In this episode, co-hosts Steve and Virginia welcome back Valerie George and Sonia Sehgal to discuss the GUIDE program (Guiding and Improved Dementia Experience), a groundbreaking care initiative launched by CMS in 2023. The GUIDE program offers comprehensive, long-term support for both people living with dementia and their unpaid caregivers, recognizing the significant burden caregivers face. Over the course of eight years, participants receive structured assessments, caregiver support services, and coordinated care management through a multidisciplinary team. Valerie and Sonia share insights into how GUIDE operates, eligibility requirements, and the vital role of caregiver empowerment. 
Listeners will learn how caregivers can access this resource, what makes GUIDE unique, and how it brings essential services directly to those in need.

To learn more: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide

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Steve and Virginia sit down with Andrea Hughes, a dedicated caregiver whose mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Featured in the PBS documentary Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s, Andrea shares her personal journey navigating the challenges of caregiving at a young age, balancing work and family responsibilities, and finding strength through community and storytelling. To learn more, visit the PBS documentary page, follow Andrea on Instagram @itsandreakrystal, and explore her work at candidcaregiverscollective.com.

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Steve and Virginia explore the vital role that geriatricians play in diagnosing and managing dementia and other cognitive symptoms in older adults. The co-hosts are joined by Valerie George, a certified physician assistant with UCI Health, and Sonia Sehgal, MD, a board-certified geriatrician and internist with UCI Health, who discuss how geriatric care should take a whole-person approach—addressing cognitive impairment, chronic conditions, and social factors while actively involving caregivers. Valerie and Dr. Sehgal explain the difference between geriatricians and gerontologists, share their experiences supporting families, and highlight the benefits of seeking an early diagnosis and team-based care. Together, they emphasize the importance of compassionate, proactive support for both patients and caregivers throughout the aging journey.

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In this episode, Steve and Virginia explore the emotional and practical differences between caring for a parent versus a spouse with dementia. Virginia emphasizes the role reversal and challenges of managing her mother’s daily needs and finances, while Steve opens up about the loss of companionship and adapting intimacy in his relationship with his wife, Patty. They discuss the importance of communication with family members, the struggle of accepting help, and the emotional weight of caregiving tasks. Their conversation highlights the complexities of long-term caregiving and the importance of maintaining connection, patience, and open dialogue throughout the journey.

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Virginia and Steve are joined by Ruth Ann Rousseau, a caregiver and support group leader, to discuss the vital role that support groups play for dementia caregivers. Ruth Ann highlights how these groups provide resources, confidence, and community while addressing the challenges of participation. She compares online and in-person meetings and encourages caregivers to seek support, stay open to learning, and prioritize self-care. The discussion concludes with a reminder to persist in finding the right support system and advocating for personal well-being.

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In this episode of Spotlight on Care, Steve and Virginia explore the complex and often distressing experience of delusions in dementia with David Sultzer, MD, the Clinical Research Director at UCI MIND and professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior. Dr. Sultzer explains how and when delusions, such as paranoia and misidentification, develop in individuals with dementia and the impact they have on caregivers. He discusses practical approaches for managing these false beliefs, including reassurance, environmental adjustments, and structured routines. The conversation also covers available medications that may help prevent or reduce delusions, along with its potential risks.

Resource: What Are Delusions? These false beliefs can be a symptom of delusional disorder or another condition by Amy Morin, LCSW; Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
https://www.verywellmind.com/definition-of-delusion-4580458docdd

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Virginia and Steve discuss the legal concerns that arise after a dementia diagnosis with Orange County probate attorney, Stephen Magro, JD, who has 30 years of experience in elder law.  Mr. Magro outlines the legal steps needed to help protect loved ones with dementia including setting up a will and trust and establishing an advanced health care directive.  For more information about Stephen Magro’s law firm, visit www.smagrolaw.com. What would like to hear about next? Email us at [email protected].

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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/

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(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! 

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(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.

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