The Road to Healing

Have you ever felt overwhelmed because you don’t know what information you need, can’t find reliable sources, or feel frustrated by too much conflicting advice? We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we’ve learned having a step-by-step roadmap is crucial for navigating the beginning of your caregiving journey. We recently talked with Jenny Gay, licensed clinical social worker with Emory Integrated Memory Care, about the comprehensive 20-step caregiving journey roadmap guide Navigating Dementia Caregiving: Your Resource Roadmap for Every Stage. This podcast is bringing the first six essential steps to take immediately after diagnosis. Connect with us and share your tips: Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaregiversjourneys/ Full Show Notes Here In the Beginning - First Steps - Right after the diagnosis 1. Choose a palliative care organization. This will likely also serve as your hospice organization later in your journey. In your search engine, type ‘Palliative Care’ + ‘the name of your country’ or, in the US ‘the name of your state’. Schedule an initial consultation with more than one so you can compare. Educate yourself on what palliative care is: 27 minute The Caregiver’s Journey (TCJ) podcast: 42. When To Call In Palliative Care 2. Create an Advance Care Plan. Get your legal documents in order and do some initial end of life preplanning with your loved ones input: Contact your attorney or an elder law attorney NAELA.org. Listen to this podcast or read this blog on elder law attorneys: 32 minute TCJ podcast: 31. Elder Law Attorneys Alzheimer’s Association legal documents overview: Leverage this End of Life Planning Worksheet. 3. Understand the financial situation. Work with a financial advisor - especially those who focus on seniors. Elder law attorneys can also advise in this area. Alzheimer’s Association resources overview of financial planning 4. Find support groups. First and foremost for you. If possible, find a support group you can attend in person: The Alzheimer's Association support group finder has support groups for a variety of types of dementia. If your loved one is interested a support group: Dementia minds has online groups for people living with dementia. Many local senior centers have support groups for your loved one to increase socialization: In the US, go to your ‘countyname’.gov website and search for a senior center. The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 helpline in the US: 1.800.272.3900. 5. Educate yourself on early caregiving journey topics. Listen to these two podcasts or read these two blogs. Memory Loss: 29 minute TCJ podcast: 2. Memory Loss Communication: 20 minute TCJ podcast: 3. Communication – in the Beginning 6. Investigate the US Medicare GUIDE program. Listen to this podcast or read this blog: 23 minute TCJ podcast: 39. Is the Medicare GUIDE program for you Understand if your loved one may be eligible: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/guide/faqs#ben-cgs. If you think you might be eligible, find a US Medicare GUIDE program provider near you. There may be several who cover your zip code so explore options. Go here to find a GUIDE program: Enter your state. Under models select ‘Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model’. Click ‘Display selected’. You can use the plus and minus signs in the upper right corner to zoom in closer to your area. When you find the location you want, click on the blue dot and detailed contact information will show. The Three Stages of the Dementia Caregiving Journey 1. In the Beginning - Your loved one receives a diagnosis. 2. The Messy Middle - You begin asserting control; this is when it gets messy! 3. Later On - You are managing all aspects of their care. Full blog here

In this heartfelt and humorous episode of AgingGayfully®, Chris and Josh dive into one of the most pressing issues facing older adults today: loneliness. From near cardiac scares to surprise mixologist recommendations, they explore how aging bodies and changing social landscapes can quietly isolate us...and what we can do about it. With personal stories, laughter, and a few unexpected confessions (yes, colorblindness and condo paint are involved), they unpack research showing how social isolation increases risks of dementia, heart disease, and even early death—comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. But don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom. If you're feeling a little adrift, or just wondering how to reconnect with purpose, this episode will offer comfort, insights, and probably a hug (eventually). Tune in to explore vulnerability, affection, introversion, and the healing power of being understood. Featuring: CDC-backed stats on isolation and aging Real talk on medical scares and emotional health The difference between solitude and loneliness Why asking for help is an act of strength And how touch, talk, and connection save lives Share your story or drop a line: [email protected] Like, subscribe, and ring our bell (figuratively or otherwise). Let’s AgeGayfully® together, with intention, humor, and each other. 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.

Author and Alzheimer’s caregiver Marianne Scuicco shares her powerful story of caring for her mother and stepdad through dementia diagnosis and end of life. She describes the roller coaster of her caregiving journey, all the ups and downs that her family experienced. After her stepfather was diagnosed with mixed dementia and her mother declined, Marianne and her siblings had to find a balance to ensure they were well cared for. She’s able to say she has very few regrets about her time as a caregiver, feeling she gave her best to the caregiving job. As cohost of the Alz Authors podcast, Marianne continues to support other caregivers dealing with the same challenges.  Marianne Sciucco is a founder of AlzAuthors.com, the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience. It is the most comprehensive, single source in the world for dementia literature curated by former caregivers and authors. Marianne serves as board president, manager, and producer and co-host of their podcast, Untangling Alzheimer’s and Dementia. A registered nurse who cared for hundreds of individuals and families impacted by dementia, she is a former caregiver to her stepfather who had mixed dementia, and her mother who did not have dementia. She is the author of Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story.  Connect with Marianne Scuicco, author of Blue Hydrangeas and cohost of the Alz Authors Podcast: Website: mariannesciucco.com Website: alzauthors.com Podcast: alzauthors.co: /podcast Social Media for Marianne Scuicco: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Bluesky Threads  Purchase your copy of Blue Hydrangeas: A Alzheimer’s Love Story 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.  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. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care. Book your 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

Katie Prentiss is a mother of four, a former professional photographer, and a current filmmaker. When her mother was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Katie stepped into the role of primary caregiver, balancing her family, business, and her mom’s care. This life-changing experience opened her eyes to the preciousness of life, motivating her to make a bold midlife career pivot into acting and producing. In this episode, Katie shares details about her latest full-length feature film, which she describes as a heartfelt love letter to family caregivers. She shares about how caregiving shaped her personal and professional journey, and how she found acceptance, growth, and healing through what she calls the law of contraction and expansion. Tune in to discover how this powerful concept can help caregivers navigate every stage of the caregiving journey with resilience, purpose, and moxie. Show notes with product and resource links: https://bit.ly/HHCPod211 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

Have you ever thought, "I wish I knew how to have a constructive conversation with my manager about how to align my work responsibilities and my caregiving responsibilities?" Today we're sharing strategies to help working family caregivers thrive at both work and at home. We're sharing four tips. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we understand how caregivers often feel torn between their responsibilities at home and their professional responsibilities, which they're trying desperately to fulfill, often without support. 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/41-aligning-work-and-caregiving-responsibilities-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Tip 1: Self-Identify and Strategically Disclose Assess your company culture firstExamples of supportive company policiesDisclose early in the journeyPlan your conversationFrame it collaborativelyDocument everything Tip 2: Build Flexibility Explore flexibility options in your organizationPropose pilot arrangementsConsider team involvementCreate backup plansLeverage technologyConsider career flexibility Tip 3: Leverage Your Resources Connect with colleagues who are also caregiversExplore Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)Look for community resourcesTake things off your plate Tip 4: Plan for the Unplanned Understand your benefits and protectionsCreate a caregiving budgetExplore financial resourcesBuild an emergency fundPrepare for career transitions Read More in This Blog https://sueryansolutions.medium.com/40-building-your-personal-caregiving-support-network-9f9639e9ae87

Season 2 of I Saved You, Now Do the Dishes kicks off with a deeply personal and heartfelt conversation between host Carrie Severson and her husband, Gavin, the inspiration behind the podcast. This episode is full of love, laughter, and the kind of real-life banter only a husband and wife can bring. Carrie and Gavin reflect on what “healing” really looks like for both the caregiver and the patient, sharing raw insights, tender moments, and plenty of humor along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to move from survival mode toward the messy, beautiful road of recovery, this one’s for you.

Rebecca Dittrich is a healthcare attorney, a former corporate executive, a death doula, a Daughterhood circle leader and Founder and CEO of The Reprise Project. After working professionally for years on issues related to Medicare, longterm care and senior living, her dad’s catastrophic stroke in 2021 turned all of those issues deeply personal. She’s since committed her career to supporting caregivers and fostering the honest intentional conversations that help families approach aging and dying with clarity, purpose, and connection. She is a millennial caregiver who lives in San Francisco with her husband and dad, and who will enter the sandwich generation in the fall of 2025 when she welcomes a baby girl. In this episode, Becca shares what it’s really like to be a younger caregiver, navigating big responsibilities while your peers are living totally different lives. We talk about balancing caregiving with your own goals, building a support system, setting boundaries, having that conversation with your parents, and more. Whether you’re just starting out or have been caregiving for years, we share tools and insights that apply to every stage of the journey. TRANSCRIPT The Reprise Project Instagram: drdwillseeyounow Daughterhood

In this eye-opening episode, Christy and Marianne welcome back the formidable advocate, filmmaker, and podcast host Susie Singer Carter. Known for her poignant short film My Mom and the Girl —inspired by her experiences with her mother’s Alzheimer’s and starring the late beloved television actress Valerie Harper - and her award-winning podcast, “Love Conquers ALZ,” Susie shared details of her latest project, No Country for Old People, a stirring docuseries set to premiere on Amazon Prime August 1st. The conversation delves into the often-unseen challenges families face when loved ones require long-term or memory care. Despite finding what she believed was a 5-star facility for her mother, Susie encountered heartbreaking realities: inadequate care, chemical restraints, and a systemic unwillingness to change. As Susie recounted, “Most documentaries are labors of love. They’re not money makes. If you choose to do a documentary, it’s because you really care.” Her commitment shows not only in her work but in her partnership with retired federal prosecutor Rick Mountcastle (Dopesick), who spent decades investigating and prosecuting elder care fraud and neglect. Their collaboration—and the nearly 100 interviews with families, doctors, and whistleblowers—revealed this crisis is widespread, persistent, and demands urgent reform. Processing her own trauma, Susie found motivation in community and collective action. Inspired by the lack of real change through traditional advocacy, she and her partners founded ROAR—Respect, Oversight, Advocacy, and Reform for long-term care. “Any hard issue in our society has been overcome by the collective. That’s our power,” Susie urges. She invites everyone to join the movement, harnessing the “power of love” to demand oversight and expose the veiled corporate interests prioritizing profits over people. Join the movement nocountryforoldpeople.com and learn about ROAR. No Country for Old People will be featured in the AlzAuthors Fall Film Festival 2025 — sign up for our newsletter for details as they come out. Mentioned Resources No Country for Old People docuseries: NoCountryForOldPeople.comLearn about ROAR and get involved: Via the website aboveAlzAuthors Film Festival Info & Newsletter Signup: AlzAuthors.comSusie’s other works:My Mom and the Girl Love Conquers ALZ and wherever you listen to podcasts About the Podcast AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Please help: donate here Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here. Learn about the Moderators Marianne Sciucco Christy Byrne Yates Thanks for listening. We are a Whole Care Network Featured Podcast Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network Find us on The World Podcast Network and babyboomer.org Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know. We’ve got merch! Shop our Store

In today’s episode of A Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast, we sit down with financial advisor Joel Arsenault for an eye-opening conversation about personal finance—especially for caregivers and families navigating later stages of life. Joel encourages us to go deeper into the topic of finances, reminding us that financial planning is not just for experts or investors—it’s for everyone, especially those in caregiving roles. He reflects on how, in the past, financial decisions were often left solely to men, which created an imbalance in knowledge and confidence that still lingers today. Many people—particularly women—have been conditioned to feel ashamed or intimidated when it comes to talking about money. Joel challenges this mindset and emphasizes that not knowing something isn’t a weakness; it’s an opportunity to learn and grow. He also highlights a surprising fact: only a small percentage of people actually work with a financial advisor, despite how valuable that support can be. For caregivers who are managing not only their loved ones’ needs but also their own futures, financial clarity can make all the difference.

Drs. Barry Jacobs and Julia Mayer join the podcast for a great conversation about bringing your best to caregiving, reminding us that caregivers don’t have to be perfect.  As authors and clinical psychologists, Barry and Julia support family caregivers, guiding them through the messiness of caring for a loved one. As a married couple, they’ve had lived experience with caring for their parents and in-laws with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Dealing with caregiving issues in their personal lives taught them invaluable lessons, which they now share with clients and readers of their books.   Barry and Julia’s newest book is the “AARP Caregiver Answer Book” - Purchase your copy at caregiveranswerbook.com Find the AARP Caregiver Answer Book on the AARP website.  Connect with Dr. Barry Jacobs and Dr. Julia Mayer on their website: loveandmeaning.com Read Barry’s latest blog post “My Care Receiver’s Doctors Don’t Respect My Boundaries” here.  Find Dr. Barry Jacobs on social media: Facebook Twitter (X) LinkedIn Find Dr. Julia Mayer on social media: Instagram Facebook Twitter (X) LinkedIn Bluesky  You can find the Approaching Death Support Kit by End of Life Educator Barbara Karnes 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.  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. We believe you deserve to have good hospice care. Book your 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