Meaningful Caregiver Gifts: Five Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

Let’s AgeGayfully® together, with intention, humor, and each other. Aging Gayfully hits the jukebox! Josh and Chris time-travel through the soundtrack of their lives—from 60s Motown and The Big Chill memories, to 70s Elton John and eight-tracks, to MTV-fueled 80s anthems like “Take On Me,” and finally a 90s detour to the Three Tenors that sparked a love of classical music. Along the way: why everyone needs “their pub,” the $20 bartender tip rule, TV shows that made us music fans, and how orchestral soundtracks and symphonies still soothe the brain as we age. It’s nostalgia, community, and the science-backed wellness of music—served with bartender-level hospitality. Keywords: LGBTQ+ aging, music and memory, Motown, Elton John, MTV, 80s pop, classical music, wellbeing, community, travel & leisure. A gay senior, Christopher MacLellan, and an ally, Josh Wilson, podcasting about life, love, liberty and travel. Don’t Say Gay?… Say AgingGayfully®! AgingGayfully® is about living life with dignity in an age-friendly society regardless of orientation or economic status because longevity is a justice issue. AgingGayfully® is about finding your voice as we age. We are all part of the aging process and have real connections in diversity. AgingGayfully® is a modern type of activism that supports the concept of belonging. AgingGayfully® is about Adventure, Leisure, Travel, being a citizen of the world, traveling to destinations, and being part of the global community as we age and prosper in body, mind, and spirit.

The International End of Life Doula Association believes everyone deserves compassionate, respectful care at the end of life. Executive Director Doug Simpson is working with the INELDA team to make that happen. Doug’s journey to EOL doula work began with the death of his own father, followed by the birth of his son. Drawn to end of life work, Doug trained as a doula in 2018 and became an INELDA volunteer in 2019. He moved into the Executive Director position in 2022, and has never lost sight of the personal experiences that have guided his work. Reflecting back, Doug realizes the similarities between birth and death, and the deeply spiritual experiences of both these life events. He works with INELDA now to ensure that everyone has access to end of life care, resources to make that death an enriched experience, and education to promote growth and acceptance of the work of end of life doulas. You can find the work of the International End of Life Doula Association at inelda.org Read more about INELDA Executive Director Douglas Simpson here. Looking to find an INELDA doula in your area? Click here. Find out how EOL doulas serve the seriously ill and dying here. Facebook Instagram Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected] More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Are you struggling to pull your family together to create a working support system for someone living with dementia? Do you find family members disagreeing on what needs to be done or how to help? You're not alone, and there's a path forward. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that transforming family dynamics into effective teamwork is one of the most challenging—yet most rewarding—aspects of the caregiving journey. In this episode, we spoke with Dr. Barry Jacobs, a clinical psychologist and family therapist who brings both professional expertise and personal caregiving experience to this conversation. Barry cared for his mother with vascular dementia and his stepfather with Alzheimer's disease for seven years, and he co-authored the AARP Caregiver Answer Book with his wife, psychologist Julia Mayer. This content aligns with Step 8 of our Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap: Start Planning for the Next Stage of Care, particularly when building your personal support network of family and friends. Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaregiversjourneys/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/Email: [email protected], [email protected] Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.org/50-family-dynamics-in-caregiving-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned Barry’s website www.caregiveranswerbook.comBuy the Caregiver Answer Book on Amazon https://amzn.to/4i9V9ZLNavigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap guide https://thecaregiversjourney.org/guides/#guidesSupport the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Transforming your family into an effective caregiving team isn’t easy. It’s worth the effort — not just for your loved one with dementia — but for every member of your family. These four tips provide a framework: Create consensus (everyone on the same page).Define an ongoing format for decision making (regular meetings with clear rhythm).Build a family caregiving plan (who does what and when).Plan to deal with conflict (don’t let disagreements become disrespectful).

In this episode, Isabel invites listeners to pause, reflect, and imagine their future as caregivers—or as care receivers. Drawing from her experience leading her first Planning Lab for Caregivers and Retirees, she shares how planning for care can be just as meaningful and intentional as planning a trip, a new home, or retirement dreams. Through a guided journaling and reflection exercise, Isabel encourages listeners to: Explore their expectations and emotions around caregiving.Identify the mix of feelings that come with this life stage—honor, sadness, guilt, joy, or overwhelm.Recognize which emotions they may want to shift, and understand why those emotions are present.Practice self-kindness and curiosity instead of judgment. She emphasizes that caregiving is not just about challenges—it can be a season of connection, self-discovery, and love. By reframing emotions and making small changes today, we can create a more compassionate, intentional future for ourselves and those we care for. Isabel closes by reminding listeners that they deserve love, care, joy, and abundance—and that even small mindset shifts can transform the caregiving journey.

My guest today is world-renowned dementia expert Teepa Snow, occupational therapist and founder of the Positive Approach to Care, which offers training, services, and resources to families and professionals worldwide.  Teepa has spent decades helping people understand the brain changes behind dementia and, just as importantly, how to support both the person living with dementia and the caregiver. In our conversation, we discuss strategies for interacting with your care partner from mild cognitive impairment on, what changes and what stays the same, accepting help from others, why knowing your person and knowing yourself are equally essential while providing care and so much more. TeepaSnow.com Daughterhood.org TRANSCRIPT

 In today’s episode, we take you behind the scenes at Tum Coeur to share an exciting glimpse of what’s coming next. From new podcast series and live workshops to community events and creative collaborations, we’re building meaningful spaces to grow, connect, and care—together. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or you’ve just joined our community, this is the perfect time to tune in and learn about the vision that inspires everything we do. We talk about our goals for the months ahead, the new resources we’re working on for caregivers and families, and how you can be part of the journey. Don’t miss this episode—it’s full of hope, gratitude, and momentum. The future of Tum Coeur is growing with intention, and we can’t wait to walk this path with you. Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuNZZr8K6hu11-9aSRbhsuQ To join to our newsletter write an email to: [email protected]

Trigger Warning: The content of this episode includes narratives about seriously ill children. If you need to sit this one out, catch up with us on another episode and please take time to care for yourself. In his memoir titled “Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul”, Dr. Robert Macauley tells the story of the patients who have impacted his life, and how he’s changed for good. As a pediatric palliative care physician, Bob walks alongside kids and their parents through serious illnesses. Those experiences have shaped who he is, what he believes and how he practices medicine.   Buy your copy of “Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul” on Amazon Barnes & Noble   Watch Dr. Macaulay’s TEDx talk here.  You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit at bkbooks.com. Find all of Barbara Karnes’ products and resources at bkbooks.com. Read Barbara’s blog at bkbooks.com. Connect with Barbara Karnes on Facebook IG LinkedIn Twitter (X)  YouTube Hospice Navigation Services understands that you need unbiased, expert support to have the best end of life experience possible. And we believe you deserve to get good hospice care.  If you have questions about hospice care for yourself or someone you care about, Hospice Navigation Services can help. Whether you want to connect by phone or video, you can book a FREE 30-Minute Hospice Navigation Session, or a more in-depth 60-Minute Navigation Session for $95. If you need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, we’re here to answer your questions. A 60-Minute Navigation Session by video call allows up to 3 family members to get the same expert information at the same time. Book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.   Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer Website: theheartofhospice.com Social media: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected] More podcast episodes: The Heart of Hospice Podcast Podcast host Helen Bauer is a great addition to your event or conference! For speaking inquiries, send an email to [email protected].

Have you noticed yourself feeling sad when your loved one can't remember their phone number? Do you find yourself withdrawing from friends or losing patience more easily? These feelings might be grief—and you may not even realize it's happening. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that grief doesn't only come after our loved one passes away. It's present throughout our entire caregiving journey, from the moment of diagnosis through each individual change along the way. The good news is that understanding grief—recognizing it, honoring it, and learning to move through it without getting stuck—can transform how we experience our caregiving journey. Today we're sharing six essential tips to help you navigate grief with grace and compassion. Connect with us and share your tips: Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourneyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaregiversjourneys/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/Email: [email protected], [email protected] Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.org/47-navigating-grief-throughout-caregiving-six-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned Guide: Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/guides/Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Read More in This Blog here

Even though P.K. Beville is considered an expert in psychology and gerontology, she still felt lost and overwhelmed as a dementia caregiver for her dad. P.K. is the founder of Second Wind Dreams, a pioneering nonprofit that fulfills dreams for older adults and champions dignity, hope, and joy in aging. She is the creator of the internationally acclaimed Virtual Dementia Tour®, a training tool that has helped millions better understand and care for those living with dementia. In 2023, she launched Empathic Transitions to support families during end-stage dementia and is currently certifying the first Dementia Doulas. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, we talk about why caring for a loved one in any setting is still tricky, how the phrase ‘I wish’ sparked an uplifting non-profit in the older adult space, where we can find sources for humor and joy, and why the end-of-life experience for those living with dementia is different.  Show notes with product and resource links: https://bit.ly/HHCPod214 Receive the podcast in your email here: http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal: http://bit.ly/HHCjournal For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/ The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast: https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

 In today’s episode, we take a thoughtful look at the things we hold on to—especially the clothes and belongings that no longer serve a real purpose in our lives. It’s easy to keep items simply because they once worked for us or because they hold sentimental value. But just because something was useful or meaningful in the past doesn't mean it's still helping us thrive today. We invite you to consider: Do the objects around you bring joy, comfort, or inspiration? Or are they simply taking up space—physically and emotionally? Letting go isn’t always easy, but releasing what no longer serves us creates room for the new. New energy, new experiences, and new ways of expressing who we are now—not just who we used to be. This conversation is not just about decluttering a closet. It’s about reflecting on the chapters of life that are ready to be closed, and opening space for what truly supports your well-being and growth. Join us as we explore how letting go can be an act of healing, self-respect, and even freedom.