Dementia Resilience with Jill Lorentz

February 9, 2021- A conversation with Dr. Christina Vaughan, about the ideals of palliative care, providing person centered care at its best for neurological patients and their families. This is an important and new way to focus on not only the diagnosis, but the spiritual, psychological and psychosocial aspects of the journey with diseases characterized by cognitive and memory loss. Spending more time with patients is a key and bringing in specialists like a chaplain, a social worker, and a person like me, as I help you in the home and with education. With this approach the doctors can explore who the person is, and not focus on the disease they have been diagnosed with. In my mind, this way of providing care is so refreshing and overdue! Dr. Vaughan and her team are utilizing this cutting edge approach and seeing remarkable results. I am so honored to work with the University of Colorado Hospital and collaborate on the care with the family.

Dr. Vaughan is a Neurologist at the University of Colorado Hospital Denver. She is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Division of Neuropalliative Care. It is a medical specialty that focuses on trying to relieve all sorts of suffering that people experience with chronic illness, trying to improve quality of life as a team.

Dr. Christina Vaughan

February 2nd, 2021 - Life as a care partner for a person with a dementia like Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, or any other type of cognitive impairment and memory loss, is difficult to say the least. With or without support, you have to find a way to not only survive, but to thrive. This is why we must be resilient, meaning, we must find a way to overcome obstacles and adversity to find a positive outcome. In this podcast, I will take you down a pathway to help you find the resources you need and hopefully help you find some peace on the way.

Sarah Thompson is a board-certified music therapist who has worked with people with neurologic differences for over 17 years. She is a book contributor, speaker, and researcher who loves discussing how neuroscience-based music interventions can change people’s lives. Sarah is the CEO of Rehabilitative Rhythms, a Denver-based nonprofit organization.

For more information:

www.PossibleWithMusic.org

A Lifetime With Music: https://possiblewithmusic.org/a-lifetime-with-music/

Outline of Discussion:

Why is music so helpful for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia?

• How music is processed
• Considerations for hearing loss

How exactly can music help someone living with dementia?

How is music therapy different than simply listening to music on an iPod or on Alexa?

• Skilled intervention
• Parallel of going for a walk vs. physical therapy

What are some tips that you could share for caregivers to use right now?

January, 21,2021 - This podcast dives deep into the issues we have when we are low on money.

Today, January 5th, I was thrilled to speak with Stacie Naslund, Executive Director of Spring Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, about what it has been like behind the walls of a memory care unit during Covid. Listen to this insightful interview where we discuss all the challenges experienced during the pandemic. There was a lot to deal with, from residents sadness from not being able to see, touch or hug their family members, and family members scared and distraught from not visiting their loved ones for months on end. Stacie is open and thoughtful in her approach to everyone's needs and she shares her thoughts candidly with me.

December 29, 2020 - As this year closes out, one we will never forget by the way, I compiled letter and emails from listeners to share with you. I received letters, poems and many touching comments from many of you! It was wonderful to share these insightful and emotional offerings. When I came out of the studio, my engineer had tears in his eyes and said it might be my best show ever in his opinion. Grab a drink settle in and enjoy!

Happy New Year My Friends!

Jill

Dec 22, 2020 - So often people want to help and give you ideas of ways to make your situation of caregiving better. Sometimes we feel judged by their comments. Sometimes they are helpful. They will ask, what do you need and you say "nothing" because you haven't thought through the idea of what you need. I am imploring you to think of some things that will reduce stress. If that is hard for you to do, you need to listen to this podcast. Sometimes you have no one asking you if you need help, and you may need to look elsewhere for assistance. I have 55 minutes of ideas on all of this and more.

Happy Holidays and God Bless My Friends!

Jill