#047- Living with Dementia: Finding Purpose and Hope with Christine Thelker

02/17/21 • 60 min

Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp

Chrissy Thelker was 55 years old when she had her first stroke and was subsequently diagnosed with Vascular Dementia. In today's interview, Chrissy shares her experience of living with dementia and her journey to finding purpose and hope.

With more and more people living with dementia, it's imperative that we gain perspective and understanding of the lived experience of people living with dementia and the importance of advocacy, peer support, and building a purpose-filled life living with dementia.

In this episode, Chrissy Thelker shows us how.
Click here to visit the show notes page to learn more.
Click here to listen to the podcast
FREE GUIDES

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Help others find this show and get tools for caregiving:

My mission is to give you tools for caring for aging parents so you have peace of mind knowing you're doing everything you can to help your older loved one live their best life.
You can help by sharing episodes, and subscribing to the podcast. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Then, leave a review. Your review will help other people find this podcast.

I read them all. Thank you!

--
DISCLAIMER: The material on this site is for informational and educational purposes only. Any comments Dr. Koepp may make on the TV Show, blog, or in response to an individual’s story or comments should not be construed as establishing a psychologist-patient relationship between Dr. Koepp and the individual. None of Dr. Koepp's show, website, social media, comments, or group information should be considered a substitute for individualized medical or mental health assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Koepp is only representing herself in her TV Show, blogs, and on her website.

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here
Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits

In this episode, Chrissy Thelker shows us how.
Click here to visit the show notes page to learn more.
Click here to listen to the podcast
FREE GUIDES

Download the Memory Loss Guide here
Download the Caring for Aging Parents Checklist here.

JOIN ME:

Have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Submit your question here
Join the Caring for Aging Parents Facebook Community here

Interested in working with me?

For Families: Click here
For Professionals: Click here

Help others find this show and get tools for caregiving:

My mission is to give you tools for caring for aging parents so you have peace of mind knowing you're doing everything you can to help your older loved one live their best life.
You can help by sharing episodes, and subscribing to the podcast. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Then, leave a review. Your review will help other people find this podcast.

I read them all. Thank you!

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

Previous Episode

[Ask Dr. Koepp #001] Elderly Parent Calling Multiple Times a Day? 5 Expert Tips

Next Episode

#048- Tips for Better Communication in Dementia Care: 3 Caregiving Traps to Avoid with Dr. Natali Edmonds

In today's interview, Dr. Natali Edmonds, Geropsychologist and founder of Dementia Careblazers, talks about how to improve communication in dementia care by sharing:

3 caregiving communication traps to avoid and what to do instead
A very important message she wants all dementia caregivers to hear.

The tips in this episode will not only help you improve your communication with a person with dementia, they'll improve your connection with them as well.
Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll learn from my interview with Dr. Natali Edmonds

[09:26] Learn how dementia changes communication between a dementia caregiver and a person living with dementia.
[09:40] Caregiving Trap #1: Don't Argue. Dr. Natali shares why arguing with a person with dementia leads to more problems and what to try instead.
[19:00] Caregiving Trap #2: Avoid Reasoning. Instead of reasoning and trying to get your loved one to see your point of view or "reality" try to join your loved one's reality. Learn how.
[27:20] Caregiving Trap #3: Stop Correcting. Adults with dementia will need help along the dementia journey. Taking the time to assess if your loved one really needs your help or if this "error" can slide will protect your relationship (and their dignity) for years to come.
[30:10] Listen to the number one,most important message Dr. Natali wants all dementia caregivers to hear

Click here to visit the show notes page to learn more.
Click here to listen to the podcast
FREE GUIDES

Download the Memory Loss Guide here
Download the Caring for Aging Parents Checklist here.

JOIN ME:

Have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Submit your question here
Join the Caring for Aging Parents Facebook Community here

Interested in working with me?

For Families: Click here
For Professionals: Click here

Help others find this show and get tools for caregiving:

My mission is to give you tools for caring for aging parents so you have peace of mind knowing you're doing everything you can to help your older loved one live their best life.
You can help by sharing episodes, and subscribing to the podcast. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!
Then, leave a review. Your review will help other people find this podcast.

I read them all. Thank you!

--
DISCLAIMER: The material on this site is for informational and educational purposes only. Any comments Dr. Koepp may make on the TV

Have a topic idea? Send us a text.

Mental Health + Aging with Dr. Regina Koepp - #047- Living with Dementia: Finding Purpose and Hope with Christine Thelker

Transcript

Christine Thelker 0:00
When you're given your diagnosis, they just sit you down and say, well, we're sorry to tell you about you have vascular dementia? And and you say to them, Well, what does that mean? I already knew what that meant. But you still asked the question, sort of expecting a different answer for yourself. I don't know why, but you just sort of do. And they say, Well, you know, the lifespan is three to eight years. And so the best thing now is that you have to get your affair