EP 11 The Hardest Thing I Have Ever Done ...
10/12/22 • 34 min
1 Listener
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The Hardest Transition: Moving a Loved One to Memory Care
In this heartfelt and emotional episode, the host reflects on the difficult decision to move his wife, Shanna, to a memory care facility 18 months ago.
I will tell the story of the hardest thing I've ever done. That is moving my best friend and wife to a Memory Care Facility. I discuss the anxious week before this happened, the actual moving day and how we were able to move her without any problems. I also talked about the weeks that followed and how I dealt with all the emotions that came up as we began this new chapter of our life together, living apart for the first time in over 40 years.
I discuss some of the things that I was inspired to do during this very emotional time that I believe were instrumental in allowing us to survive this experience and eventually learn to thrive in this new chapter of our lives. I will discuss how important it was to have family support and faith in my conviction that this was the right thing for us to do at this time.
00:00 Introduction to the Hardest Decision
01:47 Reader's Heartfelt Comment
03:05 Preparing for the Move
03:45 Emotional Reflections and Journal Entries
06:58 Final Preparations and Family Support
08:07 The Last Weekend Together
11:02 Easter Sunday: The Last Day at Home
13:01 The Day of the Move
16:56 Family Support and Initial Adjustments
18:05 Navigating Memory Care Facilities
19:31 Emotional Challenges and Coping
21:05 First Visit and Emotional Reunion
24:07 Ongoing Struggles and Reflections
25:56 Adapting and Finding Joy
29:42 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes
Get the FREE Guide to Responding to Repeated Questions
Visit the NEW Surviving Alzheimer's Podcast Website (survalz.com)
to Register for the Support Group, Newsletter and more ...
Visit the Podcast Facebook page
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast
The Hardest Transition: Moving a Loved One to Memory Care
In this heartfelt and emotional episode, the host reflects on the difficult decision to move his wife, Shanna, to a memory care facility 18 months ago.
I will tell the story of the hardest thing I've ever done. That is moving my best friend and wife to a Memory Care Facility. I discuss the anxious week before this happened, the actual moving day and how we were able to move her without any problems. I also talked about the weeks that followed and how I dealt with all the emotions that came up as we began this new chapter of our life together, living apart for the first time in over 40 years.
I discuss some of the things that I was inspired to do during this very emotional time that I believe were instrumental in allowing us to survive this experience and eventually learn to thrive in this new chapter of our lives. I will discuss how important it was to have family support and faith in my conviction that this was the right thing for us to do at this time.
00:00 Introduction to the Hardest Decision
01:47 Reader's Heartfelt Comment
03:05 Preparing for the Move
03:45 Emotional Reflections and Journal Entries
06:58 Final Preparations and Family Support
08:07 The Last Weekend Together
11:02 Easter Sunday: The Last Day at Home
13:01 The Day of the Move
16:56 Family Support and Initial Adjustments
18:05 Navigating Memory Care Facilities
19:31 Emotional Challenges and Coping
21:05 First Visit and Emotional Reunion
24:07 Ongoing Struggles and Reflections
25:56 Adapting and Finding Joy
29:42 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes
Get the FREE Guide to Responding to Repeated Questions
Visit the NEW Surviving Alzheimer's Podcast Website (survalz.com)
to Register for the Support Group, Newsletter and more ...
Visit the Podcast Facebook page
Previous Episode
EP 10 Deciding About Memory Care
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Facing the Decision: A Journey Through Alzheimer's Care Transitions
In this episode of the Surviving Alzheimer's Podcast, host Ken Cardita delves into the heart-wrenching decision to move his wife, Shanna, to a long-term memory care facility after 12 years of battling Alzheimer's. Ken recounts the emotional stages leading up to the move, sharing journal entries detailing Shanna's rapid decline, wandering incidents, and the challenges of caregiving. He also discusses seeking guidance from family, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Listeners learn about key considerations for memory care decisions and the emotional toll it takes on families, offering insights and support for those on similar journeys.
00:50 Deciding on Long-Term Memory Care
01:33 Listener Feedback and Reflections
03:00 Shanna's First Wandering Incident
06:33 Emotional Struggles and Realizations
12:31 Considering Long-Term Care Options
13:22 Consultation with Dr. P
16:45 Facing the Transition
18:07 Seeking Guidance and Support
18:53 Making the Decision
21:05 Finding the Right Place
24:02 Preparing for the Move
26:24 Emotional Reflections
31:35 Looking Ahead
Get the FREE Guide to Responding to Repeated Questions
Visit the NEW Surviving Alzheimer's Podcast Website (survalz.com)
to Register for the Support Group, Newsletter and more ...
Visit the Podcast Facebook page
Next Episode
EP 12 Signs of Survival - 1st year in Memory Care
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Memory Care: Lessons and Challenges from Our Journey
In this episode , host Ken shares his and his wife Shanna's experiences during the 11 months they spent transitioning Shanna into her first memory care facility. Ken discusses the initial expectations and realities of the memory care environment, the importance of dedicated caregivers, and the frequent turnover that impacted Shanna's care.
He also shares personal stories of their emotional journey, including moments of guilt, support, and finding a second family among the caregivers and residents.
The episode ends with the decision to move Shanna to a new facility and hints at promising changes. Ken encourages listener interaction and support for the podcast as he prepares to share more about their ongoing Alzheimer’s journey.
00:54 Recap of Previous Episode and Overview of Current Episode
01:42 Listener Comment and Response
02:24 Initial Experiences with Memory Care Facility
03:04 Challenges and Realizations in Memory Care
05:41 Caregiver Dynamics and Facility Observations
12:05 Building Relationships and Adjusting Expectations
14:26 A Tender Mercy and Emotional Breakthrough
19:39 A Compassionate Visit
20:16 The Physical Toll of Stress
20:45 Letting Go of Full Time Caregiving
21:42 Intimidating the Care Staff
23:52 Adjusting Visitation Schedules
25:46 Management Changes and Their Impact
31:47 Handling Behavioral Issues
35:19 Deciding to Move
36:35 Conclusion and Next Steps
Get the FREE Guide to Responding to Repeated Questions
Visit the NEW Surviving Alzheimer's Podcast Website (survalz.com)
to Register for the Support Group, Newsletter and more ...
Visit the Podcast Facebook page
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