Spotlight on Care: Alzheimer's Caregiving
UCI MIND
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Welcome to Spotlight on Care, the podcast where we share stories, experiences, tips and advice on caring for loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Spotlight on Care is produced by the University of California, Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, UCI MIND. Please subscribe to the Spotlight on Care podcast wherever you listen. For more information, visit mind.uci.edu. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
Nov 16, 2023
Why you should start early with end of life wishes and details.
Susan Papiri, Community Relations Director for Dignity Memorial. She discusses involving loved ones earlier regarding their wishes, preferences and religious traditions. These conversations can give honor to their legacy and reduce family stress.
If you are in the Orange County/San Diego area and wish to learn more about services offered, you can call their toll-free number at (949)-622-7171
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Aug 17, 2023
The dangers of denial with Elizabeth Lonseth
Steve and Virginia are joined by Elizabeth Lonseth, an author and caregiver, who discusses the dangers of denial in Alzheimer’s caregiving. She touches on the many ways that both patients and caregivers can suffer when caregivers do not come to terms with the realities of the disease. Elizabeth also gives listeners a few tips to help improve the caregiver journey.
To learn more about Elizabeth visit https://elizabethlonsethnovels.com/
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Jun 15, 2023
Reducing caregiver stress with Dr. Natali Edmonds
Virginia is joined by Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board certified Geropsychologist and founder of Dementia Careblazers, an online resource for dementia caregivers. Dr. Edmonds talks about 4 mistakes caregivers make when dealing with their loved ones, and the steps we can take to avoid these behaviors.
You can learn more about Dr. Edmonds and Dementia Careblazers at www.careblazers.com
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May 18, 2023
Caregiving Two Years Later; a Revisit with Lisa Up de Graff
Virginia and Steve are joined once again by Lisa Up de Graff, one of their first guests, who gives an update on her mother’s Alzheimer's disease journey. Lisa describes new challenges she has faced as the disease has progressed and recounts how she has dealt with transitioning her mother into hospice care.
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Apr 20, 2023
Long distance caregiving with Irene Olson
Virginia is joined by Irene Olson, author of the book, “Requiem for the Status Quo'' and a state long-term care Ombudsman. Irene shares tips and challenges she faced with being a long distance caregiver for her father. She emphasizes the importance of building a strong relationship with the staff at the care facility, which in her case, allowed her to remain involved in her father’s care, even at a distance.
Irene Olson is a member of AlzAuthors, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves as a carefully curated resource for caregivers and family members of those living with dementia. Find them at: www.alzauthors.com
To purchase her book, "Requiem for the Status Quo", visit: https://amzn.to/3rnPK8F
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Mar 9, 2023
Alzheimer's Disease and the Rise in Pseudomedicine with Dr. Joshua Grill
Dr. Joshua Grill, PhD, is a professor at UC Irvine in the departments of Psychiatry & Human Behavior and Neurobiology and Behavior, as well as the director of UCI MIND. Dr. Grill joins Steve to discuss risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, steps people can take to lower their risk and the promising investigational therapies. He also cautions listeners about the prevalence of pseudomedicine for dementia.
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Jan 17, 2023
Caring for a Famous Parent with Alzheimer's with Patti Davis
Virginia and Steve are joined by Patti Davis, author of the book, Floating in The Deep End, and daughter of former United States President, Ronald Reagan. She recounts several different experiences she had while caring for her father who publicly lived with Alzheimer’s disease. She also provides the listeners with sage advice she learned from her caregiver journey and from her time with Beyond Alzheimer’s, a caregiver support group she started at UCLA. To learn more about Patti’s experience, purchase her book, Floating in the deep end: How caregivers can see beyond Alzheimer’s visit: https://www.amazon.com/Floating-Deep-End-Caregivers-Alzheimers/dp/1631497987
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Nov 29, 2022
Keeping the Holidays and Celebrations Happy, Healthy and Safe with Dr. Miriam Galindo
Virginia and Steve speak with Dr. Galindo, who cared for her father with Alzheimer's disease and helps the listeners understand the importance of simplifying the holidays to maximize enjoyment for everyone. She gives tips on focusing on one or two traditions and recruiting help instead of trying to balance caregiving with all of the pressures of maintaining family traditions. For more caregiver resources at the holidays and throughout the year visit www.alzoc.org or call the helpline at 844-373-4400. Happy Holidays!
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Nov 22, 2022
Learning to Adjust with Dee Ransom
Dee Ransom joins Steve and Virginia to discuss some of the adjustments she has had to make being a caregiver for her husband, John, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease. Dee shares her experience learning to advocate for her husband, adapting to changes in their relationship and the difficulty and hidden blessings involved in placing him in a residential facility.
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Nov 10, 2022
Wandering with Erin Light, MA
Erin Light, MA, is a gerontologist and a senior administrator at Silverado Senior Living, a memory care company based in Southern California. She joins Steve and Virginia to discuss how to manage wandering in a loved one with dementia. Erin begins by giving an overview of what wandering is and provides some early signs to look out for. She also discusses what precautions caregivers should take to help keep their loved ones who wander, safe.
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Oct 27, 2022
The Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease with Lindsay Hohsfield, PhD
Steve and Virginia are joined by Lindsay Hohsfield, PhD, a neuroscientist at UCI and co-founder of a non-profit organization called Youngtimers, to discuss the role that our genes play in Alzheimer’s disease. She helps the audience understand the difference between sporadic and familial Alzheimer’s, early- versus late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and gives advice to those who are concerned about their genetic risk of developing the disease.
To learn more about Lindsays organization, Youngtimers, please visit https://www.youngtimers.org
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Sep 20, 2022
Choosing the Right Hospice Care with Heather Kruse
Steve and Virginia are joined by Heather Kruse, a licensed RN who specializes in dementia and hospice services. Heather was the hospice nurse for Steve’s wife, Patty at the time of her passing. She discusses the different services offered during hospice care and the things to keep in mind when deciding on hospice for a loved one.
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Sep 8, 2022
Taking Away the Car Keys with Bob Simpson and Jeanette Marantos
Our hosts are joined today by LA Times writer Jeanette Marantos and Virginia's brother, lawyer Bob Simpson, to tell us how they knew it was time to stop their loved one with Alzheimer's Disease from driving. They share stories on the challenges they faced and the clever ways they were able to get around them.
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Aug 25, 2022
Traveling with a Loved One Affected by Alzheimers with Jeanette Marantos
Jeanette Marantos joins Virginia and Steve to discuss her experiences traveling with her husband, Steven, who had Alzheimer's disease, as well as sharing her tips on making travel manageable.
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Jun 16, 2022
When You're Not the Caregiver: Guilt and Grief with Cindy Weinstein
In this episode, Virginia and Steve are joined by Cindy Weinstein, Ph.D., who co-authored a book with neurologist, Dr. Bruce Miller titled, Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief, and the Brain. Dr. Weinstein talks about the guilt and grief she dealt with after her father was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease. She describes the challenges of being away from him while in graduate school, and the different strategies she used to stay connected and to manage her sadness.
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Apr 14, 2022
Caring for a Child with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease with Jim Russell
Virginia and Steve are joined by Jim Russell, MBA, PhD, who shares his emotional story of being a caregiver to his mother with Alzheimers and then to his daughter, Lynne, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease at 48 years old. He describes the challenges in managing his daughter's finances and her family as the disease has progressed.
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Mar 31, 2022
Cognitive Impairment from a Physician’s Point of View with Dr. Steven Tam
Virginia and Steve are joined by UCI Senior Health Center physician and UCI MIND researcher, Steven Tam, M.D., who describes some of the early symptoms of cognitive impairment, and the general approach he takes when assessing a patient. He answers questions about current treatments. He emphasizes the importance of gathering a complete history of the patient prior to making a diagnosis.
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Feb 24, 2022
End-of-Life Planning with Roger Lisabeth
In this episode, Steve and Virginia are joined again by friend and caregiver, Roger Lisabeth who describes his experience in end-of-life planning while his wife Lucy is still alive. Roger emphasizes the importance of being properly prepared when the day arrives and describes some important details many of us may overlook when planning a funeral.
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Dec 28, 2021
Creating a Safe Living Space for Your Loved One with Mark Wilson
Mark Wilson is back with co-hosts, Virginia and Steve to share his tips on outfitting your loved one's home to be safe. He reflects on his experience caring for his mom who lived at home with him for the entirety of her Alzheimer's dementia journey. Mark provides low cost solutions to many of the unique challenges that caregivers face in a home environment like protecting against hard slippery surfaces in the bathroom or curtailing wandering at night .
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Nov 18, 2021
Parenting while caring for someone with early-onset Alzheimer's disease with David Willke
The co-hosts are joined by business owner and friend, David Willke who recently lost his wife Jill to early-onset Alzheimer's disease. David shares his experience raising his children while serving as a caregiver to his wife and the challenges he faced trying to create a normal childhood for his girls.
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Oct 28, 2021
How to Care for Yourself as a Caregiver with Linda Abbit
Virginia and Steve are joined by Linda Abbit, an eldercare professional and caregiver with over 25 years of experience in dementia caregiving. She has authored a book called, The Conscious Caregiver: A Mindful Approach to Caring For Your Loved One Without Losing Yourself (Simon and Schuster, 2017).
In this episode, the trio discuss the importance of prioritizing self-care for the caregiver, tapping in to mindfulness, how to identify burn-out, and utilizing respite care. To learn more about Linda's work visit her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TenderLovingEldercare/
If you like this episode, please rate, review, subscribe and share it with your friends. We're eager to hear topics you want us to discuss. Please email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu and let us know your thoughts.
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Sep 27, 2021
Legal Issues After a Dementia Diagnosis with Stephen Magro
Virginia and Steve discuss the legal concerns that arise after a dementia diagnosis with Orange County probate attorney, Stephen Magro, JD, who has 30 years of experience in elder law. Mr. Magro outlines the legal steps needed to help protect loved ones with dementia including setting up a will and trust and establishing an advanced health care directive. For more information about Stephen Magro’s law firm, visit www.smagrolaw.com. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Sep 23, 2021
Support Groups with Cleo Dougherty
In this episode, the co-hosts sit down with Cleo Dougherty to discuss the importance of finding the right support group for patients and their caregivers. Cleo shares her story caring for her husband, Tom who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2006 and recalling her experience as both a member and a leader of a support group. For more information about support groups at the Alzheimer’s Association, visit: https://www.alz.org/ or the Savvy Caregiver Program through Alzheimer’s Orange County, visit: https://www.alzoc.org/events/savvy-caregiver/. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Sep 17, 2021
Alzheimer’s and the Family: Concerns, Communication, and Compassion with Keith Swayne
In this episode, co-hosts Steve and Virginia have a conversation with Keith Swayne about the importance of communicating with family throughout the Alzheimer's journey. Keith elaborates on his own process for sharing with his children and extended family about his wife, Judy's journey from diagnosis to her passing in 2014. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Sep 7, 2021
Investigating Living Arrangements Outside of the Home with Joe Gonzalez
In this episode, Virginia and Steve chat with Joe Gonzalez about tips for finding the right care facility for someone living with dementia. Joe shares his experience caring for his wife, Barbara as he navigated the transition from caregiving at home to a memory care facility.
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Aug 26, 2021
Making New Memories with Roger Riley
Roger Riley, author of the book, Lifelines: A Care Partner's Survival Guide, joins Steve and Virginia for a discussion about letting go of the past and making new memories with your loved one. Roger gives the listeners a few tips for using hobbies and games from your past to engage your loved-one and improve everyone's quality of life. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Aug 12, 2021
How to Talk to Someone with Dementia with Pam Ostrowski
Guest Pam Ostrowski joins Virginia and Steve for a conversation about compassionate communication. She recalls her own experience caring for her mom with Alzheimer's and relays some of the experiences that she has had with her clients as she helps them navigate dementia caregiving. Pam emphasizes the importance of prioritizing being happy over being right when communicating with loved ones living with dementia. To learn more about what Pam does, visit her website at www.itsnotthatsimple.com. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Jul 8, 2021
Investigating In-Home Care with Mark Wilson
In this episode, Virginia Naeve and Steve O'Leary interview retired HR executive Mark Wilson, who cared for his mother with Alzheimer's disease, about in-home caregiving. He gives the listeners his expert tips on finding the right caregiving team to support in-home care. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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May 21, 2021
Person-Centered Care and Empathy with Lynda Everman and Don Wendorf
In this episode, Virginia Naeve and Steve O'Leary are joined by husband and wife team, Don Wendorf and Lynda Everman who discuss their journeys as caregivers for their loved-ones with dementia. They introduce the concept of Person-Centered Care and help us understand how empathy is critical to dementia care. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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May 14, 2021
Personality Change Challenges and Medications with Denny Barker
In this episode, co-hosts Steve and Virginia interview Denny Barker about his caregiving journey with his wife, Kay. He recalls an incident at his wife's memory care facility and the consequences that followed. Steve and Virginia reflect on their own experiences of dealing with their loved ones' dementia induced personality changes. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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May 7, 2021
Doctor Visits and Medication Management with Kim Bailey
In this episode, Virginia Naeve and Steve O'Leary interview Kim Bailey, MS, Gerontology who is the Education and Programs Specialist at Alzheimer's Orange County. She provides tips for getting the most out of doctor visits for loved ones with dementia. Kim also discusses her person-centered approach to medication management. For more information about the resources at Alzheimer's Orange County, visit: www.alzoc.org or call the help line at 844-373-4400. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Apr 26, 2021
Early-Onset Alzheimer's: A Daughter's Story with Chelsea Cox
In this episode, Virginia Naeve and Steve O'Leary interview Chelsea Cox, Associate Director of Education at UCI MIND, whose father was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease when she was in high school. Chelsea shares an honest account of her family's journey through diagnosis, assisted living placement, end-of-life, and coping with loss. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Apr 15, 2021
Navigating Anger and Frustration with Roger Lisabeth
In this episode, co-hosts Steve O'Leary and Virginia Naeve address the topic of anger, a common emotion experienced by many Alzheimer's disease caregivers. Their guest, Roger Lisabeth shares some tips for developing patience from his own experience in caring for his wife, Lucy. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Mar 18, 2021
Dilemmas with Diagnosis with Lisa Up de Graff
In this episode, co-hosts Virginia Naeve and Steve O'Leary discuss their experience getting an initial diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease for their loved ones. Guest Lisa Up de Graff shares personal challenges and successes in navigating diagnosis and care for her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease five years ago. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Feb 2, 2021
Recognizing the Early Signs of Alzheimer's Disease with Bill Edwards
In this episode, co-hosts Steve O'Leary and Virginia Naeve share some early signs and symptoms they observed in their family members with Alzheimer's disease. Guest Bill Edwards discusses his personal experience with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in his wife, Nancy. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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Jan 11, 2021
Meet the Co-Hosts
Co-Hosts Steve O’Leary and Virginia Naeve share their personal caregiving journeys, provide an overview of the series, and offer some initial caregiving tips. What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.edu.
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