Today I welcome Debbie, a dedicated wife caring for her husband who is living with Lewy body dementia (LBD). Debbie shares the daily ups and downs of managing her husband's diagnosis, coping strategies that help her stay resilient, and advice for other caregivers walking a similar path.

Debbie’s husband was diagnosed with LBD about 5 years ago but exhibited some mild symptoms 10 years prior. He was once an outgoing, successful man who is now grappling with memory loss and confusion. Debbie describes her husband’s strong denial about his diagnosis and his insistence that he’s fine, despite clear changes.

Throughout their candid conversation, Debbie reflects on the grief of losing her life partner, the new burden of solo decision-making, and her evolution as a caregiver. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining joy, identity, and self-care while caregiving. Debbie found outlets like yoga, art class, and coffee dates with friends help tremendously.

Timeline Summary:

[02:10] Debbie introduces her husband and his LBD diagnosis.

[03:50] Denial about his dementia and telling the family.

[05:20] Keeping the humor alive even in the midst of grief.

[06:52] The daily “dance” of taking medications.

[09:35] Debbie problem-solves home issues alone now without his input.

[13:14] Feeling overwhelmed about storm damage on their property.

[14:38] Changing roles to make household decisions.

[16:04] Can handle one task well, but not multiple steps.

[19:30] Morning meditation to set a daily intention and stay patient in communication.

[22:37] How Debbie knows her husband wants help or attention.

[25:10] Creating art, yoga, and coffee dates for self-care.

[32:21] Debbie’s advice to caregivers: Don’t lose yourself.

Links & Resources:

·         Lewy Body Dementia Association: https://www.lbda.org/ 

·         Caregiver support: https://dailycaring.com/ 

Debbie's story exemplifies the deep bond between spouses facing dementia together. Her resilience, empathy, and self-care practices demonstrate how caregivers can withstand the enormous challenges of this role. Please rate, review, and share this episode if it resonated with you or could help other families touched by dementia. Until next time!

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.