Have you ever wondered if the caregiving system could truly change—or if you’ll always be fighting the same battles alone?

In this solo episode of the Dancing With Dementia™ Podcast, host Kama, a Board-Certified Nurse Coach, Fierce Caregiver Advocate, and Young Caregiver Daughter for her Mother, shares powerful updates, real-world solutions, and advocacy strategies that prove change is possible.

As a promised follow-up from episodes in early June, this episode is about the solutions curated from the common systemic eldercare challenges experienced earlier this year. 

Kama reveals how leadership shifts transformed the atmosphere at her mom’s care home, why building a multidisciplinary team (PT, OT, Speech, Palliative, and Community) changed everything, and how family collaboration among residents’ loved ones created momentum for positive change. She also spotlights Synapticure, an innovative resource for families facing neurodegenerative conditions, providing access to specialized neurologists, case managers, therapy referrals, and support—even in rural or homebound situations.

Whether your loved one is at home or in a facility, this episode equips you with practical tools, inspiring stories, and reminders that you are never truly alone.

Together, caregivers can turn wounds into solutions, build synergy, and rise stronger!

✨ Episode Takeaways✨ 

• Leadership changes can completely shift the quality of care in eldercare facilities.
• Advocacy becomes more effective with the right team beside you.
• Professionals can only help if you share the whole story.
• Family collaboration breaks isolation and sparks systemic change.
• Synapticure is a game-changer for caregivers of loved ones with neurodegenerative conditions.
• The right team creates synergy, turning problems into solutions.
• Caregivers Rising™ is more than a program—it’s a movement to help caregivers thrive.

✨ ✨ ✨ Ready to rise and shine as a caregiver?✨ ✨ ✨ 

✨ ✨ ✨ Join the Caregivers Rising™ Movement✨ ✨ ✨ 

✨ ✨ ✨ https://www.synergyrising.life/caregivers ✨ ✨ ✨  

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...

What happens when you finally get a break — only to return to medication errors, system failures, and emotional whiplash? 

In Part 3 of my raw, unfiltered conversation with Valarie Varan, we talk sibling dynamics, facility frustrations, and the boundaries that keep caregivers from burning out. If you’ve ever felt like no one “gets it,” this episode will remind you that you are not alone — and that your voice, your well-being, and your boundaries matter. 

Welcome, beautiful souls, to another heart-expanding conversation on the Dancing With Dementia™ Podcast! I’m your host, Kama: nurse, caregiver, coach, and fierce advocate for bringing more light, love, and levity to the caregiving journey.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or worn down by the demands of caregiving, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone, your truth matters, and your well-being is essential.

🎧 ⚠️ Language Disclaimer: This episode contains strong language. If you’re sensitive to explicit words, this one may not be for you — but we have MANY other uplifting episodes in our library you’ll love! And if you have little ears around, now’s the time to grab your earbuds. ⚠️🎧

✨ You’ll learn:

• Why asking for help is self-responsibility — not “playing the victim”
  
  
• How to set boundaries that make space for real rest and recovery
  
  
• The critical importance of medication safety and advocacy in dementia care
  
  
• The very real physical and neurological toll chronic caregiving stress takes
  
  
• How to recharge fully by securing trusted backup care
  
  
• Why caregiver community is as essential as medical care

🌟Caregivers Rising™ Program – Join the Movement!🌟

🔗 Join us today at synergyrising.life/caregivers and be part of a movement that understands your challenges, celebrates your wins, and walks beside you every step of the way.🔗

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your personal care or the care of your loved one.

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...

Are you feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or completely lost in your caregiving role? This episode is your soulful lifeline.

In Part 2 of our powerful 3-part series, Licensed Professional Counselor, Holistic Life Coach, and Author, Valarie Varan explores caregiver burnout, connection, and how to find your way back to your true self—even in the depths of exhaustion.

We talk about the Dark Night of the Soul, emotional overwhelm, rage, grief, and the subtle but powerful process of connecting with your inner light. If you’re navigating the emotional and spiritual toll of caregiving, this episode will bring you grounding, insight, and practical steps for renewal.

Whether you’re a dementia caregiver or some other caregiver, a young caregiver, a long-distance caregiver—or supporting someone who is a caregiver—this conversation is a beacon of hope, healing, and light.

In this Episode:

1. Soul reconnection starts with your body.
2. The Dark Night of the Soul is an upgrade, not a breakdown.
3. Emotions are temporary storms, not your identity.
4. You need more than grit—you need a toolkit and a team.
5. Gratitude helps you come home to yourself
6. Why disintegration happens even when we love deeply
7. Reframing depression, rage, and soul loss in caregiving
8. Grounding visualization to reconnect with your highest self
9. How nature, gratitude, and energy alignment can restore you
10. Valarie’s story of resisting her calling—and what happened next

✨ The Caregivers Rising™ Course is your next step.✨

✨Designed for caregivers who are ready to RISE, whether caring for a parent, partner, or loved one, we blend science-backed tools with soulful practices to help you thrive!✨ ✨Join the our email list at SynergyRising.Life to be notified when the Priority List opens!✨✨

💖Valarie Varan’s work: www.ValarieVaran.com

📘 Grab Valarie’s book: Living in a Quantum Reality

📲 Share this episode with a friend, a caregiver, or someone you love.

 🌀 Repost to your IG stories and tag us @dancewithdementia

 🌞 And most importantly, remember—you are never alone!🌞

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...

What if your burnout wasn’t “just stress,” but a sign your energy field is out of alignment? What if your intuition during caregiving isn’t random—but real, measurable, and rooted in quantum science?

In this powerful episode, Kama sits down with Valarie Varan, licensed professional counselor, holistic life coach, energy healer, and author of Living in a Quantum Reality, to explore how caregiving and consciousness collide.

We dive into:

✨ Why so many caregivers are energetically sensitive
✨ How quantum physics explains “gut feelings,” synchronicity, and non-local intuition
✨ The science of energy fields, coherence, and burnout
✨ The invisible impact of caregiving in care homes, hospitals, and chaotic environments
✨ Valarie’s lived experience as a caregiver for her mother—and the toll it took on her body, mind, and soul
✨ Tools to reclaim your energy, protect your peace, and reconnect with your soul’s alignment

Whether you’re caregiving at home or advocating from afar, this episode offers grounded insight and spiritual validation. It’s science and soul.

📘 Grab Valarie’s book: Living in a Quantum Reality
🌀 Join the Caregivers Rising™ waitlist at SynergyRising.Life
💌 Subscribe to the show for more deep dives into the art—and heart—of caregiving.

Disclaimer: This episode offers spiritual and energetic insights and is not a substitute for medical advice. At Dancing With Dementia, we honor a wide range of belief systems and healing modalities. If this isn’t your vibe, check out one of our other episodes— You be you, boo! There’s something for everyone here. 💖

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...

Hey hey, beautiful souls!

Are you, or someone you know impacted by things gone awry in a care home or assisted living setting?

In today’s heartfelt episode, I’m sharing a powerful, personal story about my experience as a caregiver for my beautiful Mama —and using it to spotlight a widespread issue in eldercare: the caregiver turnover crisis and its real impact on our loved ones.

This episode is for family caregivers, dementia advocates, care home employees, and anyone navigating the complex world of assisted living, memory care, or aging parent support. I walk you through lived examples of being a family advocate on the receiving end of the wounded eldercare system and how it reflects a larger pattern I hear from families and caregivers around the country.

You’ll hear:

• Why caregiver burnout and high staff turnover are signs of deeper systemic problems
• The must-ask questions when choosing an assisted living or care home
• How to advocate when something feels “off” with your loved one
• Why leadership training and staff caregiver SUPPORT must be a priority in care homes
• How in-person support can make a huge difference in our loved ones’ health and joy

This is not about placing blame...  

✨💛 ✨It’s about shining a light on eldercare reform, sharing my story as an example, and offering soul-fueled, research-backed ways to do better—for caregivers, for residents, and for the families who love them.✨💛 ✨

This is the first in a series of episodes that will bring practical tools, caregiver education, emotional support, and advocacy strategies to the forefront.

✨💛 ✨ If you are a caregiver or concerned family member, you are not alone—and your voice matters!!!  ✨💛 ✨

✨💛 ✨It is time we rise, and it is time we RISE TOGETHER! ✨💛✨

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...

Welcome back, beautiful souls. This is Part 2 of our heartfelt and inspiring conversation with Jane Wolf Frances, psychotherapist, author of “Parenting Our Parents: Transforming the Challenge Into a Journey of Love,” and creator of the global POP Coaching Program. 

In this episode, we go deeper into family dynamics, and how to co-create your caregiving dream team, no matter how complicated things feel right now. We talk about spousal caregivers, long-distance support, and why finding your strengths (and your people!) can change the whole journey. Plus: how music and forgiveness can become soul-level medicine—for your loved one and for you.

This is a masterclass in intentional caregiving, family healing, and finding peace in the mess!

This one’s for every caregiver, and every soul supporting a caregiver.

In this episode we chat:

• How to build your POP Team & assign roles based on natural strengths
  
  
• When it’s time for each team member to ask: “How would I like this to go?”
  
  
• The power of forgiveness as freedom
  
  
• Music is medicine! Why music awakens memory—even in advanced dementia
  
  
• How to move from sacrifice to choice with the words: “I choose to…”
  
  
• And ways that might help to get your family on the same page, even when it feels impossible

📘 Grab Jane’s book on Amazon:
 Parenting Our Parents: Transforming the Challenge Into a Journey of Love

🔗 Learn more about Jane’s POP Coaching program at:
 www.parentingourparents.org

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...

Are you caring for an aging parent while navigating sibling tension, family drama, or emotional burnout? You’re not alone! In this powerful first episode of a two-part series, Kama sits down with psychotherapist, author, and former attorney Jane Wolf Frances—creator of the POP (Parenting Our Parents) Coaching Program and author of Parenting Our Parents: Transforming the Challenge into a Journey of Love.

Together, they explore:

• The power of embracing career transitions for a better CG experience
  
  
• The common topic of sibling disagreements in caregiving
  
  
• Why “safe” support is essential for young and midlife caregivers
  
  
• How to shift from reactivity to responsive caregiving
  
  
• The critical role of forgiveness and the power of breathwork in caregiver calm

There is an epidemic in the US: the exponentially expanding number of young caregivers… Jane, like me, is on a mission to bring more love, and even healing, to the Caregiver Dance! 

Whether you're a caregiver in your 20's, 30s, 40s, or beyond, this episode offers powerful tools and reflections for transforming family caregiving challenges into opportunities for growth, connection, and grace.

🔗 Learn more about Jane’s work at: parentingourparents.org

🔗Purchase Jane's book wherever you buy your books: "Parenting Our Parents: Transforming the Challenge into a Journey of Love."

Keywords: young caregiver, caregiver family conflict, sibling caregiving support, dementia caregiver podcast, Parenting Our Parents book, caregiving and career change, responsive caregiving tips, caregiving support group, how to care for parents with dementia

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...

Hey hey, beautiful caregiver souls!

Did you know your muscles are glucose sponges and movement is one of the most joyful ways to support your brain? In this high-energy finale to our 3-part series with Rachel Daugherty, we dive into the power of movement, protein, sugar awareness, and self-love as tools for long-term brain health.

If you're a caregiver, a cycle-breaker, or a vibrant being craving sustainable, soul-aligned wellness that supports your whole self—this episode is your reminder that tiny changes can spark massive transformation.

 IN THIS EPISODE, WE DANCE THROUGH:

 💪  Why your muscles are your brain’s BFF—and how even 10 squats can help regulate blood sugar.
 🌈  The joyful magic of “fitness all the time” (yep, vacuuming in your underwear counts!).
 ☕  Why you might want to delay coffee until after breakfast—and how that supports cortisol balance.
 🥚  Why Rachel eats 30–40g of protein every morning—and how that fuels her body and brain.
🍒 How to gently reduce sugar without shame (ever tied frozen cherries?).
💖 Per Rachel D, "The wake-up can come from fear, but the action comes from love!"

PLUS: 

🧠  Easy movement tips, kitchen hacks, songs that shift the vibe (hello, Glenn Miller & Glass Animals!), and how to celebrate your wins without perfectionism.

🎧 Whether you're squatting after dinner, stirring eggs before coffee, or dancing it out in your bathroom—this episode will light up your day and empower your brain for the long run.

JOIN RACHEL’S NEXT ROUND:

 ✨🧠 From Stuck to Strong: The Metabolic Rebuild for Brain & Body is open for waitlist registration!✨🧠
💥  28 days of sustainable, science-backed, joy-filled transformation
💥  Sign up or learn more: bootyandbrains.co or @bootyandbrains.co

UNTIL NEXT TIME:

 ✨Move your body with love, feed your future self, protect your brain with joy, and keep dancing, caregivers—the world needs your special light!✨

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...

What if I told you that Cognitive Decline isn’t just about genetics?  Did you know it’s about today’s habits, your beautiful body, and even your sleep and stress levels? 

In Part 2 of my radiant conversation with Rachel from @bootyandbrains.co, we’re digging into: 

👉 Why Alzheimer’s prevention starts DECADES before symptoms

👉 Why blood sugar regulation = energy, clarity, and joy

👉 How understanding your physiology gives you POWER (not pressure) 

👉 How it’s never too late to reclaim your vitality and future!

👉 Why daily habits + metabolic health deeply impact your brain

👉 How rest, play, and nervous system love are powerful brain protectors ✨

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of "brain health," this is your sign:
You don’t have to do it all at once. You just have to love yourself enough to begin!

Rachel was a young Caregiver for her mother and is now a fierce advocate for helping ALL caregivers, especially sones & daughters who care for a parent with dementia, to have the best, brightest, beautiful brains for LIFE!  She is energetic.  She is knowledgeable.  AND SHE IS HERE TO HELP YOU SAVE YOUR BRAIN!

We left off the first episode talking about how a parent with Alzheimer's  does not mean ALZ for YOU!!!!  Sit back, relax, grab some tea, or head out for a soulful walk to infuse your mind, body, and spirit!  We hope you enjoy today’s chat!

Now, let's DANCE!

🧠✨JOIN RACHEL DAUGHERTY FOR MORE!✨🧠
 👉 From Stuck to Strong: The Metabolic Rebuild for Brain & Body is happening now!  Join the waitlist @:
 ➡️ Learn more at bootyandbrains.co or on IG @bootyandbrains.co

~UNTIL NEXT WEEK~
💖 Be kind to your past self.
🧠 Toast your future self.
💃🏻 And keep dancing with all the light & love you've got!

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...

Hey hey, beautiful caregiver souls! 

Did you know research shows that the effects of dementia can begin in the brain 20+ years before symptoms appear? Today’s guest is about to light up your mind, your heart, and your soul!

Meet Rachel Daugherty from Booty & Brains—a vibrant, radiant voice in the wellness world who turned her mother’s Alzheimer's diagnosis into a mission for brain-first, soul-aligned living. In this powerful kickoff to our 3-part series, Rachel shares how caregiving cracked her open, changed her life, and taught her the deep connection between metabolic health and the mind.

🧠✨WE TALK:✨🧠

• Preventative self-care is a love letter to your future self. What you do now matters!
• Alzheimer’s isn’t all genetics—it’s metabolic too. Lifestyle, stress, and daily choices play a huge role. The cascade can start decades before symptoms.
• Reparenting while caregiving is real—and it's powerful. Kama shares how caring for her mom gave her the chance to reparent the self.
• Laughter, levity, and weirdness are medicine. Rachel brings science with sparkle and proves self-love can be fun, weird, and wildly effective.
• Young caregivers and feeling “too young” for the weight of it all.
• Why squats, self-love lemonade, and Michelle Obama arms matter.
• How our future self is always watching, cheering, and waiting!

This is a story of resilience, realness, and radiant transformation. Thank you for dancing with us today!

🧠✨JOIN RACHEL for MORE!✨🧠

• From Stuck to Strong: The Metabolic Rebuild for Brain & Body is open for registration!
• Learn how to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s while creating sustainable  practices that transform your body and brain.
• Class begins April 27th — and if you’re listening after that, don’t worry! Doors stay open just a little longer.

🧠 Register at bootyandbrains.co or  @bootyandbrains.co on Instagram🧠

Until Part 2:

 💖 Be kind to your past self.💖
 🥂 Toast your future self. 🥂
 💃🏻 And keep dancing with all the light & love you’ve got.💃🏻

💖SHARE THE LOVE!💖 If DWD touches your heart, please share it with another caregiver! And subscribe, rate, and review to help others find this community of light, love, and advocacy.

💃🏻Have topic requests, want to nominate a guest, or book a 1:1 consultation with me? Connect with us at SynergyRising.Life!/podcast💃🏻

🎧 Available on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Podcasts 🎧

✨ Facebook:Dancing With Dementia

✨ Website: www.SynergyRising.Life

✨ Instagram:DanceWithDementia

💃🏻✨💃🏻 Special Announcement:💃🏻✨💃🏻

Caregivers Rising—The Program for Caregivers who want to THRIVE, not just survive is going LIVE! Join us at Synergy...