Ask Dr. Mia: Navigating Dementia Caregiving

Dr. Mia opens up about her personal experience with her mother's ovarian cancer diagnosis and the grief she is going through. She discusses the initial diagnosis, the challenges of treatment, and the emotions she has been experiencing, including anger, helplessness, guilt, and grief. Dr. Mia shares her strategies for processing grief, such as self-coaching, journaling, exercise, meditation, and finding moments of joy. She emphasizes that there is no right way to grieve and that everyone's journey is unique.

Keywords

grief, ovarian cancer, diagnosis, treatment, emotions, anger, helplessness, guilt, strategies, processing grief, self-coaching, journaling, exercise, meditation, moments of joy

Takeaways

• Grief is a common and uncomfortable emotion that everyone experiences differently.
• There is no right way to grieve, and it's important to give yourself permission to feel and process your emotions.
• Strategies for processing grief include self-coaching, journaling, exercise, meditation, and finding moments of joy.
• It's important to distinguish between real guilt and fake guilt and make decisions based on your values and what is best for you.
• Grief is a lifelong process, and it's normal to have waves of intense emotions even after the initial loss.
• Finding ways to connect with your loved one's memory can bring comfort and solace during the grieving process.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

04:20
The Uncomfortable Topic of Grief

13:40
Navigating Feelings of Helplessness and Guilt

28:07
Finding Moments of Joy in Grief

31:07
Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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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. 

In this episode, Dr. Mia interviews David McLawhorn, a grief counselor, about his work and the topic of grief. David shares his personal journey into grief counseling and discusses the differences between grief and depression. He also explains the phases of grief and the challenges of anticipatory grief and ambiguous loss. David provides insights into how grief counselors can support individuals who are grieving and recommends resources for further reading. The conversation emphasizes the importance of being present, listening, and practicing self-care when supporting someone who is grieving.

Keywords
grief, grief counseling, loss, depression, phases of grief, anticipatory grief, ambiguous loss, grief support, companioning, self-care

Takeaways

• Grief work often chooses the individual, as many people involved in grief counseling have been personally affected by loss.
• Grief and depression have similarities, but grief is a normal and necessary response to loss, while clinical depression can block the healing process.
• Grief is not a linear process and can involve a range of emotions and grief bursts that come in waves.
• Anticipatory grief occurs when individuals grieve the losses they have experienced and the losses they know will come, such as in cases of cancer or dementia.
• Grief counselors provide support by companioning individuals, being present, listening, and avoiding platitudes or trying to fix the grief.
• Self-care is essential for any helping professional to prevent burnout and maintain their ability to support others.
• Recommended resources for understanding and navigating grief include books by Dr. Alan Wolfelt, Claire Bidwell Smith, David Kessler, and Megan Devine.

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. 

Summary

Dr. Mia interviews Dr. Monique Nugent about her book 'Prescription for Admission' and discusses various topics related to navigating the healthcare system and hospital stays. They cover the inspiration behind the book, common questions and quick guides for patients, understanding inpatient medicine, options for discharge, safety and goals of care, improving communication with the inpatient team, transitioning to post-acute care, choosing the right rehab facility, and mental health tips. The conversation provides valuable insights and practical advice for patients and their loved ones.

Takeaways

• Take an active role in your healthcare and participate in your hospitalization.
• Understand the options for discharge and consider post-acute care settings.
• Improve communication with the inpatient team by requesting a family meeting.
• Choose the right rehab facility by visiting and considering your goals and needs.
• Practice mental health tips, such as square breathing, to reduce anxiety.

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. 

In the final episode of season three, Dr. Mia reflects on her love for working with people living with dementia and their caregivers. She shares the inspiring story of a couple, Bill and Pat, who exemplify the extraordinary daily acts of caregiving. Dr. Mia discusses the importance of acknowledging, validating, and redirecting communication strategies for dementia care. She also explores the complex emotions and grief that caregivers experience and emphasizes the need for self-compassion and mental health support. Dr. Mia concludes the episode by expressing her gratitude to the listeners and announcing an extended break before the start of season four in April 2024.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Podcast Statistics

01:28
Why I Love Working with People Living with Dementia

02:27
Inspiration from a Couple's Story

03:26
Honoring the Extraordinary-ness of Caregiving

04:26
The Love and Care Provided by Bill

05:21
Moments of Clarity in Pat's Decline

06:20
Bill's Continued Connection with Pat

06:50
Bill's Experience Shared with Medical Students

07:19
The Power of Caring

08:19
The Poem 'Do Not Ask Me to Remember'

09:35
Communication Strategies for Dementia Care

10:35
AVR: Acknowledge, Validate, Redirect

12:58
Holding Space and Staying Grounded in Caregiving

14:13
Processing Grief in Caregiving

15:10
Grief in Anticipation of Loss

16:07
The Complicated Relationship with a Loved One

17:35
Grief in Moments of Crisis

18:36
The Interplay of Parkinson's Disease and Cancer

21:35
The Work of Grief and Soul-Making

24:31
The Importance of Feeling and Holding Space

27:25
Taking an Extended Break and Gratitude

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. 

In this episode, Dr. Mia interviews Jeff Bloomfield, an estate planning lawyer from Carolina Estate Planning, to discuss the importance of estate planning and related legal documents. They cover topics such as the difference between a trust and a will, the probate process, and the impact of Medicaid on long-term care services. They also address common issues with power of attorney and guardianship, and emphasize the importance of estate planning for everyone, regardless of their wealth. Jeff provides insights on finding a reputable lawyer and highlights the limitations of online estate planning programs. Overall, this conversation highlights the need for advanced planning and the benefits of consulting with a lawyer for personalized advice.

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. 

Dr. Mia talks with her colleague Dr. Tim Hughes, about vascular and metabolic conditions' contribution to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Timothy Hughes, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine. He is a neuroepidemiologist cross-trained in cardiovascular epidemiology and multimodal brain imaging. His research focuses on untangling the complex relationships between vascular and metabolic diseases' contributions on dementia.

Lancet commission report - https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(20)30367-6/fulltext

Summary of SPRINT MIND: https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/does-intensive-blood-pressure-control-reduce-dementia

MESA participant webpage: https://www.mesa-nhlbi.org/ParticipantWebsite/default.aspx

Alz Association’s Trial Match: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/clinical-trials/trialmatch

Research Match https://www.researchmatch.org/

If people want to participate in ACE study:  [email protected];  and https://www.acetrial.org/

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. 

Dr. Mia talks with Caroline Prioleau, writer for the Global Brain Health Institute at University of California San Francisco's Memory & Aging Center and co-lead of the Hear/Say oral history project that collects stories from people's experiences with dementia, aging, creativity and caregiving. We talked about a new documentary called Keys Bags Names Words - about hope in dementia.

Sign up for a virtual or in-person screening here. 

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. 

Dr. Mia talks with Dr. Ashley Sanderlin about how to advocate for yourself or your love ones within the healthcare system.

Ashley H. Sanderlin, PhD is a passionate researcher that investigates modifiable risk factors and early interventions for Alzheimer’s disease. She was the first African American to attain a PhD in Neuroscience from Michigan State University. As an Assistant Professor in Biology at NC A&T State University, Dr. Sanderlin serves as the site Principal Investigator of the North Carolina Brain Health Registry and lead faculty in the Center for Outreach in Alzheimer’s Aging and Community Health (COAACH), which is the nation’s most prominent outreach and education centers focused primarily on the impact of Alzheimer’s on African Americans and their caregivers.

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. 

Dr. Mia talks about the other main reason why people end up in nursing homes- "legs not working" aka falls, especially the factors that affect people's balance and what to do about each of the risk factors.

New format of episode with screen share, check out Dr. Mia's new YouTube Channel if you would prefer to follow along visually.

Medications that increase risk of falls
CDC's STEADI program on fall prevention
STEADI program's brochures specifically for patients & caregivers: home safety check list and chair rise exercise
MyMobility plan: plan ahead for mobility changes as we age

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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. 

In this episode of Ask Dr. Mia podcast, Dr. Mia talks to her colleague, neuropsychologist and memory researcher Dr. Bonnie Sachs. 

Dr. Bonnie Sachs is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in working with older adults with memory loss and other cognitive disorders. Her areas of focus, both clinically and in research, include mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and other forms of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Vascular dementia, and Lewy Body dementia. Dr. Sachs is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, and is also an Investigator with the Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC). Additionally, Dr. Sachs enjoys education training and she currently co-directs the Clinical Neuropsychology Fellowship Program at the Wake Forest School of Medicine.

Dr. Sachs talks about how she became interested in the field, the training for neuropsychologists, what they do, and when patients should see a neuropsychologist. 

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.