Theresa Willbanks talks to me about how we can create sustainable caregiving. Creating sustainable caregiving will be something more of us will have to know as our population ages. Caring for another person, especially a parent, can feel like navigating an unpredictable, wild river. How do we determine when it's no longer safe for Mom or Dad to live alone? When do we step in to help manage finances and or medications? How do we get our loved ones to stop driving and continue to allow them their independence? These questions demonstrate concern for our parent's safety and can be juxtaposed against our parent's fiercely held desire for independence. In addition to being emotionally charged, the answers have enormous ramifications for us as family caregivers. Caregiving is sustainable when you are realistic. Know your options, have a plan, and are willing to adjust that plan as many times as needed. In this episode, I talk to Theresa Willbanks about these issues and how she managed them. If you want to learn more about Theresa, her book, and the services she offers to caregivers, please follow this link to her website. https://www.sustainablecaregiving.com

Every caregiver has their own unique story about how they learned a loved one had dementia. Carolyn Birrell used her experiences with her Mom to write a book. Walking With Fay - My Moms' Uncharted Decline Into Dementia, released in time for Mother's Day 2022, is a heartwarming story. It's a story of a mother and daughter as they navigate the twists and turns along the path into dementia. How do you stop someone who lives in a different state from driving down the wrong side of the road? What do you do when Mom only pays specific bills and not others? Navigating these and other dementia-related challenges are situations more and more of us will face. In this episode, I talk to Carolyn about how she dealt with these challenges. Many of her Moms dementia-related behaviors presented in unique ways. This chat is a brave and honest glimpse into a journey of dementia, with acknowledgment of lessons learned from one being providing care for another. You'll enjoy the stories about Fay, feel less alone and get some tips on how to handle your journey. Find Carolyn & her book here   Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)         Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in "action" and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve - Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Caring for a caregiving spouse is not a topic I've discussed on this show. Not directly. I was pleasantly surprised when my hubby told me he had an idea for an episode. To be fair, I don't need someone to feed me ideas, but I listened. You'll be glad I did because his idea was gold. My Mom died at the start of the pandemic, and life kind of went on the way it was unfolding back in March of 2020. We haven't had a lot of conversations about our feelings, but that changes with this episode. Today I chatted with the other half, the behind-the-scenes guy, about his relationship with my Mom how he felt about her disease, and how he saw his role in her care. It's an interesting and informative conversation that I'm sure you'll enjoy. It's my goal to share more of our story while bringing you actionable tips. Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)         Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in "action" and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve - Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Finding ways to reduce caregivers' frustrations is a worthy goal that may be helped by mindfulness. Regular listeners likely know that I discovered the benefit very late in my caregiving journey. Thankfully, it still helps me today which is why we're revisiting the topic. Being frustrated happens for many reasons. Understanding the reasons and how we can reduce them can serve us well in our daily lives. But, caregivers are faced with a very high level of frustration triggers. How can we use mindfulness practices to reduce these frustrations is the topic of today's conversation. I talk to Sel Gaston of the Find Your Daily Calm podcast. His family is also caring for a loved one with dementia. You'll find it interesting how both hosts learn from each other in this conversation. I'm confident you'll take away a couple of tips that will help you avoid some of the bigger frustrations that caregivers face daily. Find Your Daily Calm on Spotify Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)         Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in "action" and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve - Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Connectedness is important for good brain health. Have you ever had a conversation that lasted a long time but didn't feel as if it did? Perhaps a chat with a loved one that made you feel seen, heard, special - alive? Conversations can be mood elevators as well as help maintain good cognitive health. We've all lived through a time that forced us to rethink how we stay in touch with other people. While many are excited to return to "normal" the pandemic did give us new tools for helping those who need more connections than they currently have. Conversations to Remember is a volunteer organization started by 16-year-old Aaron. Its mission is to connect high school and college students with residents in assisted living communities to combat the epidemic of loneliness. Putting a smile on the faces of seniors, including those experiencing cognitive decline, creates a bridge between seniors and youth. I talk to Aarons's Mom, Eve about the organization and how it's turned into a family affair. Conversations To Remember Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)         Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in "action" and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve - Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Add a gleam in their eyes by providing tools for interacting that are fun and cognitively appropriate. How do you add a gleam in their eye? Simple, by hearing what this caregiver turned support provider has created. My guest Marie Vaudry is a sandwich generation caregiver who has found a way to make visits easier with curated activities. The Gleam in Your Eye boxes contain games that facilitate discussions, make visits more pleasant, allow you the opportunity to laugh together, and properly stimulate the person with dementia (such as Alzheimer’s). Are you reluctant to visit your loved one because you don’t know what to say and find that time moves slowly when you do visit? Bring this activity box with you as a gift on your next visit. Do you live far away from them and feel guilty for not being able to visit more often? Receiving this activity box will entertain them and be a topic of discussion when you call them. Gleam In Your Eye Website Related episodes: Make Grandma Smile Be sure to be subscribed to this feed for an updated episode on NeuroSize! Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)         Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in "action" and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com   Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve - Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Cameron discusses having essential financial conversations with our parents. Show me the money is about having essential conversations with your parents about their finances. Talking to your parents about their financial matters isn't easy territory; you need to know what to say & what not to say. My guest, Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning, financial journalist. Despite her comfort with financial conversations and her Moms openness on the subject, trouble loomed. They didn't discuss the importance of long-term-care insurance early enough for her Mom. In this episode, Cameron will give us tips for talking with our siblings (something I could have used)about your parents' finances. She also discusses ways to tackle conversations about estate planning, documents, long-term-care, and when it's time to move. Our conversation is a taste of what you'll get in her new book, "Mom and Dad we need to talk". This book gives you advice on every step plus exercises to help you get comfortable. Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk is the essential guide for having productive financial conversations with your parents that lead to meaningful action. This podcast episode helps you get started too. Camerons' Website  Related Episode: Medicare Demystified Dementia & Your Money Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)         Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in "action" and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve - Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Welcome to episode #222. I, Jen, can't believe I've been podcasting for four years. I still feel like a newbie. This episode is a little bit of my story, including what it was like losing my Mom during the pandemic. I also talk about what I've learned from doing this show, and, a little bit of behind the scenes into how the show gets made. When Jen started out on her podcasting journey she planned on sharing all she knew. That didn't last long. After tapping into her less than a deep well of knowledge, Jen branched out & spoke to local people in the caregiving niche. It didn't take long to have to venture further out and talk to people worldwide! Jen will be bringing more of her personal stories in season 5 which starts May 2022!   More from Jen: My Journey With Family Alzheimer’s & Memory Loss Special Episode – What Do You Remember? Visiting With Mom (Jen’s Journey) Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)         Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in "action" and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com   Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve - Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Could there truly be a cause & cure for aging?  Could aging have a cure? Besides dying young? As a naturally curious person, I was intrigued by this possibility. I was even more intrigued when I realized I'd be talking about someone who is a nuclear physicist AND a biblical scholar. Aging: Cause and Cure reveals two newly discovered vitamins that are no longer naturally available today. Like all of the previously known vitamins, they appear to be necessary for optimal health and well-being. Ongoing research continues to demonstrate the extreme importance of daily supplementation of these vitamins in the human diet. Whether you believe there is a potential cure for aging or not, tune in to this fascinating conversation. Making you think about life in a new way is also good for your brain! Get Aging Cause & Cure eBook for free! Related Episode: Stop Acting Your Age! Feel Years Younger! Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor) Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in "action" and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve - Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

There are many things a trustee needs to know… My sister and I were both a trustee of our parents’ estate. Because there are a lot of details neither of us was aware needed handling, it was a good thing for us. There are a number of complicated steps required by law when administering a trust & that’s what we’re discussing on the show. You may be saying, “But, doesn’t having a trust avoid the legal work associated with a death?” Unfortunately not. When someone dies, the process is very nearly the same whether there is a trust or probate. The difference between trust administration and probate is that the trust administration is done privately, while probate is handled publicly in court, and usually, probate is much more expensive. In a probate, the executor is required to use specific form documents and to get a judge’s permission to act, but the basic steps that must be covered in probate are very similar to the steps covered in a trust administration. If you are the sole trustee as well as one of several beneficiaries, there are many steps you need to understand. Kirsten of the Absolute Trust Counsel is here to walk us through the most important things to know. Related Episodes: Allowing for A Natural Death – Alzheimer’s Living Will Medicare Demystified Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)         Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com   Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve – Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Better caregiving by Forgetting What’s Lost & Focusing on What’s Left We’re talking about forgetting what’s lost and focusing on what is left. Most caregivers have likely heard the term person-centered care; however, how many of us truly understand what that means? It likely means different things for different people and that’s understandable.  The best definition I have found is this: Person-Centered Dementia Care is a way of providing care focused on knowing the UNIQUE person through respectful close relationships that foster normalcy, choice, purpose, belonging, security and strengths. Family caregivers have more knowledge of their loved ones as compared to paid caregivers, but as they lose abilities, we may feel that we don’t know our person at all. For example, I had been told to simplify the hobbies or activities Mom loved but that never worked. My attempts to do just that actually caused more stress and frustration. Understanding how to care by forgetting what’s lost and focusing on what’s left would have helped both of us tremendously. After hearing this episode with two caregiving trainers, you’re likely to have a better grasp on how focusing on what’s left is an easier way to provide care. Dementia Needs Ae Human Needs with Donna Marentey   Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)         Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve – Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

My Name is Sharon is more than the story of one woman’s journey with Alzheimer’s.   Dominick Domasky is just a guy trying to find success. That’s what it says on his website Motivation Champs. Despite being successful in publishing books, giving speeches, and working with non-profit organizations to share their message, Dominick struggled to talk about Alzheimer’s. Writing allowed Dom to pour out his emotions and tell the story of his Mom. My Name is Sharon is her story not just the telling of her disease. This is not the first episode devoted to the topic of sharing our stories. My Name is Sharon – A Love Story, is exactly that. A love story dedicated to sharing the wonderful life Sharon had as a Mom. It’s also a story about Dominicks’ life with his Mom. This is a heartwarming conversation that shows us just how important it is to share the lives of our loved ones, not just the difficult part. For caregivers who struggle with their past relationship with who they are caring for, maybe this conversation will give you a bit of inspiration to look for the good times in the past. At the very least, it truly is a love story we all can enjoy. TRANSCRIPT Helene Bergers Episode – Choosing Joy Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth  PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)   Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com

The Long Goodbye – is a musical tribute based on Brets Dads ‘ Alzheimer’s journey.   The long goodbye, it’s something that all of us have dealt with. Some of you are probably still working your way through this goodbye. Today’s guest is Bret Sweet. He’s a musician turned caregiver who used writing music to help him through his grieving process even as his father was still alive. Bret decided to use a hip-hop album to help caregivers draw energy from and gain a sense of connection with other caregivers. His Dad was all about breaking down doors, standing up to bullies, and Bret’s album helps continue that story. Bret also wanted to add a little hope for those of us listening. Enjoy this video from Fog On The Bridge (yes, that’s the Golden Gate Bridge, from my area of the world). TRANSCRIPT Related Episodes: A Musical, Emotional Memoir on Caregiving (Caregiver Carols) Stress & Anxiety Relief through Music Therapy   Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn.     PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)  Sign up for free & get $25. (It might help with your Long Goodbye)   Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve – Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Art is one of the most enjoyable ways to connect with an older adult. Participating in art can provide older adults with multiple benefits and enhanced cognitive function. One of the challenges caregivers face is handling frustration when confusion is common. When our loved ones lose control because their memory is failing, they frequently lash out.  Art for older adults can help relieve this fear and anger by;  helping individuals relax; providing a sense of control; reducing depression and anxiety; assisting in socialization; encouraging playfulness and a sense of humor; improving cognition; offering sensory stimulation; Plus, it can be a lot of fun. It’s worth a try. My Mom was a very creative person, but she feared “getting it wrong” whenever I attempted to do an art project with her. I’ve seen some other methods that I would have liked to have tried with her, but since I can’t, I’m sharing this passionate young woman’s story with you. Marie-Louise is my guest today, and how she became passionate about using art to connect with older adults will delight you and maybe, give you the confidence to give art therapy a try with your loved one. The passion and insight that Marie-Louise shares will make you feel great. She has tons of advice, ideas and heart-warming stories! TRANSCRIPT Related Episodes: Art Therapy for Older Adults Connecting through Art Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn.   Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)  Sign up for free & get $25. Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com   Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve – Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

We plan for nearly everything except, how to be our own best caregiver. We’re talking today about how to be your own best caregiver. Living with chronic illnesses, dealing with a lifetime of accumulations, worrying about money; it seems we prepare for everything in life except how to handle the challenges of its later years. About 22% of older adults in the United States can be considered elder orphans or solo agers.  More are at risk of becoming one. The first group—elder orphans—are older people who don’t have a spouse or children they can depend upon. while solo agers are older adults who are living alone and don’t have children. In either case, this is a population of older people who don’t have a safety net if they need support, whether that’s physical, emotional, or practical. In my conversation with author Joy Loverde, we discuss how we can plan for our older age with confidence. Her book, Who Will Care For Me When I’m Old is also a workbook to help us navigate this planning. Learn more about Joy TRANSCRIPT   Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth  PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)  Sign up for free & get $25. Check out our new sponsor!  ​Life is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn.   Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com Make Your Brain Span Match Your Lifespan with Relevaate NeuroReserve – Helping Our Brainspan Match our Lifespan

Are there really dementia interpreters in this world? Do dementia interpreters exist? I could have used some interpretation when Mom was alive. Mom spoke in actual English words and complete sentences, but there was no context to help me understand what she was trying to tell me. It took me too long to realize that my attempts to “decipher” her conversations made her angry. Eventually, I understood it was better for both of us if I went along as if I understood. I talk to Malora Jackson of Secondwind Dreams about their Dementia Interpreters program in this episode. A Dementia Interpreter helps translate our loved ones’ actions, noises, behaviors, and body language into an understandable and recognized language. Certainly, this is an excellent skill for all of us to learn. Another helpful tool that Malora informed me about is the Dementia Dictionary. https://www.dementiadictionary.com You will learn a lot about communicating with someone living with dementia when you tune in to this episode. Secondwind Dreams website Dementia Dictionary TRANSCRIPT Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth  PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)  Sign up for free & get $25. Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com

Aftercloud – Your Interactive Memory Vault   AfterCloud is for capturing life’s moments. It’s an online memory vault. It’s your private place to securely store memories, thoughts, wishes and important or meaningful information that you can share with your loved ones. YOUR life story in an app! With Aftercloud, you are able to record your voice, write or dictate  letters, upload images, create links and record in-app video and share as a moment or to include on your Timeline.  It’s a way of enhancing or recording a picture or image with your thoughts and with your life story. As well as capturing life’s moments, imagine this was your last day on earth, what would you want to say, what thoughts or information would you want to leave behind or what would you like to celebrate in a future without you? What will your Timeline say about you? Learn more about AfterCloud Related Episode: Storing & Sharing Memories with EchoBox TRANSCRIPT Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth  PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)   Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com

What is a Virtual Dementia Tour? Is it a Zoom thing? If you aren’t familiar with a Virtual Dementia Tour you may think it’s an online resource.  Not quite. We’re all much more familiar with virtual worlds thanks to the pandemic, but Virtual Dementia tours pre-date these times. A Virtual Dementia Tour put us, the caregiver, into the world of someone living with a form of dementia. I had the opportunity to participate in a dementia tour back in 2019 and it was definitely a learning opportunity.  I don’t know how many of the challenges I experienced my Mom had but that didn’t matter. Having as close to a first hand experience into her world was transformative. Virtual Dementia tours is our topic on today’s episode and I know you’re going to learn a lot. Also, be sure to be subscribed to the podcast for our second episode from Second Wind Dreams when we talk about Dementia interpreters. Learn more/schedule a dementia tour Transcript  Related episodes: Teepa Snow & The GMES Model   Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth  PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)   Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com

Podcaster & responsible cannabis lifestyle coach talked to me about the Neuro-protective qualities of THC. While it’s not well known, there are neuroprotective qualities in THC. I was a teenager during the “just say no to drugs” era.  Having internalized that message means it’s hard for me to fully embrace this idea. Using natural remedies has always been my preferred method of care. However, it’s still hard for me to accept that marijuana is natural. That doesn’t stop me from reading the latest research and listening to those who live the lifestyle. They’ve studied it, done the testing, and all the things necessary to incorporate weed into a brain-healthy lifestyle. This is why I am excited to bring you an expert on the subject. Jo Nuding is a podcaster and responsible cannabis lifestyle coach. Once you hear her story you will have an entirely different outlook on cannabis’ healthy compounds. You may even say “yes, to the neuro-protective qualities of THC.” Casually Baked website Epigenetic Coach Here are some of the other shows we discussed things from: https://casuallybaked.com/blog/potcast-205-surviving-the-american-healthcare-system https://casuallybaked.com/blog/potcast-182-cannabis-nurses-network Casually Baked Potcast https://doctorsknox.com/ https://doctorsknox.com/im-a-patient The Knox Docs are a family of physicians with backgrounds in Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Family Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Preventive Medicine. They have expanded their expertise to include Integrative Cannabinology, Functional Endocannabinology™ and Cannabinoid Medicine, and are internationally recognized as thought leaders in the care of the endocannabinoid system and cannabis therapeutics. Together, the Knox family founded The American Cannabinoid Clinics. The AC Clinics have licensed physicians in 19 states. They see patients both on-site wherever available and online everywhere else. They have office locations throughout Oregon and Washington state. Through the online portal, AC Clinics see patients worldwide. The Canna DNA test is essential information for anyone considering how THC or CBD might impact their health. This precision genetic endocannabinoid test is powered by Apeiron Genomics. You’ll receive a personalized report with recommendations tailored to your DNA and a one-on-one data review session with my epigenetic coach, David Krantz. Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth  PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)   Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you’d like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com

Welcome to A Perfectly Imperfect Journey with Sue Ryan Are you caregiving and feeling exhausted, mentally, physically, or emotionally? How about "all of the above?" Do you feel like you should be doing more and aren't sure what "more" looks like? Are you overwhelmed and not sure what to expect next? Congratulations! You're on a perfectly imperfect journey. In this episode, I chat with best-selling author, Sue Ryan, who is caring for her husband. Like most of us, she didn't know anything about Alzheimer's or how to be a caregiver. Sue constantly felt overwhelmed and as if she were missing something. She was exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally (sound familiar?). She was only surviving. She didn't like this disease, what it was doing to her husband and those around them. She didn't like how she felt, so she began to learn. That lead her to write Our Journey of Love - 5 Steps to Navigate Your Caregiving Journey. For more than 30 years, Sue has been in various caregiving roles. Still in the role of primary caregiver, instead of feeling helpless and overwhelmed, Sue now feels balanced, filled with hope and love. Transcript Related Episodes Dementia with Dignity (Judy Cornish) Dementia Needs are Human Needs Access all your medical records in one place & opt into research with PicnicHealth  PicnicHealth (Our Sponsor)   Be sure to check out our website for more resources, partners, recipes, and more.  www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com Join Fading Memories On Social Media! If you've enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with other caregivers!  Choose your favorite platform and follow us for more advice, motivation, recipes, and cute dog photos. Facebook    InstagramTwitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in "action" and watch the bonus videos I share. Want to learn from Jennifer in person (or virtually)? Wherever you'd like a training session, Jen is available. Contact her at fadingmemoriespodcast@gmail.com