The Alzheimer's Podcast

By Mike Good of Together in This - Improving dementia care together

What's The Alzheimer's Podcast about?

The Alzheimer’s Podcast with Mike Good of Together in This is your #1 resource for practical tips and insights; empowering you and your family to live well with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.

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The Alzheimer's Podcast episodes:

11.12.2020
143 "We have a friend"
This episode was recorded November 9, 2020. Phil and Christy discuss President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris's victory and the ongoing impact of COVID-19 within our community. But mostly, Phil wrestles with two parts of himself about what happened last...
06.28.2020
138 Laurel + Hardy Throw a Party
We're fast-forwarding through the editing queue to bring you this episode recorded June 23, 2020. We wanted to make this episode as timely as possible for a few reasons: Phil Gutis (our Assistant Sherpa on The Alzheimer’s Podcast) and...
06.06.2020
136 What's the Value of a Human Life?
This episode was recorded April 20th, 2020. At one point, Phil refers to protesters, and who he’s talking about are the armed white people who showed up at statehouses wanting to get a haircut, go to the movies, open up...
05.22.2020
135 "Where isolation and solitude come in handy"
Show notes + transcript: DementiaSherpa.com/episode135. This week, I got author and blogger Donna Thomson to come back to the show. She has so much wisdom to share about solitude, a timely topic in this time of Covid-19. Although many states...
04.27.2020
134 The Unexpected Journey of Caring
Full show notes with transcript + links: https://DementiaSherpa.com/episode134 Christy gets to talk with the extraordinarily-generous-with-her-time caregiver, author and activist Donna Thomson about a wide range of topics that affect care partners, including: Caregiving literacy + advocacy Anosognosia Hyperintolerance +...
03.24.2020
BONUS Visiting from Afar
Christy offers a cheap, low-tech way to make sure your person knows you're thinking of them with this bonus tip.
03.24.2020
132 And Here We Are
Show notes + links: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode132. Phil Gutis, our Assistant Sherpa, and Christy discuss what life is like right now in the shadow of Covid-19, including ways families can stay connected with their person who lives in long-term care. Complimentary Strategy...
03.03.2020
131 How Coronavirus Could Impact Your Loved One Living with Dementia
If you've been following the story of coronavirus spread over the past several weeks, you may be freaked out right about now. News came out over the weekend that a long-term care community in the Pacific Northwest has been impacted,...
02.27.2020
130 Respect, Dignity, and The Good Stuff
In this episode, Phil Gutis, our Assistant Sherpa, and Christy discuss situations that show respect for your person and opportunities to bring The Good Stuff. Show notes at DementiaSherpa.com/episode130. Complimentary Strategy Call for Dementia Care Partners
02.22.2020
129 One-Stop Shopping with the PACE Program
In this episode, Christy talks with Joan Corella of the Providence ElderPlace PACE Program, A care model that combines medical care, long-term care, and social services all in one program, about how vital this program can be for caregivers and...
02.18.2020
128 Sleep Routines are Vital
Show notes: DementiaSherpa.com/episode128. In this episode, Christy & Phil discuss some ways to improve sleep for your person.
02.04.2020
126 I've Been a Mess
Show notes at DementiaSherpa.com/Episode126. Christy Turner, AKA The Dementia Sherpa, and Phil Gutis, our Assistant Sherpa, get candid about a wide range of topics: Phil's depression His use of Ambien during his working years His aunt, who is showing...
01.28.2020
125 Using a Placement Agent aka Your Secret Weapon
In this episode, Beth Friesen, Certified Dementia Practitioner, placement agent, and author of “I Love Someone with Dementia…So Why Am I Losing My Mind? A Practical Guide,” talks with Christy about how her experiences during her mother’s battle with dementia...
01.21.2020
124 Autonomy and End of Life for People Living with Dementia
In this episode, Phil Gutis, our Assistant Sherpa, gives an update on his childhood friend, Elaine, and sparks a conversation with Christy about autonomy and end of life choices for people living with dementia. Show notes at DementiaSherpa.com/episode124. The Dementia...
01.14.2020
123 Hopeful, but Realistic
In This Episode "I walked out of that conference feeling like there are a lot of really smart people trying to find the solution to this disease. So that was the optimistic part." The...
12.10.2019
121 Aducanumab-dabra...Maybe
Phil and Christy react to the news Biogen is resurrecting aducanumab, the most promising drug in development in years, after failing a futility study in March. We wonder what's really going on here: is aducanumab the magic bullet or false...
11.10.2019
119 Now and Again with Alex Leff, featuring Grandpa Mel
Christy chats with Alex Leff, director of Now and Again, an upcoming documentary on his grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's and the adventure Alex and his brother go on to find their grandfather's lost memory. Just four days to go on the Now and...
10.22.2019
117 #ALZResistance
Transcript + links: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode117. Thank you to our sponsor, Home Instead Senior Care-East Portland + Clackamas County, for serving up dependable, warm-hearted home care to families in the east metro area! Phil Gutis, a regular guest we affectionately call our...
10.15.2019
116 "My memory was too good"
Transcript + links: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode116. Thank you to our sponsor, Home Instead Senior Care-East Portland + Clackamas County! Phil Gutis, our Assistant Sherpa, shares why he didn't get into a clinical study we both thought he was a shoo-in for, and...
10.01.2019
114 The Incidents are Coming Faster and Faster
Transcript + links: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode114. Thank you to our sponsor, Home Instead Senior Care-East Portland + Clackamas County! "The incidents are coming faster and faster and you know, even though I often say that I feel just fine, you know, I'm...
09.18.2019
112 Cultural Competency in Serving the LGBTQ Community
Transcript + links: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode112. Thank you to our sponsor! Home Instead Senior Care-East Portland and Clackamas County. People with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative disorders are typically portrayed in media as elderly white people. On television, it's often a white man...
09.10.2019
111 Steve + Debbie: "Together we can, together we will"
Transcript & links: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode111. Thank you to our sponsor! Home Instead Senior Care-East Portland & Clackamas County has well-trained, knowledgeable CAREgivers offering dependable, warm-hearted home care. I was invited to be part of the speaker faculty for the Inaugural Building...
09.03.2019
110 It Just Doesn't Ever Stop
Transcript & links: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode110. Thank you to our sponsor Home Instead Senior Care-East Portland & Clackamas County! This episode is part two of the conversation Phil and I start in episode 109: The Randy Rainbow Debacle. That episode gives you...
08.27.2019
109 The Randy Rainbow Debacle
Transcript with links: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode109. "So, I had another little incident with memory, the vast memory hole, which left me crying in a restaurant." Because that's how Phil Gutis, our Assistant Sherpa, started our conversation this past Wednesday, I knew it...
08.20.2019
108 Sunshine for Care Partners
Show notes: DementiaSherpa.com/episode108. Because being a dementia care partner is often a thankless role, sometimes you just need a little sunshine from your Dementia Sherpa ;)
08.14.2019
107 Are We Making a Difference?
Transcript + resources: DementiaSherpa.com/episode107. Phil Gutis, our Assistant Sherpa, and I wonder if we're making a difference or shouting into the wind, and Phil drops a truth bomb for care partners.
08.09.2019
106 I Don't Feel Like I Have Alzheimer's
Transcript + Show Notes: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode106. Good news, Phil Phans! Phil Gutis, our Assistant Sherpa, is with us today. Beyond giving you a little peek inside what it’s like to be part of a clinical trial, Phil shares specific things he does...
07.23.2019
104 I Call it a Gift
Transcript: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode104. Jamie Tyrone was first on the show in episode 100: Enjoy Us in the Moment, where she used her own experiences to offer some creative, real-life examples of how to hit it out of the park as a...
07.16.2019
103 I Can See Why That Terrified You
Transcript & free advocacy course: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode103. Phil and Christy chat about a solution for when driving is no longer possible, leading to an explanation of the 'addition before subtraction' technique. Phil watched a documentary that terrifed him, teeing up Christy...
06.18.2019
099 Anosognosia and the Bliss of Ignorance
Links and show notes at DementiaSherpa.com/Episode99. Phil Gutis, our Assistant Sherpa, is with us again today. We answer a listener question about anosognosia, a condition in which a person is unaware they have another condition (such as Alzheimer's). Phil ponders...
06.11.2019
097 We're All on a Journey
Transcript & show notes: DementiaSherpa.com/Episode97. Phil Gutis, Assistant Sherpa, is with us again today. Phil is a former New York Times reporter and current contributor, an Alzheimer's advocate, and a man living with Alzheimer's disease. Phil was diagnosed three years...
06.10.2019
BONUS The Pfizer Story
Links in show notes: DementiaSherpa.com/bonus-episode-the-pfizer-story. In 2015, Pfizer researchers discovered their own anti-inflammatory drug, Enbrel, appeared to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 64%. Last Wednesday, four years later, the rest of us found out about it. Phil and...
06.04.2019
096 Alzheimer's Association Program Director Heidi Rowell
Resource links in the show notes at DementiaSherpa.com/episode96. No matter how obvious or ubiquitous something is (or we think it is) everyone starts out as a newbie at some point. A couple of months ago, I met someone who'd never...
05.28.2019
095 Q+A on Showering, Structure, and Driving
Links to mentioned resources in the show notes at DementiaSherpa.com/episode95. Phil Gutis answers questions about trying to get him into the shower, lack of structure in a day, and what happens when multitasking and driving collide. Phil is a former...
05.21.2019
094 I Am Very Uncomfortable Talking to People with Alzheimer's
Links in show notes at DementiaSherpa.com/episode94. Communicating with people living with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia is a struggle for many people. Folks aren't sure what to say, or are afraid it's going to be awkward. Phil Gutis, a...
05.14.2019
093 Did I Do This to Myself?
Phil Gutis is a former New York Times reporter and current contributor; Alzheimer's advocate; and a man living with early onset Alzheimer's. Diagnosed 3 years ago at age 54, Phil wonders, "Did I do this to myself?" In this episode,...
05.07.2019
092 The Shiny Object Squirrel
In this episode, we chat with former New York Times reporter and current contributor Phil Gutis, an Alzheimer's advocate and man living with the disease. Phil explains about what he calls the Shiny Object Squirrel and dishes on some awkward...
04.30.2019
091 Pocketbook Memories
A lot of times, we're looking for the grand gesture, the big thing we can do to improve our person's quality of life. Inspired by his own past, Bruce Felt came up with a product that's clever, yet simple and...
04.23.2019
090 The Inside Scoop with Phil Gutis, a Man Living with Alzheimer's
Phil Gutis is a former New York Times reporter and current contributor, an Alzheimer's advocate, and a man living with Alzheimer's disease. Phil was diagnosed three years ago, at age 54. As you'll hear, he's quite easily able to articulate...
04.16.2019
088 Building a Life of Joy and Dignity from Beginning to End with Dr Tia Powell
In this episode, part two of my conversation with Dr Tia Powell, author of the new book Dementia Reimagined: Building a Life of Joy and Dignity from Beginning to End. I highly recommend this book to families and professionals alike--it's...
04.02.2019
087 Dementia Reimagined with Dr Tia Powell, Part 1
In this episode of Navigating Rough Terrain with the Dementia Sherpa, I speak with Dr Tia Powell, author of the new book, Dementia Reimagined: Building a Life of Joy and Dignity from Beginning to End. I was really skeptical about...
03.20.2019
089 Is Aging in Place Possible in Your Situation?
If you’re like most people, the idea of sitting down for an appointment with an elder law attorney, financial planner, insurance salesman, or loan officer falls into that category of things you know you should do but are so icky-sounding...
03.12.2019
085 Bringing Spirituality into Dementia
When we’re talking about dementia, it’s often centered around practical how-to’s, physical abilities, or planning for the future. Something that’s often missed is the role of spirituality, which I believe is just as important as all the other things we...
03.05.2019
084 When Your Family Doesn't Get It
Sometimes your family just doesn't get it, and you end up feeling stuck in limbo. In this episode of Navigating Rough Terrain with the Dementia Sherpa, we look at some mindset shifts to allow you to move forward and ways...
02.26.2019
083 Connecting Circles of Care and Building Bridges of Hope
In this episode of Navigating Rough Terrain with the Dementia Sherpa, I chat with Lisa Marie Chirico, producer of the Creating Circles of Care & Building Bridges of Hope Cruise & Conference. She tells what inspired her to create this...
02.19.2019
082 Getting Past Stigma and Shame in Dementia
Dr Alzheimer discovered what is now known as Alzheimer’s disease in 1906. He's best known for this research, although he made other significant contributions in his workplace. These include the groundbreaking idea of talking to his patients and banning their restraint;...
02.12.2019
081 A Blessing Beyond Measure
In this episode of Navigating Rough Terrain with the Dementia Sherpa, I share part two of my conversation with Bonnie Lais, a member of the the Dementia Sherpa tribe who generously agreed to share her story about care partnering with...
02.05.2019
080 Always Be Kinder Than You Feel
In this episode of Navigating Rough Terrain with the Dementia Sherpa, I chat with Bonnie Lais, a family care partner who raised her hand when I asked for volunteers to come on the show and share their acquired wisdom. We...
01.29.2019
079 The Dementia Sherpa Manifesto
In this episode of Navigating Rough Terrain with the Dementia Sherpa, I make my debut as host of the podcast(!). One of the best things about the work I do is getting to hear people's stories. This week, though, I'm...
01.22.2019
078 When You're Just Not That into It Anymore
In this episode of Navigating Rough Terrain with the Dementia Sherpa, Christy and I discuss some common life transitions as well as some unexpected ones, and why thinking about all this now is a good idea. Plus, circumstances when you’re...

What's The Alzheimer's Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Alzheimer's Podcast episodes:

143 "We have a friend"

138 Laurel + Hardy Throw a Party

136 What's the Value of a Human Life?

135 "Where isolation and solitude come in handy"

134 The Unexpected Journey of Caring

BONUS Visiting from Afar

132 And Here We Are

131 How Coronavirus Could Impact Your Loved One Living with Dementia

130 Respect, Dignity, and The Good Stuff

129 One-Stop Shopping with the PACE Program

128 Sleep Routines are Vital

126 I've Been a Mess

125 Using a Placement Agent aka Your Secret Weapon

124 Autonomy and End of Life for People Living with Dementia

123 Hopeful, but Realistic

121 Aducanumab-dabra...Maybe

119 Now and Again with Alex Leff, featuring Grandpa Mel

117 #ALZResistance

116 "My memory was too good"

114 The Incidents are Coming Faster and Faster

112 Cultural Competency in Serving the LGBTQ Community

111 Steve + Debbie: "Together we can, together we will"

110 It Just Doesn't Ever Stop

109 The Randy Rainbow Debacle

108 Sunshine for Care Partners

107 Are We Making a Difference?

106 I Don't Feel Like I Have Alzheimer's

104 I Call it a Gift

103 I Can See Why That Terrified You

099 Anosognosia and the Bliss of Ignorance

097 We're All on a Journey

BONUS The Pfizer Story

096 Alzheimer's Association Program Director Heidi Rowell

095 Q+A on Showering, Structure, and Driving

094 I Am Very Uncomfortable Talking to People with Alzheimer's

093 Did I Do This to Myself?

092 The Shiny Object Squirrel

091 Pocketbook Memories

090 The Inside Scoop with Phil Gutis, a Man Living with Alzheimer's

088 Building a Life of Joy and Dignity from Beginning to End with Dr Tia Powell

087 Dementia Reimagined with Dr Tia Powell, Part 1

089 Is Aging in Place Possible in Your Situation?

085 Bringing Spirituality into Dementia

084 When Your Family Doesn't Get It

083 Connecting Circles of Care and Building Bridges of Hope

082 Getting Past Stigma and Shame in Dementia

081 A Blessing Beyond Measure

080 Always Be Kinder Than You Feel

079 The Dementia Sherpa Manifesto

078 When You're Just Not That into It Anymore