Dementia Resilience with Jill Lorentz

April 26, 2022

This seems like a really straight forward issue that needs no explaining, right? Wrong! Rules around who can know about your medical information can be a good thing to protect privacy, but a nightmare when you are trying to help a person with a dementia disease, and they won’t let you talk the doctor to try to work with your symptoms.

April 18, 2022

I promise I will never put you in a care community. This vow made by millions of spouses was made most often when no one was sick with a dementia disease, and it seems insurmountable years later. We want so much to be able to let people age at home. We give it our all, sometimes even at our own expense. Care communities, formerly known as nursing homes, in a lot of cases are not where we would want to live out our final years. There are a handful that are phenomenal, but you really have to search and do your homework to find them. Fears can be very real, but when you find the right care, no matter where it is, the reward can be huge. It all comes at a cost to a degree. The stress can take a huge toll and often caregivers have their own health issues, which can have devastating consequences.

April 12, 2022

As we look to our journey down the path of unknown twist and turns, the maze of symptoms, safety, legal, financial issues and so much more, can be completely overwhelming. Today I dive deep into a comprehensive look at what is available to us. I will talk about many issues you may not have even thought of, and guess what? I will have the answers for you!

Grab a drink, pen and paper and sit down and listen! I am here for you my friends!

April 5, 2022

Today was a pure joy because I interviewed Dr. Delia Bakeman, D.O, Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Hospital Neurology Department in the Memory Disorders Clinic. Dr. Bakeman specializes in Psychiatry as well and has a great handle on what needs to happen to change the way neurologists work with their patients. The entire department is taking a new approach, spending more time with patients to learn what their goals are and how they can fight to maintain a better than great quality of life as they live with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Frontotemporal and other dementia diseases. Dr. Bakeman also focuses on the additional comorbidities that can factor into the presentations. Mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other issues are often present, making a definitive diagnosis very difficult. She invests her time in working with other people who touch the lives of her patients, like me, and physical and occupational therapy, as well as speech and language therapists, who can all have an impact, and work together to make someone ‘s life better. You do not want to miss this interview!

March 29,20222

Today I want to discuss an issue many see and recognize during their journey with various dementia’s and that is the up and down rollercoaster of moods. We see depression, anxiety, restlessness, alcohol and substance abuse which helps the depression take a deeper dive. What do we do? How can we help? How do we find resources to assist us when we need it? I address this and more in this podcast!

March 22,2022

When we are caring for someone with advanced dementia diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Lewy body and Parkinson’s, how do we access bed sores, fevers, pain, urinary tract infections and other aches and pains? In this podcast I will go over the symptoms and how to read them.

March 15, 2022 – I don’t think there is much more contentious times with families than when some don’t believe that a family member is having cognitive or memory issues. This podcast is dedicated to learning how to work through this process!

March 8, 2022

Today is an empathy show, where so many issues have come up that defy logic, or are problems so many of us face, that I had to take the time to commiserate and try to think of ideas or paths to take for resolution! I surprised myself while I spoke, that I was able to come up with some ideas that might help some of you!

l

March 1, 2022

The show today explores the early process of memory loss and the kinds of symptoms you may experience. Sometimes they are so subtle that we don’t recognize what is happening. We may think the person in abstinent, not listening, being rude, apathetic or having a hearing problem. Let me walk you through this confusing journey.

Feb 22, 2022- Today I am having a conversation with Juan Padilla, a terrific young man whose mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 39 and passed away less than a decade later. Juan is trying to make a difference with his community, and we have a very open and enlightening conversation about his mom’s younger onset and what it means for him. She carried the PSEN1 gene and Juan has been tested and had a positive result. If you think this is an old person’s disease, think again. You will not want to miss this very personal and sweet interview.