Ask Dr. Mia: Answers For Dementia Caregiving

Send us a text

Sleep, everyone wants it or better versions of it. Dr. Mia talks with Dr. Jaime Hughes about sleep for older adults.
Jaime Hughes is an Assistant Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Implementation Science and Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine. As an implementation scientist, Dr. Hughes focuses on how to spread programs that work into different settings, including healthcare clinics and community-based services. She has a particular interest in programs to help older adults sleep well and move more. Her work is supported by a team of public health and clinical researchers who comprise the AMAZE Research Team – Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Movement And Zzz’s for Everyone. Dr. Hughes received her PhD from UNC at Chapel Hill and her MPH and MSW from University of Michigan.
Interested in learning more about research opportunities in sleep and aging? Email Dr. Hughes' team at [email protected].

Other resources:

Sleep and Aging

Healthy Sleep Habits

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us a text

In this episode of Ask Dr. Mia podcast, Dr. Mia talks to her colleague, neuropsychologist and memory researcher Dr. Bonnie Sachs.
Dr. Bonnie Sachs is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in working with older adults with memory loss and other cognitive disorders. Her areas of focus, both clinically and in research, include mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and other forms of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Vascular dementia, and Lewy Body dementia. Dr. Sachs is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, and is also an Investigator with the Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC). Additionally, Dr. Sachs enjoys education training and she currently co-directs the Clinical Neuropsychology Fellowship Program at the Wake Forest School of Medicine.
Dr. Sachs talks about how she became interested in the field, the training for neuropsychologists, what they do, and when patients should see a neuropsychologist.

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us a text

Dr. Mia talks about the difficult but common safety issues in Steve & Nina's story.
4 M's of safety problems in people with mild/early stage dementia: money, medications, meals, and mobility/driving.

• Driving safety: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/driving-safety-and-alzheimers-disease
• Older adults & driving: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/older-drivers
• Find an OT who does driving tests: https://www.aota.org/practice/practice-settings/driving-community-mobility/driving--community-mobility-toolkit-for-professionals
• Social security scams reporting: https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-02238
• Pillbox with alarm & other technology: https://www.alzstore.com/early-stages-of-alzheimers-s/1817.htm

4 common types of dementia: Alzheimer's dementia, vascular dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and Frontotemporal dementia
Leave reviews on Apple Podcast or on www.miayangmd.com

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us a text

In the final episode of season three, Dr. Mia reflects on her love for working with people living with dementia and their caregivers. She shares the inspiring story of a couple, Bill and Pat, who exemplify the extraordinary daily acts of caregiving. Dr. Mia discusses the importance of acknowledging, validating, and redirecting communication strategies for dementia care. She also explores the complex emotions and grief that caregivers experience and emphasizes the need for self-compassion and mental health support. Dr. Mia concludes the episode by expressing her gratitude to the listeners and announcing an extended break before the start of season four in April 2024.
Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Podcast Statistics

01:28
Why I Love Working with People Living with Dementia

02:27
Inspiration from a Couple's Story

03:26
Honoring the Extraordinary-ness of Caregiving

04:26
The Love and Care Provided by Bill

05:21
Moments of Clarity in Pat's Decline

06:20
Bill's Continued Connection with Pat

06:50
Bill's Experience Shared with Medical Students

07:19
The Power of Caring

08:19
The Poem 'Do Not Ask Me to Remember'

09:35
Communication Strategies for Dementia Care

10:35
AVR: Acknowledge, Validate, Redirect

12:58
Holding Space and Staying Grounded in Caregiving

14:13
Processing Grief in Caregiving

15:10
Grief in Anticipation of Loss

16:07
The Complicated Relationship with a Loved One

17:35
Grief in Moments of Crisis

18:36
The Interplay of Parkinson's Disease and Cancer

21:35
The Work of Grief and Soul-Making

24:31
The Importance of Feeling and Holding Space

27:25
Taking an Extended Break and Gratitude

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.

Send us a text

Bill Cohen, a certified senior advisor, shares his experience in helping families navigate the challenges of caregiving for a loved one with dementia. He emphasizes the importance of open communication and allowing each family member to express their opinions and concerns. Bill also discusses the training required to become a certified senior advisor and the holistic approach they take to caregiving. He highlights the role of financial considerations in caregiving decisions and the potential for family disputes. Bill provides insights on when to seek the help of a counselor, social worker, or senior advisor, and the importance of self-care for caregivers.
The site to find certified senior advisors is

https://portal.csa.us/locator/

Bill Cohen’s loving and talented mother, Sheila, lost her home to Hurricane Katrina. Then, she lost her health, ability to create beautiful art and, ultimately, her life due to Alzheimer's. For almost 10 years, Bill was her primary caregiver and advocate, not just her son. He turned his personal loss into his passion supporting other caregivers.

After “retiring” from state employment and entering his “encore career” seven years ago, Bill is a caregiver support group and memory café leader, a podcast guest, a speaker, a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®, a trained elder mediator, and a caregiving support consultant. He has completed several caregiving courses through the Alzheimer's Association and the Society for Certified Senior Advisors (CSA)®, and earned business degrees from Boston and Portland State Universities.

Bill is a native New Englander and has lived in the Portland, Oregon area for almost 40 years with his wife and supporter, Lori.

Contact and learn more about Bill Cohen:

https://cohencaregivingsupport.com/services

https://linktr.ee/CohenSupport

[email protected]

Find your local Certified Senior Advisors at https://portal.csa.us/locator/

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies.
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.