The Caregiver's Journey

Do you feel completely alone in your caregiving journey? No family backup, friends have faded away, and you can’t afford professional help? You are not alone — and there is real help available, often at little or no cost.

We are Elizabeth Miller of Happy Healthy Caregiver and Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster of The Caregiver's Journey. In this podcast we’ve joined forces with - together we’ve lived it, learned from it, and made it our mission to walk alongside family caregivers. We’re sharing four key resource areas that can provide real relief without breaking the bank.

Think about the analogy of a frog in water. If a frog jumps into boiling water, it immediately jumps out. But if the water starts lukewarm and slowly heats up, the frog doesn’t realize the danger until it’s too late. That’s how burnout works for caregivers — especially solo caregivers with fewer helping hands. The average caregiver is in this role for four and a half years. For dementia family caregivers, it can stretch to ten years or more. You can do it alone for a while, but not indefinitely. Here’s where to turn.

Full Show Notes

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/podcast/

Additional Resources Mentioned

Happy Healthy Caregiver website: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/
Area Agency on Aging Finder: https://eldercare.acl.gov/home
Lifespan Respite Voucher Program: https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/respite-voucher-programs/apply-for-state-lifespan-respite-voucher-programs/
Veterans Administration office locator: https://www.va.gov/find-locations/
Elizabeth Dole Foundation Respite: https://hiddenheroes.org/resources-online-education/respite/
Medicare Guide Program Eligible: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/guide/faqs#ben-cgs
Medicare Guide Program locator: https://bit.ly/4n3uArv
Dementia Support Group finder: https://www.alz.org/event-search?category=Support+Groups
Virtual Support Group: daughterhood.org
Adult Day programs - ask your Area Agency on Aging to help find one:  https://eldercare.acl.gov/home
National Adult Day Services Finder: https://www.nadsa.org/locator/
Dementia Adult Day Programs Finder - choose Community Service: https://www.communityresourcefinder.org/
Dementia Friendly America's Memory Cafe Directory: https://dfamerica.org/memory-cafe-directory/
The Caregiver’s Journey Podcast on Palliative Care: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/42-when-to-call-in-palliative-care-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/
Seth Rogan and his wife Lauren HFC respite grants: https://wearehfc.org/care-grants/
Home Instead grant application: https://www.homeinstead.com/home-care-services/alzheimers-dementia-care/HFCgrant/
Memory Board - HHC10 saves 10% at checkout: https://memoryboard.com/?utm_source=happyhealthycaregiver&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=promo_page
Care Yah-Ya: https://www.careyaya.org/ 
Papa companion care: https://www.papa.com
Zinnia TV: https://www.zinniatv.com/
Vivo Virtual Exercise: https://teamvivo.com/
Singing at Home - Bridgetown: https://www.bridgetownmt.com/singingathome#section-1704859821310
Dementia Minds support groups for people living with dementia: https://dementiaminds.org/ncdm-groups/
Cognitive stimulation therapy: http://Newdays.AI
Dementia Care Service finder - choose are at home or housing options: https://www.communityresourcefinder.org/
Alzheimer's Association emergency respite grants - call 800.272.3900:   https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/care-options/respite-care
The Caregiver’s Journey Podcast 26 Emergency Plan: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/are-you-ready-for-an-emergency-get-a-plan-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-other-dementias/
The Caregiver’s Journey Podcast 33 Care Plan: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/33-how-to-create-a-care-plan-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/

Read More in This Blog

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/65-help-for-solo-caregivers-four-resource-areas/

“When families are prepared — physically, emotionally, logistically — they are able to handle these moments a lot differently. There’s less panic, less guilt, and a little bit more empowerment.” — Dr. Taylor Rush

One minute, everything’s fine. The next minute, your loved one is on the floor. If fall prevention isn’t on your radar yet — or if you’re waiting until after the first fall happens — you’re not alone. But there’s a lot you can do right now to be better prepared.

We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we know firsthand how frightening falls can be — and how much the fear of a fall can affect both the person you’re caring for and yourself. We’re sharing five practical tips drawn from the expertise of Dr. Taylor Rush, clinical health psychologist and director of behavioral sciences and interdisciplinary programs at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Neurological Restoration. Taylor specializes in chronic neurological conditions including Parkinson’s and movement disorders, with a deep focus on supporting care partners through the challenges they face every day.

Let’s walk through five essential tips for preventing falls, handling them when they happen, and managing the emotional aftermath — for both you and your loved one.

Connect with us and share your tips:

Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/
Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
Instagram: 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: sue@thecaregiversjourney.org, nancy@thecaregiversjourney.org

Full Show Notes

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/64-falling-spot-risks-stay-calm-heal-afterwards-five-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/

Additional Resources Mentioned

Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
Taylor Rush: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-rush-phd-488149352/
Cleveland Clinic for Neurological Restoration: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/neurological/depts/neurological-restoration
The Caregiver’s Journey Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap: https://roadmap.thecaregiversjourney.org/ Available as an interactive page on our website that walks you through the three stages of your dementia family caregiver journey. Includes the option to download the guide for free.

Takeaways

We shared 5 tips:

Know your loved one's fall risk factors
Reduce risk with practical prevention strategies
Start the conversation early — and have a plan
Stay calm and assess — don't panic in the moment
Manage the emotional aftermath of a fall

Read More in This Blog

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/64-falling-spot-risks-stay-calm-heal-afterwards-five-essential-tips/

"Once caregivers get it, they're like, 'My gosh.' You just have to train yourself to walk around the brick wall to the moment, the now, and the imagination." — Anne Basting

Do you struggle to create meaningful connections with your loved one living with dementia? Almost all of us do. You're not alone — and there are concrete tools you can learn right now to change that.

We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we understand how isolating it can feel when conversations stall and connection seems just out of reach. We're sharing five tips for creating intentionally meaningful moments with your loved one, from Anne Basting, founder of the award-winning nonprofit TimeSlips, who has spent 30 years developing and researching creative storytelling approaches for people living with dementia.

Let's explore five essential tips for creating meaningful connections — from believing in your own creativity to turning shared moments into lasting gifts.

Connect with us and share your tips:

Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/
Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
Instagram: 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: sue@thecaregiversjourney.org, nancy@thecaregiversjourney.org

Full Show Notes

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/63-meaningful-conversation-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/

Additional Resources Mentioned

Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
TimeSlips: https://www.timeslips.org/
Dementia Friendly America: https://dfamerica.org/timeslips/
The Caregiver’s Journey Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap: https://roadmap.thecaregiversjourney.org/ Available as an interactive page on our website that walks you through the three stages of your dementia family caregiver journey. Includes the option to download the guide for free.

Takeaways

We shared 5 tips:

Believe in your own creativity
Forget memory
Open with a beautiful question
Use beautiful listening
Create gifts from the experience

Read More in This Blog

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/63-meaningful-conversation-five-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias-2/

“I don’t think any of us should be trying to assist a person with dementia without first walking in their shoes.” — PK Beville, Ph.D.

Have you ever wondered what it actually feels like to live with dementia? Do you find yourself struggling to understand why your loved one behaves the way they do, wishing you could see the world through their eyes- even for a moment? There’s a powerful tool that can help you do exactly this.

We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we know how much empathy and understanding matter in day-to-day care. We’re sharing insights today from PK Beville, Ph.D., founder of the global nonprofit Second Wind Dreams® and inventor of the Virtual Dementia Tour, a simulation experience that has changed how nearly five million people worldwide understand and care for people living with dementia.

If you’re following along with the Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap, this is part of Step Seven — educating yourself. You can find the full roadmap as an interactive page on our website at thecaregiversjourney.org. Steps one through six help you build your foundation right after a diagnosis. Steps seven through ten are about deepening your understanding, and the Virtual Dementia Tour is one of the essential resources we recommend in this phase.

Let’s explore three essential tips — from understanding what the Virtual Dementia Tour is, to applying what you learn at home, to finding one near you.

Connect with us and share your tips:

Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/
Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
Instagram: 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: sue@thecaregiversjourney.org, nancy@thecaregiversjourney.org

Full Show Notes

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/62-what-is-a-virtual-dementia-tour-three-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/

Additional Resources Mentioned

Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
Second Wind Dreams: https://secondwind.org/
The Caregiver’s Journey Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap: https://roadmap.thecaregiversjourney.org/ Available as an interactive page on our website that walks you through the three stages of your dementia family caregiver journey. Includes the option to download the guide for free.

Takeaways

We shared 3 tips:

Learn what happens in a Virtual Dementia Tour
Apply what you learn at home
Find a virtual dementia tour near you

Read More in This Blog

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/62-what-is-a-virtual-dementia-tour-three-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias-2/

WOOP is a very practical technique for anything from emotions to something on your to-do list — it can be used for many different kinds of wishes." — Donna Fedus

How many times have you been told that taking care of yourself is really important — and felt overwhelmed just thinking about it? You are not alone in this struggle, and there is a simple, evidence-based process that can help.

We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we understand how hard it can be to find time — and energy — for your own wellbeing. We are sharing insights from Donna Fedus, gerontologist and founder of Borrow My Glasses, about an evidence-based process called WOOP — yes, WOOP — and how it can help caregivers turn their wishes into reality.

Donna has been a gerontologist for 35 years and a dementia educator for nearly 20. She founded Borrow My Glasses in 2013 and has been instrumental in bringing WOOP to dementia family caregivers through a nationally funded study conducted with Yale University.

Let's explore three essential tips for putting WOOP to work in your caregiving life.

Connect with us and share your tips:

Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/
Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
Instagram: 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: sue@thecaregiversjourney.org, nancy@thecaregiversjourney.org

Full Show Notes

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/61-turn-your-wishes-into-reality-three-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias-2/

Additional Resources Mentioned

Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
Donna Fedus at BorrowMyGlasses https://borrowmyglasses.com/
The Caregiver’s Journey Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap: https://roadmap.thecaregiversjourney.org/ Available as an interactive page on our website that walks you through the three stages of your dementia family caregiver journey. Includes the option to download the guide for free.

Takeaways

We shared 3 tips:

Tip 1: WOOP it up

Tip 2: Hone in on your wish

Tip 3: Make it work!

Read More in This Blog

https://thecaregiversjourney.org/61-turn-your-wishes-into-reality-three-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/