An informative and often candid perspective of dementia from the standpoint of a Nurse Practitioner specializing in dementia, a family member of many people with dementia and someone who is concerned that in the future I may develop dementia.
This episode explores when a person with dementia makes socially insensative or inappropriate comments. When they lose their awareness of what they say. I talk about what I have personally experienced and how it felt and how I responded.
This episode discusses how you can change your approach to the holiday season so that both you and your LO will have a more enjoyable time.
Thanksgiving is a holiday of hope and giving thanks. What if you can't find something to be grateful for? Listening to this episode will hopefully help you find peace, hope and maybe even something to be thankful for.
So many seniors have undiagnosed and untreated depression. Perhaps your LO with dementia also has depression. Depression can impact memory and make their dementia appear much move advanced then it may truly be.This episode addresses how to approach the topic with your LO and what can be done."Senior Living: Taking back your Golden Years" (on Amazon) is a book written by Laura Banner and her daughter Kelly Rasmovich. This book can help your LO find joy and purpose at a time in their life that they thought it wasn't possible.
A single fall can be all it takes to have your LO go from being independent to requiring 24/7 supervision and assistance. This podcast episode will help you to identify risks factors for falls and ways to help with fall prevention. It's packed with useful information that can make a real difference in you and your LO's life!
Do you struggle to understand what your LO is trying to communicate through their sounds and nonverbal communication? This episode sheds light on the challenge.
Pets have a special way of becoming a part of our family. The amount of love, companionship and sense of purpose they offer to someone living with dementia is immeasurable.
What's your New Year's resolution? Mine is to change how dementia has impacted my life, my attitude and my own health. This episode talks about the importance of taking control of your life and not surrendering it to the devastating disease of dementia.
So often we compare our present with our past. Unfortunately by doing this we miss out on what IS. This episode offers a new perspective.
The old adage "less is more" is true! Find out how the simple act of decluttering can reduce both you and your LO's stress.
Sometimes it seems like everyone is on the "same page" only to be surprised when your LO has a completely different recall of a previous conversation. Sometimes it's no problem, but sometimes this can cause some uncomfortable feelings. Listen to Episode #38 to hear my experience and my suggestion of how to avoid this from happening to you.
This episode takes a deep dive into the most common "mimics" of dementia. It discusses what causes other than dementia can cause memory impairment to the point of actually looking just like "dementia". This is the follow up to Episode #36.
Sometimes memory loss may appear to be dementia but in fact it's a dementia mimic. Dementia is progressive, nonreversible memory loss but a dementia mimic can be treated and then from that point forward memory will improve. This episode talks about when a mimic looks just like dementia. Be sure to check out next week's episode (#37) to learn more about dementia mimics.
How do you prepare for the holidays when a loved on has dementia. Caregiver Tuesday Tips provides good advise to help make the holidays less stressful for you and your LO.
A raw and honest conversation about how being a caregiver can change your outlook.
Being a caregiver of someone with dementia will likely be the most difficult thing you will ever do. Being part of a support group can offer you the emotional connection you need to help make this otherwise difficult journey a bit less frightening. The bond that is created in the group is like no other and will be something you cherish for the rest of your life. Hear my own personal thoughts about being part of a dementia support group in this episode.
When you are a caregiver of someone with dementia or any other progressive disease you know how your world can be flipped upside down. The 24/7 demands can and DO take a toll on you. This episode is focused on you and your needs.
At a loss of ideas for activities for your LO with dementia to engage in? Listen to this episode! It will provide you with things to think about and activities to try to make each day a little more enjoyable for you both.
Too often your doctor's appointment comes and goes before you know it and you leave thinking of all the questions you forgot to ask. This happens to everyone but what do you do when you get home and find yourself needing information? Caregivers do you feel like the time you spend with your LOs healthcare provider leaves you feeling like a knowledgeable caregiver or do you feel like you're left in the dark? This episode is spent on exactly this issue. Listen to ATW episode #30 and hear my personal experience with this issue.
In this episode I talk about the importance of having good credible information about dementia and how you can get it.
The change of seasons can bring on unexpected confusion to your loved one with dementia. This episode with give you some things to consider as you prepare for the Fall/Autumn season.
Until you've been a caregiver, you can't possibly understand what is involved and what you sacrifice in order to care for a loved one. Being a caregiver for someone with dementia is one of the most selfless tasks someone can ever take on. Spend a few minutes and hear what it's all about.
Dementia Grypes is a series that I started over a year ago on my website https://www.compassionateeducation.comThis podcast is a collection of my top gripes. I spell it will a "y" instead of an "i" because it is all about observations and frustrations that make me ask the question "why".Listen and see what my gripes are and see if you feel that same way.
When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia, the last thing most people think about is that they will lose their loved one twice. This is one of the unique cruelties of dementia. This episode discusses phenomenon of "crossing over".
Going to see you doctor to ask for a memory evaluation can be a scary and intimidating process. Let me tell you what you need to do and what you need to ask for before going in.
This episode will help you know if the neurologist is a good fit for YOU. Not all neurologists are the same and this episode will give you some things to consider when you first meet them.
A reflection of how families tend to grow apart and the resulting implications.
What happens to our fond memories when we stop talking about them? This episode talks about lost memories and what we can do to preserve them.
An episode that discusses the criteria for being appropriate for hospice as well as what it means when hospice joins the care team. Listen to this episode to understand how hospice can offer help and support for the entire family.
A personal reflection of a daughter watching her mother struggle for words.
This episode explores what happens in a woman's brain during menopause as estrogen levels are decreased, available treatment options and potential long term implications.
So often people with dementia will tell their family/caregiver that they "want to go home" even when they are home. Learn what this means and how best to manage this issue.
This episode explores what motivates individuals to take action. Some people are motivated by money, some are motivated by success and others by fear. Listen to this episode and hear what motivates me.
So many people experience a loss of self-worth and contribution once they develop dementia. This episode discusses how to encourage your loved one with dementia to participate and feel good about what they are able to accomplish.
Information about surgery that you must have! Questions to ask about possible anesthesia options and their potential long term effects.
With the current pandemic, many people are complaining of memory problems. Is COVID-19 causing permanent memory impairment? This episode explores the impact of the pandemic on memory.
An explanation of what long term (LT) memory is and how it is preserved in the setting of early and moderate dementia. Understanding LT memory can help with ways to interact with a person with dementia.
An explanation about the important role that B vitamins play in maintaining good brain health. A special focus of B6, B9 and B12 and how they can impact memory.
No one wants to address the issue of driving safety with their loved one with dementia. How do you know when it's time to have them stop driving? This episode provides insight about when and how to handle this difficult topic.
Do you wonder why your loved one asks the same question over and over again? What if it's not just because of impaired memory recall? A discussion of an alternative cause.
Have you noticed your loved one laughing at unusual times or in response to a question? This episode takes a look at possible reasons why they may be laughing, even when it's not in response to something funny.
An explanation of what a hallucination actually is and when it is and isn't appropriate to treat them.
A discussion about the pros and cons of using CBD oil to treat symptoms of dementia.
A conversation addressing the implications of DNA testing for Alzheimer's. Should you get tested or not and what do you do with the results if you do get tested?
A discussion about the unique nutritional and hydration needs for individuals with dementia.
Why it is so important to understand the world they live in instead of trying to make them fit into your's.
An explanation of how being "at the window" is actually a metaphor for different perspectives of dementia.
An brief overview of what dementia actually is and what it isn't.
Welcome to At the window with Dementia! This podcast will provide weekly episodes that include both clinical information and resources about dementia as well as answer questions like "why is this happening" and "what should I expect next" and everything in between.Please subscribe so you don't miss a single podcast episode. I have a lot to say!