Dementia Decoded

Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk is on the show to discuss overcoming medication-induced challenges. This challenge is one area of focus in her new book, Living In the Moment - Overcoming Challengees & Finding Moments of Joy.

In addition to learning how to overcome specific challenges, I also learned that there are only 3500 geriatricians in the country. Unfortunately, few geriatricians can be found in suburban and rural areas. Dr. Liz is trying to provide information and training to help alleviate this.

The focus of Liz's book is to help guide family caregivers to understand what doctors should be thinking, and looking for, medications that may work, others that may cause other problems, and more. Essentially, this book is "what to expect when you have dementia."

Most of us know that correctly treating pain can significantly reduce agitation. Did you know that older adults are at higher risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, edema, and kidney failure if their pain is treated with Motrin? However, Motrin is suggested regularly.

To get the most out of our doctor visits, explain what's been happening in the past week or so, what was happening when the symptoms started, what you have tried, and what has worked. Sometimes you need to find the right doctor for your needs.

This episode is chock full of great advice, tips, and chunks of knowledge that pair well with her book. If you only have time to read one book, this is one I highly recommend.

More About Dr. Liz here

here are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]

Victor Brown has created an app designed to make it easier to stay healthy. Victor started his professional career as an engineer and moved into the energy sector, where he thought he would retire. Like many of us, his father's diagnosis of type-2 diabetes has led to early-stage dementia and changed his plans.

Victor took his technological knowledge of preserving critical energy assets and applied it to protect the most vital asset, human life. XCxcellent Life app was born from this catalyst of passion.

Adding a visual component to a health-tracking app makes it easier for most of us to stick to healthy lifestyle changes. Promoting challenges where people can win cash prizes also helps motivate people to make better lifestyle decisions. That's the entire focus of Victor's app.

You'll want to hear this bonus episode to learn how to get in on the XCellent life challenge. The potential for cash and a healthier life is less than 40 minutes away.

here are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]

Joining me today is John Donboer, a clinical neuropsychologist specializing in geriatric neuropsychology. His professional focus is identifying and mitigating early-stage dementia. We had planned to discuss his SMART exercise program, but he's so passionate about preventing dementia we ended up discussing the general issue of dementia.

It's admirable to take your career in a non-traditional direction when you see a need going unaddressed. John feels we've gotten dementia wrong, leading us to mislead the public. Not intentionally; it's just a function of what's happening.

This conversation was fascinating, part insider information, part actionable tips. I'm confident that you'll find John as enjoyable as I did.

Find John here.

There are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]

Are you aware of your triggers? Those actions or statements that make it easy to become unreasonable? I know most of mine, yet it's still a challenge not to let them trigger me. If I were also dealing with dementia-causing disease, it would be nearly impossible to control situations that trigger me into unreasonable behavior.

Triggering outbursts is a challenge we face daily as caregivers. Sometimes it can be the most straightforward request that can cause an explosion. We can start a fit just by being present. Sometimes, caregiving can feel like a no-win situation.

Triggering behaviors was a suggestion from this previous guest, Tami Anastasia, and I jumped at the chance to chat with her about how to avoid them. Knowing what we're doing that can cause these unpleasant moods, what other issues might be a trigger, and how to navigate them all may make your caregiving just a bit easier. That's our goal in this episode.

There are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]

Cindy Weinstein is a professor of English at the California Institute of Technology. We're discussing her book, Finding The Right Words, which is one part journey of coming to terms with her Father's Alzheimer's & one-part guidebook. Writing gave Cindy one way to talk about her grief, but she knew she lacked the scientific vocabulary to make sense of her Father's slow and traumatic decline.

Through professional contacts, Cindy found Dr. Bruce L. Miller, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco. After years of collaboration and friendship, they completed Finding the Right Words. This book is an invaluable guide for families dealing with a life-changing diagnosis and a conversation that combines memoir, literature, and the science and history of brain health into a unique educational and meditative work. Their two perspectives, at once heartbreaking and empowering, give readers a fuller understanding of Alzheimer's than any one voice could.

There are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]

You are caring for a loved one and struggling to care for yourself. You know this isn't a sustainable way to live, but what options do you have? In this bonus episode, I talk to Judy Burkle of Coach Judy about ways to avoid burnout. Judy also has a Burnout Prevention Membership you may want to consider. This program is for caregivers of aging parents who are tired of feeling burnt out and exhausted every day or never want to feel that way!

This bonus episode offers tips, behind-the-scenes conversations, and details about her program. It's a quick way to learn some burnout prevention methods and learn about two caregivers with dogs named Remy.

Find Judy here https://judyburkle.kartra.com/page/TdQ425

There are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]

This episode is the one I needed to hear years ago when I first started taking care of my Mom. Regular listeners know that I struggled to connect with my Mom even when I tried using her favorite music. For some, it may be as easy as finding music they relate to, but what about caregivers like myself? How do we use music as an enjoyable way to engage with our loved ones? My biggest challenge was finding music that was her favorite.

I'm chatting with Alexis Baker of Bridgetown Music on the show today. She is a music therapist who shares many tips and advice on successfully incorporating music into our care. We understand the ability of music to change our mood. Utilizing this powerful tool can bring joy to our care recipients' lives and help them shift to a more positive mindset.

If, after hearing this episode, you need more one-on-one instruction, you can find Alexis at http://singingathome.com/.

There are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]

When her husband, a physician, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at fifty, Renée Brown Harmon's life threatened to capsize in the waves. She stayed afloat by learning to lean on friends and family and relying on her devotion to her husband and two young daughters. How do you keep your medical practice alive while caregiving demands increase rapidly?

This episode is an excellent conversation from a physician and caregiver perspective. What strategies did Renée utilize to care for her husband while maintaining her medical practice? After hearing her story and her methods to keep her balance, you can also check out Renée's book, "Surfing The Waves of Alzheimer's."

If you listen to the end, you'll also get a bit of behind-the-scenes background.

You can learn more about Renée Brown Harmon here.

There are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]

One of the biggest challenges I have helped caregivers navigate is the decision to move a loved one to memory care. Far too many family members promise never to put their loved one "in a place like that" before they know how much care will be required. Making this promise is likely to backfire. There are many types of care homes, some good, some not as good.

This episode is a conversation between two caregivers who decided that a care home was the best choice for everyone involved. We discuss how to find a good care home, the pros and cons of making this choice, and tell funny stories about our Moms residency.

The one thing that I feel it's important to know is that there can be more benefits for your loved one than you'd imagine. My Mom had friends and participated in activities she refused to do with her family. My Moms quality of life was much better in a care home than she would have had had she lived with me.

If you're struggling with deciding whether or not a care home is the right choice, this is the episode for you.

There are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]

I have the pleasure of learning from Dr. Joy Kong, who is triple board-certified in psychiatry, addiction medicine, and anti-aging & regenerative medicine. She explains how stem cell therapy might be a treatment for Alzheimer's and other dementias. Stem Cell therapy has not been widely used for this treatment enough to know for sure, but as the top stem cell doctor for 2019 & 2021, she's excited about the possibilities. Dr. Kong is an avid educator and a well-known pioneer in the regenerative medicine field. She educates physicians and the public on the science and practice of stem cell therapy.

Numerous scientific studies from around the world have demonstrated the ability of stem cells to calm inflammation, protect vulnerable tissue adjacent to damaged areas, and promote local cellular regeneration. If those aren't encouraging results, I'm not sure what would be.

If you've ever had any interest in what possible treatments there may be for dementias, this episode is for you.To learn more about what Dr. Kong offers, please visit her website.

Dr. Joy Kong on YouTube

Research Website Mentioned

There are three things necessary for a podcast to be successful. One, great listeners like yourself. Two are sponsors who help cover the expenses of producing the podcast. Three great listeners who help support the podcast by taking advantage of the sponsors' special offers. With that said, here are our sponsors;

Pharma-C Company (previously Pharma-C Wipes)

Pharma-C-Wipes, helping you care for yourself and those you love.

​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. 

PicnicHealthhttp://picnichealth.com/memories: 

Your medical records are now in your hands. PicnicHealth collects, digitizes, and encrypts all your medical records—then arranges everything in one intuitive timeline. No need to worry about a doctor's note or the lab results. It's all there for easy reference, right when you need it.

Relevate from NeuroReserve

Make Your Brain Span Match Your LifeSpan

With Relevate nutritional supplement, you get science-backed nutrition to help protect your brain power today and for years to come. You deserve a brain span that lasts as long as your lifespan.

Join Fading Memories On Social Media!

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers! You'll find us on social media at the following links.

Instagram

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Contact Jen at [email protected]