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This episode features Gina and Allie from Care Patrol discussing the complexities of transitioning seniors into retirement communities. They share insights on planning, choosing the right care level, understanding state regulations, and navigating family dynamics to ensure a smooth and suitable move.

Allie Spangler, OTR/L, CSA brings extensive experience and deep passion for helping others. She has supported hundreds of families in navigating care options for their loved ones with confidence and clarity. 

Prior to joining CarePatrol, Allie worked as an occupational therapist across a variety of healthcare settings, primarily serving geriatric patients in acute care, long-term acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation. Through this experience, she developed a strong ability to guide individuals and families.

Gina Gordon, RN, CSA brings over 30 years of healthcare experience and a deep passion for serving others. Inspired by both her professional background and personal experiences, she opened CarePatrol of Winston-Salem to better support families navigating senior care decisions.

Prior to CarePatrol, Gina built a long and meaningful career in healthcare, gaining firsthand insight into the complexities of care and the importance of advocacy. As the daughter of aging parents, she understands both the rewards and challenges families face and values the opportunity to connect with each client on a personal level.

CarePatrol of Winston-Salem

Allie Spangler, Occupational Therapist (OTR/L), Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®

PO Box 20302 Winston-Salem, NC 27120

O: 844-218-2273 | D: 564-565-4562 | F: 336-866-0758

CarePatrol.com | Senior Care Podcast | Facebook | LinkedIn 

Other Resources

North Carolina Assisted Living Regulations - https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/divisions/licensing

Memory Care Best Practices - https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/memory-care

Care Management Resources - https://www.care.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Care Transitions
03:00 Proactive vs Reactive Planning for Care
06:16 Navigating Community Transitions
08:54 Understanding Care Levels and Community Types
12:03 State Requirements for Assisted Living
16:46 Staffing Ratios and Their Importance
18:37 Leadership and Stability in Care Communities
25:22 Advice for Sandwich Generation Caregivers
31:55 Choosing the Right Agency for Care

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In this insightful interview, Annie Guest shares her journey through caregiving, the importance of radical acceptance, and how interior design can support mental health during challenging times. Discover practical tips for managing burnout, decluttering, and creating spaces that nurture the mind and body.

Annie Guest had a varied career in book publishing, advertising, and law, before she took another jump to work as a mental health therapist and publish her first book. In Design For Your Mind, Annie combines her passion for people and their potential with her love for interior design and her appreciation for the design choices that support the mind and body.

Visit https://www.annieguestdesignforyourmind.com/

Chapters

01:00 Navigating Caregiving Challenges
08:50 The Journey of House Redesign
15:11 Empowering Caregivers
24:00 Preventing Burnout in Caregiving

Resources

Design for Your Mind by Annie - https://www.amazon.com/Design-Your-Mind-Annie/dp/XXXXXX
VVA Pickup - Furniture Donation Service - https://vvapickup.org
Attention Restoration Theory - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_restoration_theory

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This episode covers recent advances in Alzheimer's research, including the potential link between shingles vaccination and dementia prevention, the biological shifts in aging, and promising biomarkers and treatments like lithium. Dr. Mia discusses how these findings could impact future therapies and personal health decisions.

Shingles Vaccine: The Wales/Australia Natural Experiment in Cell: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)01256-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867425012565%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

More Recent Article on Shingles Vaccine and Cardiovascular Risk: https://techfixated.com/shingles-vaccine-drastically-cuts-heart-risk-nearly-in-half-in-new-study/

Massive Biomolecular Shifts: Scientific article in Nature 2024: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00692-2

From ruins to research: How an ancient brain survived to help understand Alzheimer’s
https://www.nuscimagazine.com/from-ruins-to-research-how-an-ancient-brain-survived-to-help-understand-alzheimers
Ancient Brain, GFAP and NFL; The Scientific Paper on GFAP and NFL in blood: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41376134/

Lithium as an Alzheimer's Treatment: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/01/an-alzheimers-breakthrough-10-years-in-the-making/ (or the pretty pictures in this: https://hms.harvard.edu/news/could-lithium-explain-treat-alzheimers-disease)
The pilot study in humans: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2845746#250915094

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Alzheimer's Research News
03:34 The Shingles Vaccine and Dementia Prevention
06:03 Shingles Vaccine: Heart Health Benefits
10:43 Timing & Accelerated Aging
14:02 Ancient Brain Discoveries and Alzheimer's
19:33 Exploring Lithium for Alzheimer's Treatment

 
Alzheimer's, dementia, shingles vaccine, biomarkers, lithium, aging, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's research, health tips

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In this insightful interview, Sue Lloyd-Davies discusses her book Pinkie’s Turnabout (Fitzroy, February 2026), inspired by her own experiences caring for a loved one with dementia and her work with children in caregiving situations. The conversation explores the emotional journey of caregiving, the importance of understanding dementia, and how families can foster open conversations about these challenges.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Pinky's Turnabout
00:54 Inspiration Behind the Book
03:20 Challenges of Caregiving
06:41 Advice for Young Caregivers
09:34 Navigating Grief and Emotions
12:58 The Role of Pets in Caregiving
15:36 Using the Book for Family Conversations

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sue Lloyd-Davies lives and writes in an old cottage in quirky Gulfport, Florida, where fuzzy cat, Arlo, loafs beside her keyboard and occasionally types an extra space or two into her stories. Caring for her mother, whose life — filled with friends, quilting and church — drifted into dementia, inspired her novel about Pinkie. 

When she’s not writing, Sue can be found under the oaks handing out hazelnuts to rescue squirrel Owen or careening around the community center in a line dance. Visit her at Suelloyddavies.com, where you can purchase a copy of the book (available wherever books are sold). 

PRAISE FOR PINKIE’S TURNABOUT

“Drawing on personal experience, Lloyd-Davies confronts the hardships of caring for a loved one with dementia in this brutally tender debut. It’s a surprise-packed narrative that counterbalances nuanced examinations of complicated relationships and hard-earned life lessons against Jack’s delightfully snarky quips.” Ages 9–12. (Feb.)
—Publishers Weekly – STARRED Review

“Pinkie’s Turnabout is a layered story and an appealing pick for middle grade readers. An entertaining, heartfelt story and a great pick for classroom reading and discussion, all ages will find value in its themes of love and forgiveness, becoming self-aware, not judging by appearance, and the unmasking of subtle prejudices that often go unrecognized. Conflicts and troubles abound for Pinkie at every turn, but love and forgiveness win out in the end in a way that will make your heart grow three sizes. Never preachy, never didactic, the story shows through action and event how to be a better person.”
―Clara Gillow Clark, writing coach and award-winning author of Hill Hawk Hattie and Hattie on Her Way

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In this heartfelt interview, Karen McGovern shares her personal and professional journey caring for loved ones at the end of life, highlighting the importance of compassion, preparation, and presence. Discover insights into end-of-life care, the role of doulas, and how to navigate grief and caregiving with grace.

About Karon Keller McGovern

Karon is a Certified End of Life Doula, Reiki Master and Reverend. Her business Loving Embrace – Transition Service Guiding the Client
and Family through the final Transition after Karon saw a real need to change how end-of-life patients were not receiving the best care with our medical system. 

Contact her by: [email protected] or 214-930-1195. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to End-of-Life Care
05:21 Navigating Dementia and Family Dynamics
10:50 Becoming an End-of-Life Doula

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Dr. Mia explores the groundbreaking Finger Study, a global research project on brain health and Alzheimer's prevention, and the US version, called POINTER study. Discover why lifestyle changes like exercise, diet, and cognitive activities can significantly improve brain resilience and delay cognitive decline.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Pointer Study
02:44 Understanding the US Pointer Recipe
05:28 The Role of Exercise in Brain Health
08:16 Dietary Impacts on Cognitive Function
10:57 Gut-Brain Connection and Its Implications
14:01 Cognitive Exercises and Health Monitoring
15:51 Empowerment Through Lifestyle Changes

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Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
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In this conversation, Dr. Mia and Dr. Catherine Madison discuss the complexities of caregiving for individuals with dementia, drawing from personal experiences and professional insights. They explore the importance of understanding advanced care planning, and the vulnerability of dementia patients to health challenges. The discussion also covers legal considerations for caregivers, tools for initiating end-of-life conversations, and lifestyle changes that can enhance brain health. Dr. Madison emphasizes the need for open dialogue about death and dying, as well as the significance of research in improving dementia care.

Dr. Catherine Madison, a board-certified neurologist and author of Navigating Memory Loss: Essential Questions and Answers on Alzheimer’s and Dementia. With over 40 years of experience in clinical neurology, Dr. Madison has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families understand, manage, and live well with cognitive decline.

As the founding medical director of the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center in San Francisco, she developed a groundbreaking model of care that supports both patients and their loved ones, a holistic approach that has since influenced dementia programs nationwide. She continues this work through her private practice and her role with Jewish Family and Children’s Services (seniors at home), where she educates families on brain health, cognitive aging, and care planning.

Dr. Madison is known for blending clinical expertise with a deeply human touch. Her new book translates the most current research on Alzheimer’s and dementia into clear, compassionate answers for those facing these conditions. She’s an engaging and empathetic guest who can speak on:

• How to recognize the earliest signs of memory loss—and what to do next
• The latest science on Alzheimer’s and other dementias
• How families can plan for care, maintain connection, and protect quality of life
• Practical steps for supporting brain health as we age

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4h7UbN5

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4of9qGv

Book: navigating memory loss

https://codaalliance.org/go-wish/#faqs

https://seniorsathome.jfcs.org/

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Memory Loss: Introduction to Dementia Care
02:31 Personal Journey: The Impact of Caregiving
05:16 Understanding Anosognosia: Awareness in Dementia
08:08 Advanced Care Planning: Preparing for the Future
10:55 The Vulnerability of Dementia: Health Challenges
13:43 Legal Considerations: Directives and Estate Planning
16:22 Conversations About End-of-Life: Tools and Techniques
19:07 Lifestyle Changes: Enhancing Brain Health
21:19 Research Insights: The Future of Dementia Care

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Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
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Ever wonder why the news reports on Alzheimer's causes are so confusing and what's the fuss about these amyloid plaques?

This conversation delves into the evolving understanding of Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the shift from traditional diagnosis of exclusion to new definition by underlying pathology. 

Dr. Mia explains the differences between Alzheimer's disease and dementia, the role of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, and the complexities of diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's in the context of vascular dementia.

This episode contains visuals, which could be followed along by YouTube video. 

Alzheimer's disease, dementia, amyloid plaques, tau tangles, cognitive impairment, vascular dementia, diagnosis, treatment, brain health, memory loss

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In this conversation, Alex Drane and Dr. Mia discuss the challenges and realities of unpaid caregiving, emphasizing the importance of self-identification, data, and community support. They explore how caregivers often overlook their own needs while focusing on those they care for, and the necessity of finding respite and grace in their roles. The discussion also touches on the impact of caregiving on mental health, especially during stressful times like the holidays, and the need for a supportive community to help caregivers navigate their responsibilities.

Archangels website: https://www.archangels.me/

Intensity score quiz: https://www.archangels-cii.me/get-started/?utm_source=aacaregiverpage&utm_medium=weblink&utm_campaign=general

About Alexandra Drane

Alexandra is co-founder and CEO of ARCHANGELS — a women-owned, public benefit corporation and omni-channel platform shamelessly hustling to make change happen for the 43% of adults across our nation serving as unpaid caregivers. ARCHANGELS engages and supports caregivers across all 50 states through partnerships with employers, consumer brands, health-plans/systems, communities, and states.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Archangels and Caregiving

02:58
Understanding the Caregiver's Role and Identity

05:44
The Power of Data and Storytelling in Caregiving

08:28
Navigating Intensity and Self-Care as a Caregiver

11:38
The Importance of Respite and Support

14:23
Finding Grace and Permission to Care for Yourself

17:09
Community and Connection Among Caregivers

19:56
The Impact of Holidays on Caregivers

23:08
The Future of Caregiving and Advocacy

26:02
Closing Thoughts and Encouragement for Caregivers

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In this episode, Dr. Mia talks about the common questions that come up in memory clinic such as: 

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer's Basics
02:54 Differentiating Between Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Dementia
06:19 Exploring Types of Dementia
11:01 Stages of Dementia Explained

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.