Co-hosts Virginia and Steve are joined by Renée Brown Harmon, MD, a retired family physician, who shares her eight-year journey as a caregiver for her husband, Harvey, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at age 49. Dr. Harmon discusses the challenges of caregiving, the stages and types of grief, and the coping strategies she used. She also highlights the emotional and physical toll caregiving can take. Her book, Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer's: Principles of Caregiving that Kept Me Upright, provides practical guidance and emphasizes the importance of accurate information, community, and self-care for caregivers.

Renée's website can also be found here: 

• https://www.reneeharmon.com/about/

(From the Archives) Virginia and Steve speak with Dr. Galindo, who cared for her father with Alzheimer's disease and helps the listeners understand the importance of simplifying the holidays to maximize enjoyment for everyone.  She gives tips on focusing on one or two traditions and recruiting help  instead of trying to balance caregiving with all of the pressures of maintaining family traditions.  For more caregiver resources  at the holidays and throughout the year visit www.alzoc.org or call the helpline at 844-373-4400. Happy Holidays! 

(From the Archives) Dee Ransom joins Steve and Virginia to discuss some of the adjustments she has had to make being a caregiver for her husband, John, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease. Dee shares her experience learning to advocate for her husband, adapting to changes in their relationship and the difficulty and hidden blessings involved in placing him in a residential facility.

In this episode of Spotlight on Care, co-hosts Steve and Virginia are joined once again by caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson to discuss the challenges adult children face when caring for parents who were absent, abusive, or neglectful. They explore emotional struggles, complicated family dynamics, the importance of setting boundaries, and the question of whether total forgiveness is necessary. Pamela also provides practical advice on navigating these difficult caregiving situations and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing your own well-being.

Social Media

• YouTube Channel
  • https://www.youtube.com/c/PamelaDWilsonCaregivingExpert
• Facebook
  • https://www.facebook.com/pameladwilsoncaregivingexpert/
• Twitter
  • https://twitter.com/CaregivingSpeak
• Facebook
  • https://www.facebook.com/pameladwilsoncaregivingexpert/

Website, Consultations, Free Online Programs, Speaking, & Podcast

• Website
  • https://pameladwilson.com/
• Pamela D Wilson Eldercare Consultant
  • https://pameladwilson.com/elder-care-consultant-aging-parent-consultation-managing-senior-care-needs-meet-with-pamela-d-wilson/
• Caring for Aging Parents Online Program
  • https://pameladwilson.com/support-caring-for-elderly-parents-overwhelmed-caregiver-support-online-course/
•  Power of Attorney Online Program
  • https://pameladwilson.com/power-of-attorney-webinar-program/
• Guardianship for Aging Parents Online Program
  • https://pameladwilson.com/how-to-get-guardianship-of-a-parent-obtain-legal-guardianship-online-course-pamela-d-wilson/
• Caregiving Speaker
  • https://pameladwilson.com/caregiving-speaker-aging-parents-expert-advocate-keynotes-presentations-digital-caregiver-programs/
• The Caring Generation Podcast
  • https://pameladwilson.com/caregiver-radio-programs-the-caring-generation/

In this episode, Diana Marquez-Siemers and Rachel Smyth from the Caregiver Resource Center (CRC) provide expert insights on the challenges and solutions for families caring for loved ones with dementia. Join Steve and Virginia as they learn about the CRC’s commitment to supporting caregivers. They also discuss the development of their personalized care plans to address each caregiver’s unique needs, offering coaching, training, and ongoing support to ensure quality care. With over 60% of caregivers in Southern California caring for someone with cognitive impairment, this episode highlights the importance of reaching out for help early in the caregiving journey as well as connecting with a supportive community.

From the Caregiver Resource Center OC:
The Caregiver Resource Center OC is a trusted partner for Orange County families, who are coping with the physical, emotional, and financial responsibilities of caregiving. By providing families with individualized supportive services, the Caregiver Resource Center stands apart as the only Orange County agency focusing exclusively on the needs of caregivers, who are coping with a loved one’s chronic illness. The Caregiver Resource Center provides family consultation, support groups, assessment and care planning, counseling, respite planning and community education. 

Since 1988, the Caregiver Resource Center has assisted thousands of families who care for an adult with a brain-impairing condition such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, head injury, or Huntington’s disease, or for someone who is over the age of 60 and requires daily assistance. The Caregiver Resource Center works collaboratively in the community with other service providers and community providers in the aging and disability network. 

Services are free. For more information, call 800-543-8312 or 714-446-5030 or go to our website: www.caregiveroc.org

The materials or product were a result of a project funded by a contract with the California Department of Aging (CDA), as allocated by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and administered by the Office on Aging. Supporting data is available by contacting Caregiver Resource Center OC at 130 W. Bastanchury Road, Fullerton, CA 92835 (714) 446-5030. The conclusions and opinions expressed may not be those of the CDA and that the publication may not be based upon or inclusive of all raw data. Services are provided free of charge. Voluntary contributions are gratefully accepted, and no one is denied for inability to contribute. 

Virginia and Steve are joined by Pamela D. Wilson, MS, BS/BA, NCG, CSA.– an international resource for caregivers with over two decades of experience in aging and caregiving– known for her consultations, advocacy, and her book, "The Caregiving Trap: Solutions for Life's Unexpected Changes," as well as her own podcast called “The Caring Generation.” Together, they discuss the challenges of caregiving for parents with dementia, where Pamela delves into common issues such as resistance to advice, navigating difficult conversations, and managing complex family dynamics. She also emphasizes the importance of involving parents in planning, setting boundaries to maintain emotional well-being, and understanding the reasons behind a parent's unwillingness to cooperate. Pamela’s links to her social media and programs are provided below: 

Social Media

• YouTube Channel
  • https://www.youtube.com/c/PamelaDWilsonCaregivingExpert
• Facebook
  • https://www.facebook.com/pameladwilsoncaregivingexpert/
• Twitter
  • https://twitter.com/CaregivingSpeak
• Facebook
  • https://www.facebook.com/pameladwilsoncaregivingexpert/

Website, Consultations, Free Online Programs, Speaking, & Podcast

• Website
  • https://pameladwilson.com/
• Pamela D Wilson Eldercare Consultant
  • https://pameladwilson.com/elder-care-consultant-aging-parent-consultation-managing-senior-care-needs-meet-with-pamela-d-wilson/
• Caring for Aging Parents Online Program
  • https://pameladwilson.com/support-caring-for-elderly-parents-overwhelmed-caregiver-support-online-course/
•  Power of Attorney Online Program
  • https://pameladwilson.com/power-of-attorney-webinar-program/
• Guardianship for Aging Parents Online Program
  • https://pameladwilson.com/how-to-get-guardianship-of-a-parent-obtain-legal-guardianship-online-course-pamela-d-wilson/
• Caregiving Speaker
  • https://pameladwilson.com/caregiving-speaker-aging-parents-expert-advocate-keynotes-presentations-digital-caregiver-programs/
• The Caring Generation Podcast
  • https://pameladwilson.com/caregiver-radio-programs-the-caring-generation/

35th Annual Southern California Alzheimer's Disease Research Conference
Join UCI MIND, Alzheimer’s Orange County, and Alzheimer’s Association for the 35th Annual Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Research Conference. This year’s conference will highlight the incredible advances being made in the diagnosis, treatment and care for people with dementia. 
 
For more information: https://conference.mind.uci.edu/

Virginia rejoins Steve in this concluding 2 part series on caregiving strategies. In this episode, they provide insights into activities and products that can be utilized to enhance daily living and simplify routine tasks. Tune in for valuable information that aims to elevate the day-to-day experience for both caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  

Steve interviews Virginia  about tips she has compiled over the years to improve the caregiving journey. Listen along as they delve into topics on healthcare visits, money matters, safety, and mood changes. This is part 1 of a 2 part series of tips and tools that can help improve quality of care for loved ones living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

Mentioned Episode in Podcast with Stephen Magro, an elder law attorney, can be found here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1589794/episodes/8946153

Virginia and Steve are joined by Nathaniel Chin, MD, a geriatrician, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine, Medical Director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and host and creator of the popular Dementia Matters podcast.  Dr. Chin recounts how his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis and dementia journey inspired his career choice.  He discusses the importance of getting an early diagnosis, keeping records, and the critical role that caregivers play in the diagnosis and treatment of people with cognitive impairments.  Dr. Chin also describes his involvement in dementia research at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention.  To learn more about the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and Dr. Chin’s podcast visit: https://www.adrc.wisc.edu/dementia-matters

Steve and Virginia sit down with Ahmad Sajjadi, MD, PhD, associate professor of Neurology at UC Irvine and research clinician at UCI MIND, to discuss some of the recent advances that have been made in Alzheimer’s disease research and care. He discusses the newly approved drugs, diagnostic tests and coverage of some of those tests, and care navigator programs.