Dementia Discussions

Navigating Dementia with Compassion and Clarity: A Candid Talk with Dr. Miriam Winthrop


Listen Later

Welcome back to Dementia Discussions! I’m so grateful to be back with you after a bit of a hiatus, and today’s episode is a truly meaningful one. I sit down with Dr. Miriam Winthrop, an adult and geriatric psychiatrist whose compassionate approach and wealth of knowledge make her a true gem in the dementia care world. We open up about the recent California fires that disrupted both our lives and how trauma and caregiving intersect, especially in these unpredictable times.

This conversation dives deep into the emotional, medical, and behavioral complexities of dementia. Dr. Winthrop shares how she supports individuals from the early signs of cognitive decline to the later stages of dementia, helping both patients and their families manage symptoms, medication, and caregiving strategies. Whether you’re navigating a new diagnosis or have been caregiving for years, this episode offers insight, validation, and practical tools for every step of the journey.

Timeline Summary

[1:33] – Introducing Dr. Miriam Winthrop and reconnecting after the LA fires
[6:37] – How patients find their way to a geriatric psychiatrist and the signs of prodromal dementia
[10:24] – The complexity of diagnosing mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
[15:43] – Understanding MCI, psychiatric symptoms, and the role of early treatment
[18:58] – Leqembi and considerations around early intervention and clinical trials
[21:28] – Aricept, Namenda, and their behavioral uses in dementia care
[28:15] – Behavioral challenges in moderate dementia and non-medication strategies
[31:39] – Communicating creatively with loved ones using the DARE method
[36:20] – What causes delirium and how to spot it in dementia patients
[40:19] – The emotional toll and shifting family dynamics in the middle to later stages
[45:41] – Acceptance, letting go of expectations, and redefining “normal”
[47:57] – Medication tapering and palliative care considerations in late-stage dementia
[51:57] – When hospice is involved and the importance of rational medication management

 

Do you have a caregiving story to share? Barbara would love to hear from you! Please leave her a message at 310-362-8232 or send her an email through DementiaDiscussions.net. If you found value in today's episode, please don't forget to rate, follow, share, and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and continue producing this content.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Dementia DiscussionsBy Barbara Hament

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

21 ratings


More shows like Dementia Discussions

View all
10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,769 Listeners

Change Your Brain Every Day by Dr Daniel & Tana Amen

Change Your Brain Every Day

2,021 Listeners

This Naked Mind Podcast by Annie Grace

This Naked Mind Podcast

2,583 Listeners

The Genius Life by Max Lugavere

The Genius Life

4,896 Listeners

The Dr. Hyman Show by Dr. Mark Hyman

The Dr. Hyman Show

9,296 Listeners

Dementia Care Partner Podcast with Teepa Snow by Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care

Dementia Care Partner Podcast with Teepa Snow

154 Listeners

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens by Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

826 Listeners

Dementia Untangled by Banner Health

Dementia Untangled

60 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,192 Listeners

Dementia Careblazers by Dr. Natali Edmonds

Dementia Careblazers

40 Listeners

Everyday Dementia Guide by Dementia Down the Hall

Everyday Dementia Guide

24 Listeners

Lewy Body Life by Ann Brucciani Lyon, Paula Rice Biever and Linda Olsen Engel

Lewy Body Life

26 Listeners

Lewy Body and Mindful Caregiving by Krystal Jakosky

Lewy Body and Mindful Caregiving

7 Listeners

The Jefferson Fisher Podcast by Civility Media

The Jefferson Fisher Podcast

8,368 Listeners

Understanding Dementia by Inception Point Ai

Understanding Dementia

6 Listeners