options and coming up short was the impetus for creating this podcast. Not only did I realize that family caregivers didn't have time to do such in-depth research, I knew that a podcast would be an easy way to get support. It's what I looked for and not finding it, I created it myself. Equally important, I want to dedicate this ep...
098 - Brain Trauma & Alzheimer’s
February 25, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 100 MBBrain trauma is a topic that the host of Nooks & Crannies podcast knows all too well. Matt joins Jen in this episode to talk about brain trauma, brain health and a little bit about how podcasts can change the world! I've personally had at least one, probably two concussions. That's enough to worry me about the possibility that I've increased my risk of developing Alzheimer's. My family history is enough risk. It's not completely clear if there is an increased risk of cognitive impairment fro...
Brain Trauma & Alzheimer’s
February 25, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 100 MBBrain trauma is a topic that the host of Nooks & Crannies podcast knows all too well. Matt joins Jen in this episode to talk about brain trauma, brain health and a little bit about how podcasts can change the world! I've personally had at least one, probably two concussions. That's enough to worry me about the possibility that I've increased my risk of developing Alzheimer's. My family history is enough risk. It's not completely clear if there is an increased risk of cognitive impairment fro...
097 - Two-Lap Books – A Great Way To Connect!
February 18, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 56.3 MBTwo-Lap Books – A Great Way To Connect! Two-Lap Books are Read-Aloud Books for Memory-Challenged Adults, People with Alzheimer's disease (and other forms of memory impairment) gradually lose their ability to initiate communication with others. As a result, Lydia designed these uniquely adapted books to “give voice” to them. Using the book's large, simple text and colorful illustrations we can initiate conversation. Notably, reading books together can make meaningful connections with our lov...
Books for Two Laps – A Great Way To Connect!
February 18, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 56.3 MBBooks for Two Laps – A Great Way To Connect! Two-Lap Books are Read-Aloud Books for Memory-Challenged Adults, People with Alzheimer's disease (and other forms of memory impairment) gradually lose their ability to initiate communication with others. As a result, Lydia designed these uniquely adapted books to “give voice” to them. Using the book's large, simple text and colorful illustrations we can initiate conversation. Notably, reading books together can make meaningful connections with ou...
Two-Lap Books – A Great Way To Connect!
February 18, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 56.3 MBTwo-Lap Books – A Great Way To Connect! Two-Lap Books are Read-Aloud Books for Memory-Challenged Adults, People with Alzheimer's disease (and other forms of memory impairment) gradually lose their ability to initiate communication with others. As a result, Lydia designed these uniquely adapted books to “give voice” to them. Using the book's large, simple text and colorful illustrations we can initiate conversation. Notably, reading books together can make meaningful connections with our lov...
Alzheimer’s & Intimacy (Yep, We Went There!)
February 11, 2020 11:00 - 46 minutes - 64 MBAlzheimer's & intimacy may seem counter-intuitive. It's important to realize that everyone has a need for companionship and physical intimacy. Couples living with Alzheimer's may have to find new ways to show love and affection. Sometimes as the disease progresses the caregiving spouse has very little desire for intimacy from their spouse. Due to the daily activities involved in caring their normal desires. Granted, the person living with the disease may never lose their need for sex. With...
096 - Alzheimer’s & Intimacy (Yep, We Went There!)
February 11, 2020 11:00 - 46 minutes - 64 MBAlzheimer's & intimacy may seem counter-intuitive. It's important to realize that everyone has a need for companionship and physical intimacy. Couples living with Alzheimer's may have to find new ways to show love and affection. Sometimes as the disease progresses the caregiving spouse has very little desire for intimacy from their spouse. Due to the daily activities involved in caring their normal desires. Granted, the person living with the disease may never lose their need for sex. With...
My Conversation With A Future Neuropsychologist
February 04, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 86.5 MBEver wondered what a conversation with a neuropsychologist would be like? Even if that wasn't on your list you'll enjoy hearing from this soon-to-be doctor who has a passion for brains and how health disparities effect our most precious organ.
095 - My Conversation With A Future Neuropsychologist
February 04, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 86.5 MBEver wondered what a conversation with a neuropsychologist would be like? Even if that wasn't on your list you'll enjoy hearing from this soon-to-be doctor who has a passion for brains and how health disparities effect our most precious organ.
094 - Soul of Care -A Physicians Moral Movement
January 28, 2020 11:00 - 53 minutes - 73.4 MBCaregivers need a moral movement so health care addresses the full range of needs of caregivers and those they are caring for.
Soul of Care -A Physicians Moral Movement
January 28, 2020 11:00 - 53 minutes - 73.4 MBCaregivers need a moral movement so health care addresses the full range of needs of caregivers and those they are caring for.
093 -A Peruvian Alzheimer’s Adventure
January 21, 2020 12:38 - 1 hour - 103 MBHow can getting eldercare for someone with Alzheimer's be better in Peru? To begin with, the cost of living is so much lower in Peru than in the United States. Instead of $600 a day, Barabra Drakes father lived like a king on $600 a month. If you're listening to this episode, you may be facing terrifying options for a loved one. The cost of care in countries like America, Canada & the United Kingdom can be prohibitively expensive. Many families are faced with choices that are unacceptable bu...
A Peruvian Alzheimer’s Adventure
January 21, 2020 12:38 - 1 hour - 103 MBHow can getting eldercare for someone with Alzheimer's be better in Peru? To begin with, the cost of living is so much lower in Peru than in the United States. Instead of $600 a day, Barabra Drakes father lived like a king on $600 a month. If you're listening to this episode, you may be facing terrifying options for a loved one. The cost of care in countries like America, Canada & the United Kingdom can be prohibitively expensive. Many families are faced with choices that are unacceptable bu...
092 - Caregiving & Employment Struggles
January 14, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 146 MBBecause of our aging population, more people over 65 are facing caregiving & employment struggles. Many people at retirement age risk having to care for a parent. Some of these workers may also be caring for a spouse. Caregiving is largely an unpaid family responsibility. However, this responsibility is already causing a decrease in employment, productivity, and innovation. Neither of these facts is sustainable. Currently, 22% of retirees left the workforce early due to competing caregiving...
Caregiving & Employment Struggles
January 14, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 146 MBBecause of our aging population, more people over the age of 65 are facing caregiving & employment struggles. A significant portion of people at retirement age are at risk of having to care for a parent. Some of these workers may also be caring for a spouse. Caregiving is largely an unpaid, family responsibility. However, this responsibility is already causing a decrease in employment, productivity, and innovation. Neither of these facts is sustainable. Currently, 22% of retirees left the w...
Activities for People Living with Alzheimer’s
January 07, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 82.5 MBActivities are important for keeping someone living with Alzheimer's engaged and productive. However, as their disease progresses activities they once loved become impossible to manage. Activities offer important benefits like cognitive stimulation, the opportunity to connect with another person, relaxation and more. If you're caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's you may struggle to find activities that they are capable of doing without adding stress to your day. What options do we have t...
091 - Activities for People Living with Alzheimer’s
January 07, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 82.5 MBActivities are important for keeping someone living with Alzheimer's engaged and productive. However, as their disease progresses activities, they once loved become impossible to manage. Activities offer important benefits like cognitive stimulation, connecting with another person, relaxation, and more. If you're caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's, you may struggle to find activities they can do without adding stress to your day. What options do we have to keep them busy and happy? Fin...
Tea & Brain Health – A Look at My Favorite Drink
December 31, 2019 11:00 - 36 minutes - 50.1 MBTea is my go-to drink every day, every part of the day. Having read that regular tea drinkers may have better cognitive health I knew I had to do my own research and learn more. I was excited to learn that drinking black tea regularly may give us better cognitive function than non-tea drinkers. The main research studies were on the effects of reducing cognitive decline. It focused on the structure of the brain and how it’s organized. Structure and organization work together to produce br...
090 - Tea & Brain Health – A Look at My Favorite Drink
December 31, 2019 11:00 - 35 minutes - 48.3 MBTea is my go-to drink every day, every part of the day. Having read that regular tea drinkers may have better cognitive health I knew I had to do my own research and learn more. I was excited to learn that drinking black tea regularly may give us better cognitive function than non-tea drinkers. In this episode, I discuss the research and many of the lesser-known specifics of brewing and enjoying this brain-healthy drink. I wanted to bring you this lighter topic as part of my brain health epi...
Dementia Dogs for Caregiving
December 24, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 85.9 MBDementia dogs are an asset I wasn't aware of previously. Having had dogs all my life, I was surprised to learn that many breeds are great caregivers for those with dementia. A dog trained to be a caregiver can perform many tasks and substantially help their human counterparts. A dementia dog can break repetitive behaviors, calm anxieties, give someone a purpose, or return a lost loved one home. These are just a few examples of what a furry caregiver can offer. Since learning about canine c...
089 - Dementia Dogs for Caregiving
December 24, 2019 11:00 - 35 minutes - 48.3 MBDementia dogs are an asset I wasn't aware of previously. Having had dogs all my life I was surprised to learn that many breeds make great caregivers for those living with dementia. A dog trained to be a caregiver can perform many tasks and be a substantial help to their human counterparts. A dementia dog can break repetitive behaviors, calm anxieties, give someone a purpose, or return a lost loved one home. These are just a few examples of what a furry caregiver can offer. Since learning a...
Medication Adherence & Management
December 17, 2019 11:00 - 38 minutes - 52.4 MBMedication adherence is a fancy term for taking our medications as they've been prescribed. While adherence is an important part of our health care it is one that is often overlooked. It's too easy to improperly take our medications. Just the other day, my husband was out of town, and I realized I had neglected to give our oldest dog his arthritis medication for two days! Talk about failure to manage medications properly. When I went to give him his morning pill he waited till I was out of h...
088 - Medication Adherence & Management
December 17, 2019 11:00 - 38 minutes - 52.4 MBMedication adherence is a fancy term for taking our medications as they've been prescribed. While adherence is an important part of our health care it is one that is often overlooked. It's too easy to improperly take our medications. Just the other day, my husband was out of town, and I realized I had neglected to give our oldest dog his arthritis medication for two days! Talk about failure to manage medications properly. When I went to give him his morning pill he waited till I was out of h...
I Love Someone With Dementia …
December 10, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 97.7 MBWhen you love someone with dementia it's not uncommon to feel like you're losing your mind too. In this episode, I talk to Beth Friesen about practical tips for coping with this problem. Beth is the author of the book “I Love Someone With Dementia, So Why Am I Losing My Mind?”. She's also a nurse in a family of medical professionals. If their family struggled, we shouldn't feel bad about our struggles. Some families have a member who doesn't fully understand the disease which leads to negati...
087 - I Love Someone With Dementia …
December 10, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 97.7 MBWhen you love someone with dementia it's not uncommon to feel like you're losing your mind too. In this episode, I talk to Beth Friesen about practical tips for coping with this problem. Beth is the author of the book “I Love Someone With Dementia, So Why Am I Losing My Mind?”. She's also a nurse in a family of medical professionals. If their family struggled, we shouldn't feel bad about our struggles. Some families have a member who doesn't fully understand the disease which leads to negati...
I Love Someone With Dementia so Why am I Losing My Mind?
December 10, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 97.7 MBWhen you love someone with dementia it's not uncommon to feel like you're losing your mind too. In this episode, I talk to Beth Friesen about practical tips for coping with this problem. Beth is the author of the book "I Love Someone With Dementia, So Why Am I Losing My Mind?". She's also a nurse in a family of medical professionals. If their family struggled, we shouldn't feel bad about our struggles. Some families have a member who doesn't fully understand the disease which leads to negati...
086 - Managing Difficult Dementia Behaviors (W/Dr Natalie of CareBlazers)
December 03, 2019 11:00 - 59 minutes - 82 MBManaging Difficult Dementia Behaviors. One of the biggest caregiver challenges is managing difficult behaviors. People living with memory loss don't realize they're being unreasonable. Difficult behavior is an unfortunate by-product of their disease. Navigating our loved one's behaviors and our own emotions is crucial to caregiving success. However, no one has a clear path to making that happen. This episode of Fading Memories dives into a few behaviors and how we might handle them. Learn M...
Managing Difficult Behaviors
December 03, 2019 11:00 - 59 minutes - 82 MBOne of the biggest caregiver challenges is managing difficult behaviors. People living with memory loss don't realize they're being unreasonable. Difficult behavior is an unfortunate by-product of their disease. Navigating our loved one's behaviors and our own emotions is crucial to caregiving success. However, no one has a clear path to making that happen. This episode of Fading Memories dives into a few behaviors and how we might handle them.
Managing Difficult Behaviors (W/Dr Natalie of CareBlazers)
December 03, 2019 11:00 - 59 minutes - 82 MBOne of the biggest caregiver challenges is managing difficult behaviors. People living with memory loss don't realize they're being unreasonable. Difficult behavior is an unfortunate by-product of their disease. Navigating our loved one's behaviors and our own emotions is crucial to caregiving success. However, no one has a clear path to making that happen. This episode of Fading Memories dives into a few behaviors and how we might handle them.
086 - Managing Difficult Behaviors (W/Dr Natalie of CareBlazers)
December 03, 2019 11:00 - 59 minutes - 82 MBOne of the biggest caregiver challenges is managing difficult behaviors. People living with memory loss don't realize they're being unreasonable. Difficult behavior is an unfortunate by-product of their disease. Navigating our loved one's behaviors and our own emotions is crucial to caregiving success. However, no one has a clear path to making that happen. This episode of Fading Memories dives into a few behaviors and how we might handle them. Learn More About Careblazers Here There are t...
Caregiving In Harmony
November 26, 2019 11:00 - 57 minutes - 78.9 MBConflict is a natural part of human interaction. As we age, all of us face difficult decisions that affect our loved ones and often bring up strong emotions. Many of us avoid talking about the subject because we are afraid to cause a family conflict or even a legal battle. This delay can force us to make decisions at a time of crisis, the worst possible time for peaceful and effective communications.
085 -Caregiving In Harmony, Not Conflict – Eldercare Mediator
November 26, 2019 11:00 - 57 minutes - 78.9 MBConflict is a natural part of human interaction. As we age, all of us face difficult decisions that affect our loved ones and often bring up strong emotions. Many of us avoid talking about the subject because we are afraid to cause a family conflict or even a legal battle. This delay can force us to make decisions at a time of crisis, the worst possible time for peaceful and effective communications.
Caregiving In Harmony, Not Conflict – Eldercare Mediator
November 26, 2019 11:00 - 57 minutes - 78.9 MBConflict is a natural part of human interaction. As we age, all of us face difficult decisions that affect our loved ones and often bring up strong emotions. Many of us avoid talking about the subject because we are afraid to cause a family conflict or even a legal battle. This delay can force us to make decisions at a time of crisis, the worst possible time for peaceful and effective communications.
Caregiver Grief – A Practical Discussion
November 19, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 91.3 MBThe loved one you're caring for is still around, yet you feel their loss. Some think this is depression, but it's actually a form of caregiver grief. It's commonly referred to as anticipatory grief, and it's very common when caring for someone with an incurable disease. Anticipatory grief is generally understood as experiencing the emotions associated with grief before the expected loss actually happens. Rather than grieving the loss of a person, anticipatory grief might be better understood ...
084 -Caregiver Grief – A Practical Discussion
November 19, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 91.3 MBThe loved one you're caring for is still around, yet you feel their loss. Some think this is depression, but it's actually a form of caregiver grief. It's commonly referred to as anticipatory grief, and it's very common when caring for someone with an incurable disease. Anticipatory grief is generally understood as experiencing the emotions associated with grief before the expected loss actually happens. Rather than grieving the loss of a person, anticipatory grief might be better understood ...
Raising An Aging Parent
November 12, 2019 11:00 - 50 minutes - 69.3 MBAt what point did we become the parent to our parents? For some of us, this transition happened slowly over time. Others have been thrust into the role because of a crisis. Regardless of how the role-reversal happened, it comes with a host of challenges we may not be ready for.
083 - Raising An Aging Parent W/Ken Druck
November 12, 2019 11:00 - 50 minutes - 69.3 MBAt what point did we become parents to our parents? For some of us, this transition happened slowly over time. Others have been thrust into the role because of a crisis. Regardless of how the role reversal happened, it comes with various challenges we may not be ready for. The three cornerstones of Raising An Aging Parent are strengthening the bonds between adult children and their aging parents, forging collaborative relationships between siblings, and establishing a new norm for the second...
Raising An Aging Parent W/Ken Druck
November 12, 2019 11:00 - 50 minutes - 69.3 MBAt what point did we become the parent to our parents? For some of us, this transition happened slowly over time. Others have been thrust into the role because of a crisis. Regardless of how the role-reversal happened, it comes with a host of challenges we may not be ready for.
Alzheimer’s Trippin’ With George
November 05, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 103 MBWhat do you do when your spouse is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease? Do you run for the hills or plan a 10,000-mile trip? Thankfully, today's guest planned the trip, blogged about it, and turned her experiences into two books! Alzheimer's Trippin' with George is a brutally honest journal of one spouse and reluctant caregiver who "ran for the hills." Of course, she took her husband George along. What challenges did Susan encounter? How can she enjoy the present - a journey across the U.S.A ...