Fading Memories

Rebecca M. Edelmayer, Ph.D guided me through topics on air pollution, education and Transgender risks for Alzheimer's.   I was honored to interview two renowned people from the Alzheimer's Association before the start of this year's International Conference. The AAIC is the largest and most influential international meeting dedicated to advancing dementia science. Each year, … Read More Read More

Helping Kids be effective caregivers helps everyone. Many people assume kids can't be caregivers. As an older adult family member progresses in their disease, some of the things they do can be scary for younger kids. Children can become confused when Grandma forgets how old they are or GrandDad asks the same questions all the … Read More Read More

Does Exercise Really Prevent Alzheimer's? Does exercise prevent Alzheimer's? It can. When you combine the results of 11 studies, it shows that regular exercise can significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia by about 30 percent. For Alzheimer's disease, the risk was reduced by 45 percent.  Your next question is probably, how does exercise help prevent Alzheimer's? Exercise stimulates … Read More Read More

How does the new Alzheimer's treatment drug affect our search for a cure? In the 90s, Alzheimer's researchers were full of optimism that they would find a cure for the disease. Genetic studies all pointed to one culprit—hard clumps of protein, called amyloid, that litter the brains of people with the disease. (Scott Small, MD, … Read More Read More

iAlly is a Millennial Caregiver Tool About one out of six millennial caregivers care for someone with dementia, with an average age of 27 years. Because these caregivers are at a different life stage than older, spousal caregivers, their needs are widely different. Many young adult caregivers put their careers on hold, move back to their childhood … Read More Read More

Caregiver guilt was a constant struggle for Lauren while caring for her Mom. Most of the caregivers I've spoken to have some level of guilt. For many of us, the guilt is significant. Why is this? The answer may not be surprising. Caregivers tend to neglect their own emotional needs. Taking care of a significantly … Read More Read More

Being death positive has many benefits. It doesn't make us callous. Despite its name, the death positive movement isn't a yellow smiley face–substitute for grief. Instead, it's a way of moving toward neutral acceptance of death. It's embracing values that make us more conscious of our day-to-day living. Having death anxiety can help motivate us … Read More Read More

Running All Over the World – A Race Against Early-Onset Alzheimer's What do marathon runners do when one needs open-heart surgery and the other is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's? Would you believe, retire from their jobs, sell their home, and become nomads running all over the world? That's exactly what today's guest, Tony Copeland-Parker, and … Read More Read More

Don't let yourself down, get the savvy guide to burial insurance. If you are considering burial insurance, then pat yourself on the back. You are thinking ahead — and beyond. For most of us, retirement planning involves deciding how to make our money last until the end of our life. One crucial part of the … Read More Read More

Streaming Happy Things with Joygage Last year (2020), streaming our entertainment became one of our coping tools. Even our social lives essentially became streaming events. When the pandemic restrictions started lifting, many of us were eager to return to live concerts, movies, and seeing loved ones in person. For many parts of our society, streaming … Read More Read More

Everyone has a story, this episode talks about how to get it ready for publication. Everyone has a story to tell. Back in early fall 2017, I had an experience with my Mom that was funny after it was all over. Retelling the experience online garnered a fair number of comments that I should write … Read More Read More

  Falls can be deadly for older adults.   Fall prevention is an important part of caregiving.  Most of us have probably heard a story about someone who is healthy, vibrant, active even, falling, breaking a hip, and dying within a few weeks. If you haven't tuned in to the episode on Frailty, that explains … Read More Read More

Becoming more me with EFT is another way of learning coping skills. What is EFT? Your body is more powerful than you can imagine. Filled with life, energy, and a compelling ability for self-healing, you can take control of this power by engaging in a tapping practice. Having been documented extensively, the benefits of tapping … Read More Read More

Learn Positive Coping Skills through an online study. Are you wishing there was a way to learn to be happier, to have more positive coping skills? Listening to this episode might be just what you need! Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease may make you eligible for the LEAF Study. Researchers at Northwestern … Read More Read More

Food is an important part of our brain health.   Does food affect our brain health? Our brains are always working, always turned on. It manages everything that happens in our lives; our thoughts, movements, reactions, emotions, and the mechanics of staying alive. It's working hard even while we're sleeping. Understandably, because of all this … Read More Read More

If you have 5 minuets, you can destress with a quick yoga practice. Yoga practice is probably something you think you don't have time to start. If you have five minutes, my guest can show you ways to help relieve stress, anxiety, and more. As with most of us, my guest, Jo Bregnard, had to … Read More Read More

Activities are an essential tool for caregivers. It all started because of a lack of activities. If it weren't for today's guest, there might never have been a Fading Memories podcast. I searched for ways to engage with my Mom and came up short every time. If I had had the list you're about to … Read More Read More

Telling our caregiver stories has many benefits, both for those who listen and for us when we tell them. Learning how others managed their journey as Alzheimer's caregivers, what suggestions they have for self-care, and navigating challenges are essential lessons.

Medications often help maintain health and well-being, studies have repeatedly shown that many older adults suffer from medication problems. As caregivers to an older person, the chances are they are taking a number of prescription medications. Have you ever wondered if they are on the proper medications? Do you worry about how side effects and … Read More Read More

Using a Medicaid professional can be the difference between success & failure when applying. Medicaid is available under many circumstances, but the path to get there is filled with challenges. Did you know, there are services available to assist families through the Medicaid application and planning process.? Why use one of these services? Knowing what … Read More Read More