Fading Memories

Theresa Willbanks talks to me about how we can create sustainable caregiving. Creating sustainable caregiving will be something more of us will have to know as our population ages. Caring for another person, especially a parent, can feel like navigating an unpredictable, wild river. How do we determine when it's no longer safe for Mom or Dad to live alone? When do we step in to help manage finances and or medications? How do we get our loved ones to stop driving and continue to allow them their independence? These questions demonstrate concern for our parent's safety and can be juxtaposed against our parent's fiercely held desire for independence. In addition to being emotionally charged, the answers have enormous ramifications for us as family caregivers. Caregiving is sustainable when you are realistic. Know your options, have a plan, and are willing to adjust that plan as many times as needed. In this episode, I talk to Theresa Willbanks about these issues and how she managed them. If you want to learn

Every caregiver has their own unique story about how they learned a loved one had dementia. Carolyn Birrell used her experiences with her Mom to write a book. Walking With Fay – My Moms’ Uncharted Decline Into Dementia, released in time for Mother’s Day 2022, is a heartwarming story. It’s a story of a mother … Read More Read More

Caring for a caregiving spouse is not a topic I’ve discussed on this show. Not directly. I was pleasantly surprised when my hubby told me he had an idea for an episode. To be fair, I don’t need someone to feed me ideas, but I listened. You’ll be glad I did because his idea was … Read More Read More

Regular listeners likely know that I discovered the benefit very late in my caregiving journey. Thankfully, it still helps me today which is why we’re revisiting the topic. Being frustrated happens for many reasons. Understanding the reasons and how we can reduce them can serve us well in our daily lives. But, caregivers are faced … Read More Read More

Have you ever had a conversation that lasted a long time but didn’t feel as if it did? Perhaps a chat with a loved one that made you feel seen, heard, special – alive? Conversations can be mood elevators as well as help maintain good cognitive health. We’ve all lived through a time that forced … Read More Read More

How do you add a gleam in their eye? Simple, by hearing what this caregiver turned support provider has created. My guest Marie Vaudry is a sandwich generation caregiver who has found a way to make visits easier with curated activities. The Gleam in Your Eye boxes contain games that facilitate discussions, make visits more … Read More Read More

Show me the money is about having essential conversations with your parents about their finances. Talking to your parents about their financial matters isn’t easy territory; you need to know what to say & what not to say. My guest, Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning, financial journalist. Despite her comfort with financial conversations and her … Read More Read More

Welcome to episode #222. I, Jen, can’t believe I’ve been podcasting for four years. I still feel like a newbie. This episode is a little bit of my story, including what it was like losing my Mom during the pandemic. I also talk about what I’ve learned from doing this show, and, a little bit … Read More Read More

Could there truly be a cause & cure for aging?  Could aging have a cure? Besides dying young? As a naturally curious person, I was intrigued by this possibility. I was even more intrigued when I realized I’d be talking about someone who is a nuclear physicist AND a biblical scholar. Aging: Cause and Cure reveals … Read More Read More

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 the same whether there is a trust or probate. The difference between trust administration and probate is that the trust administration is done privately, while probate is handled publicly in court, and usually, probate is much more expensive. In a probate, the executor is required to use specific form documents and to get a judge’s permission to act, but the basic steps that must be covered in probate are very similar to the steps covered in a trust administration. If you are the sole trustee as well as one of se

Better caregiving by Forgetting What's Lost & Focusing on What's Left We're talking about forgetting what's lost and focusing on what is left. Most caregivers have likely heard the term person-centered care; however, how many of us truly understand what that means? It likely means different things for different people and that's understandable.  The best definition I have found is this: Person-Centered Dementia Care is a way of providing care focused on knowing the UNIQUE person through respectful close relationships that foster normalcy, choice, purpose, belonging, security and strengths. Family caregivers have more knowledge of their loved ones as compared to paid caregivers, but as they lose abilities, we may feel that we don't know our person at all. For example, I had been told to simplify the hobbies or activities Mom loved but that never worked. My attempts to do just that actually caused more stress and frustration. Understanding how to care by forgetting what's lost and focusing on what's left woul

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 disease. This is not the first episode devoted to the topic of sharing our stories. My Name is Sharon - A Love Story, is exactly that. A love story dedicated to sharing the wonderful life Sharon had as a Mom. It's also a story about Dominicks' life with his Mom. This is a heartwarming conversation that shows us just how important it is to share the lives of our loved ones, not just the difficult part. For caregivers who struggle with their past relationship with who they are caring for, maybe this conversation w

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 caregivers. His Dad was all about breaking down doors, standing up to bullies, and Bret's album helps continue that story. Bret also wanted to add a little hope for those of us listening. Enjoy this video from Fog On The Bridge (yes, that's the Golden Gate Bridge, from my area of the world). TRANSCRIPT Related Episodes: A Musical, Emotional Memoir on Caregiving (Caregiver Carols) Stress & Anxiety Relief through Music Therapy   Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide produ

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 anxiety; assisting in socialization; encouraging playfulness and a sense of humor; improving cognition; offering sensory stimulation; Plus, it can be a lot of fun. It's worth a try. My Mom was a very creative person, but she feared "getting it wrong" whenever I attempted to do an art project with her. I've seen some other methods that I would have liked to have tried with her, but since I can't, I'm sharing this passionate young woman's story with you. Marie-Louise is my guest today, and how she became

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. … Read More Read More

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 … Read More Read More

Aftercloud – Your Interactive Memory Vault   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 are able to record your voice, … Read More Read More

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 … Read More Read More

Podcaster & responsible cannabis lifestyle coach talked to me about the Neuro-protective 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.  Having internalized that message means it’s hard for me to fully embrace this idea. Using natural remedies … Read More Read More

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 like 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 … Read More Read More