Dr. Lakelyn is joined live in the Caregiver Chats studio by a panel of three dementia care experts: Michelle Magner, Carrie Aalberts (aka Dementia Darling), and Aaron Fish. Together, provide practical tips to help family caregivers create more comfortable family gatherings, as well as tips for caregiver self-care, meal options, and more.

Episode highlights include:

• Deconstructing the misconception that dementia is only memory loss

• Evaluating everyday home environments, including monitoring tech, mirrors, and photos in the home

• Creative hydration solutions and "stealth health" tips to alleviate mealtime struggles

• Navigating family dynamics, managing sibling support, and making specific, strength-based requests for help

• Proactively introducing professional home care to prevent crisis and caregiver burnout

• Setting realistic expectations and safety nets for summer barbecues and family gatherings

Helpful links from the episode:

• Inspired Caring Virtual Caregiver Support: https://michelemagner.com/

• Dementia Darling Education & Resources: instagram.com/dementiadarling

• Trestle Hospitality Senior Living Concepts: https://trestlehospitalityconcepts.com/

• Free Resource: Carrie’s Family and Friends Visiting Tips PDF

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

• Instagram: @caregiverchatspodcast @homeinsteadinc

• Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

• YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

• TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Sam and Susan Simon for an inspiring conversation about what it means to live well after a dementia diagnosis. Together, they share how purpose, creativity, advocacy, and connection continue to shape their lives and relationship as they navigate dementia as a couple.

Years before Sam’s own diagnosis with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, he cared for Susan through Stage 3 breast cancer. Now, their roles are evolving as Susan supports Sam while they proactively plan for the future together.

Sam also discusses how he transformed his experience into his one-man play, Dementia Man, An Existential Journey, using storytelling and advocacy to help others better understand life after diagnosis and hold on to a sense of identity and purpose.

Episode highlights include:

-Experiencing caregiving from both sides

-Living well after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis

-Finding purpose through advocacy, creativity, and storytelling

-Supporting independence while navigating dementia together

-Planning proactively for the future with hope and intention

Helpful links from the episode:

-Dementia Man: An Existential Journey: Choosing Life and Finding Meaning with Alzheimer’s: dementiaman.com

-Washington Post article: “In a one-man play, an 80-year-old chronicles his own dementia”

-Facebook: facebook.com/dementiaman

-Instagram: @thedementiaman

-YouTube: youtube.com/@dementiaman_

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @caregiverchatspodcast @homeinsteadinc

Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Jean Hartnett, a healthcare leader and trauma-informed care advocate, for a powerful conversation about the hidden ways trauma—both past and present—can show up in caregiving.

With more than 30 years of experience in senior care, Jean shares insights shaped by her work across the field and through her organization, Radical Sabbatical, where she helps individuals and communities understand and heal from trauma.

In this episode, Jean explores how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and unresolved trauma can influence caregiving, relationships, and stress responses. She also offers practical strategies to recognize triggers and shift from “What’s wrong?” to “What happened?”

Episode highlights include:

-Why trauma is more common in older adults than many realize

-How trauma can show up in caregiving behaviors and responses

-Shifting from “What’s wrong?” to “What happened?”

-The impact of losing coping mechanisms in aging and care transitions

-How caregiving can trigger emotional responses in the caregiver

-Practical ways to bring a trauma-informed approach into daily care

Helpful links from the episode:

-Radical Sabbatical: www.radicalsabbaticalcare.com

-Workbook: The Road to Resiliency: A Pathway to the Life You Want to Live

Available at: https://www.radicalsabbaticalcare.com/category/all-products

Use code MESEARCH for a free download through June 15, 2026

-LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jean-hartnett

-Instagram: @jeanhartnettspeaks

-To connect directly with Jean and access additional resources, email [email protected] to request:

1. Understanding Trauma & Building Resilience – A healing-centered resource guide with tools to begin learning about trauma

2. The Resilient Mind Collective – A year-long book club project featuring curated recommendations on trauma and healing

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @caregiverchatspodcast @homeinsteadinc

Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

Dr. Lakelyn sits down with fellow gerontologist, licensed clinical social worker, and dementia educator Ashley Stevens for an honest conversation about what caregivers truly need beyond traditional self-care advice. With 16 years of professional experience and a personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease, Ashley brings both expertise and lived insight to the discussion. Together, they unpack the emotional weight of being the sibling who stepped up, the importance of setting healthy boundaries, and the complex dynamics that often surface within families. Ashley also shares tangible, real-world resources, including national and local support programs, and reflects on the meaningful dialogue she is fostering through her Dementia Guru Instagram community.

Episode highlights include:

-Why self-care without structural support is not sustainable 

-How boundaries protect both the caregiver and the relationship

-The emotional complexity of sibling dynamics

-When you are the only one who stepped up and how to come to terms with it

-Federal and local caregiver supports and resources

Helpful links from the episode:

- Learn more about in-home care: HomeInstead.com

-Ashley Stevens on Instagram @thedementiaguru 

-Ashley Stevens’ website: thedementiaguru.com

-Medicare GUIDE Model for dementia care

-Your local Area Agency on Aging

-National Family Caregiver Support Program

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

Instagram: @homeinsteadinc

YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by retired nurse and stroke caregiver Lana Wilhelm for a deeply personal and practical conversation about what happens after a stroke. In 2021, Lana’s husband Rick suffered a severe stroke, and overnight she transitioned from bedside nurse to full-time caregiver.

Drawing from both her professional background and lived experience, Lana shares the emotional realities of stroke caregiving, including navigating uncertainty, managing behavioral changes, coping with guilt, and finding support when the initial wave of help fades. She also discusses the unique aspects of stroke recovery, why caregiver support directly impacts patient outcomes, and how she is working to build community through Stroke Caregiver Connection and her two books.

Episode highlights include:

-From nurse to caregiver, one family’s overnight transition

-Finding steadiness in the “wait and see” journey of stroke recovery

-Feeling grateful and overwhelmed at the same time

-Why supporting caregivers is essential, not optional

-Creating community so no stroke caregiver feels alone

Helpful links from the episode:

-Stroke Caregiver Connection: www.strokecaregiverconnection.com

-Book: Stroke and the Spouse: A Guide for the Survivor's Care Partner by Lana Wilhelm

-Book: Stroke and the Caregiver: The Definitive Caregiver Guide by Lana Wilhelm 

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

Instagram: @homeinsteadinc

YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by occupational therapist Lindsay DeLong, founder of EquipMeOT, for a conversation about supporting personal care routines as we age. Together they discuss how everyday activities like grooming, bathing, and getting ready for the day are closely tied to dignity, identity, and emotional well being.

Lindsay shares how common physical changes can make these routines more challenging and offers practical strategies for caregivers to support loved ones while still encouraging independence. She also highlights adaptive tools that can make personal care tasks easier and explains how small modifications can help older adults continue the routines that help them feel like themselves.

Episode highlights include:

-Why personal care routines matter for dignity and identity

-Common challenges older adults face with grooming and hygiene

-How caregivers can support independence safely

-Adaptive equipment for grooming, bathing, oral care, and beauty routines

-What to know before purchasing medical or adaptive equipment online

Helpful links from the episode:

-EquipMeOT website: equipmeot.com

-EquipMeOT YouTube channel: @EquipMeOT

-Instagram: @EquipMeOT

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

Instagram: @homeinsteadinc

YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

Dr. Lakelyn is joined once again by caregiving expert and author Dr. Aaron Blight, returning to Caregiver Chats after his first appearance in Episode #25, Reflecting on Your Caregiving Mindset. This time, the conversation explores the role of spirituality and faith in caregiving.

Caregiving often places people in some of the hardest moments of life, including times of decline, uncertainty, and end of life. For many, these moments naturally prompt deeper reflection, spirituality, or questions of faith. Together, Dr. Lakelyn and Dr. Blight discuss how spirituality can support caregivers across belief systems and how even small daily practices can help sustain the caregiver’s spirit.

Episode highlights include:

-Understanding why caregiving often awakens spiritual reflection

-Exploring three levels of faith that can support caregivers

-How spirituality shows up during end-of-life caregiving

-Simple daily practices that nourish the spirit

-The role of faith communities in practical and emotional support

Helpful links from the episode:

- caregivingkinetics.com

-Book: When Caregiving Calls: Guidance as You Care for a Parent, Spouse, or Aging Relative by Dr. Aaron Blight

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

Instagram: @homeinsteadinc

YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Nicole Smith—author, advocate, and dementia daughter—for a heartfelt conversation about caring for multiple parents living with dementia across different states during the pandemic. Nicole shares what it was like to navigate healthcare, legal, and financial systems while learning the language of caregiving in real time. Together, they discuss the importance of building a care team, the emotional realities of asking for help, and how Nicole transformed her experience into advocacy through her book Diagnosis Dementia and leading a Daughterhood Circle. This episode offers validation, perspective, and practical guidance for caregivers—especially those caring from a distance.

Episode highlights include:

-Caring for multiple loved ones with dementia across state lines

-Navigating the healthcare, legal, and financial complexities of caregiving

-Why building a care team matters—and why it’s so hard to ask for help

-Turning lived experience into advocacy through Diagnosis Dementia and Daughterhood Circles

-Practical insight and encouragement for long-distance caregivers

Helpful links from the episode:

Nicole’s website: www.njsmithbooks.com

Book: Diagnosis Dementia by Nicole Smith

Daughterhood Circles: daughterhood.org

Area Agencies on Aging: eldercare.acl.gov/home

Find Geriatric Care Managers - Aging Life Care Association (ALCA): aginglifecare.org

Steve Gurney: retirementlivingsourcebook.com

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

Instagram: @homeinsteadinc

YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by return guest April Ibarra, gerontologist and aging expert, for a thoughtful conversation on a topic that many families don’t know how to approach: what happens when an aging parent or loved one starts dating again.

From companionship and loneliness to online dating safety and changing family dynamics, this episode explores how caregivers and adult children can support their loved one’s emotional well-being while also addressing important concerns. With over 35 years of experience in senior care, April offers practical strategies, compassionate guidance, and empowering insights to help families navigate this delicate, yet joyful stage of life.

Episode highlights include:

- How to talk with aging loved ones about loneliness, companionship, and the desire for connection

- Supporting safe dating, both online and in-person

- Navigating emotions when a parent begins a new relationship

- Balancing respect for independence with family concerns

- Celebrating love, intimacy, and thriving in later life

Helpful links from the episode:

- www.aprilibarra.com

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

Instagram: @homeinsteadinc

YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

TikTok: @homeinstead.inc

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Sheri Biller, philanthropist, cancer caregiving advocate, and co-founder of the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. Sheri brings both personal experience and professional passion to the conversation as she shares how her foundation is changing the landscape of supportive care for serious illnesses, especially for cancer patients and their caregivers.

The Biller Family Foundation defines supportive cancer care as a whole-person approach that complements medical treatment by addressing the emotional, physical, and practical needs of people with cancer and their caregivers—from diagnosis through survivorship.

Dr. Lakelyn and Sheri will discuss what true supportive care means, the emotional and logistical toll of cancer caregiving, and how caregivers can find the resources and community they desperately need—but often don’t know that it is available or where to turn. 

Episode highlights include:

- Sheri Biller’s personal and professional caregiving journey

- What “supportive care” really means in the cancer world

- Addressing the deep emotional isolation many cancer caregivers feel

- Practical ways caregivers can access connection, resources, and relief

- Tips for navigating the intensity of caregiving for loved ones undergoing treatment

Helpful links from the episode:

www.acsresources.org

www.CancerCare.org 

www.cancersupportcommunity.org 

www.supportivecarecare.org 

www.alexslemonade.org 

To learn more about this podcast and to subscribe to our caregiving  newsletters, visit www.homeinstead.com/caregiverchats. Share your thoughts, experiences and ideas by emailing Dr. Lakelyn at [email protected].

Like, subscribe, rate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Follow us on social media:

Facebook: @homeinsteadinc

Instagram: @homeinsteadinc

YouTube: @homeinsteadinc

TikTok: @homeinstead.inc