Today Barbara is joined by Evelyn Garcia, who cares for her mother who has younger-onset dementia. Evelyn was living in Virginia when she got a call from her mother’s doctor, saying she couldn’t live alone any longer. When Evelyn flew out to Los Angeles, she realized how bad things were: her mother was paranoid and forgetful, cried all the time, and wasn’t paying bills or taking care of herself. In June of 2020, Evelyn moved to Los Angeles to take care of her. Evelyn and Barbara talk about...

Dani Klein Modisett is the founder and CEO of Laughter On Call which pairs comedians with Alzheimer’s patients. She’ll reveal the story behind the formation of this brilliant idea and explain why laughter really is the best medicine.  Writer-comedian, Dani Modisett, has been performing comedy for over 20 years. She taught the art of stand-up comedy at UCLA for over a decade and has produced numerous live comedy shows all over the U.S. Find more about Dani and Laughter On Call  The Washington...

Katie is a new caregiver, taking care of her mother who is in the early stages of “advanced cognitive decline.“ She’s also caregiving from a distance. She’ll discuss trying to navigate through this new experience and how she’s found support for both her mom and herself. Want to share your story? Barbara would love to have you as her guest on Dementia Discussions. Please get in touch! (310-362-8232 / [email protected])

Today Barbara is joined by her friend and colleague Natalie Stanger. Twenty years ago, Natalie started a company to “help seniors do the things they could no longer do or didn’t want to do,” and it’s kept her busy ever since. Natalie talks about how she got into the world of geriatrics and found her niche as a Daily Money Manager (a “DMM”). They discuss all the things she does for her clients, from bill paying and mail management to simply keeping them company: “There’s no formula, it’s...

Today Barbara is joined by Heidi Artman, who is caring for her husband, Lee. Heidi first noticed Lee’s memory problems in 2015, but it wasn’t until recently that he received a diagnosis. Because Lee has struggled with bipolar disorder since his early 30s, what was happening in his brain was difficult to diagnose. Heidi and Barbara talk about the complexity of brain disease and the research into whether components of bipolar are linked to a propensity to dementia. Heidi talks about Lee’s...

Today Barbara welcomes Denise to the podcast. An only child, Denise says she never saw herself as a caregiver, but when her mother was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s, everything changed. She and Barbara discuss the complex emotions and transitions involved once you receive the diagnosis – not only for the one who gets the diagnosis but all those who care for them. Denise tells Barbara that hearing the diagnosis was confirmation that her mother was no longer self-aware enough to know...

Today Barbara welcomes her colleague and friend Doria to the podcast. They discuss Doria’s experience caring for her mother, Jeanette, from when she had a stroke during the Northridge earthquake (1994) until she died at 82. Doria talks about how difficult it was to find caregivers due to their lack of resources, and how her mother was often mistreated and harmed by women they’d hired. Acknowledging her mother’s pain is what motivated Doria – at the age of 50 – to go back to school to become a...

Today Ed Mount joins Barbara to talk about his ongoing journey as a caregiver. Ed’s father died from Alzheimer’s in 2012 and his mother Judy is now suffering from the disease. He and Barbara discuss the different phases of Alzheimer’s and the various caregivers Ed has encountered throughout the years. Through his experiences, Ed shares what he’s learned along the way and what he wishes he’d done differently. 

When Adam Steinman’s mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s four years ago, his kids were two and six. Adam joins Barbara to share his experience caring for younger children and aging parents, a phenomenon known as the Sandwich Generation. Adam remembers his mother-in-law as incredibly vibrant and fiercely independent, a progressive thinker who would “always tell you what she thought.” For Adam and his wife, this made knowing something was awry that much more obvious. He and Barbara...

Today Barbara is joined by Gary Zembow and Marcy Lebovitz to discuss Gary’s mother, Esther. Now 94, Esther was born in Poland, and was the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust. Gary and Marcy describe Esther as bright, happy and cheerful, despite what she lived through as a child. They first remember noticing dementia symptoms after she had anesthesia for back surgery. It was never diagnosed, but they assume it was frontotemporal because she had trouble finding words.  They...

Paul Spiegelman joins Barbara to talk about caregiving for his mother, Lila, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2015. At first, Paul’s father did all the caregiving while Paul, who lives in Dallas, did what he could to support his father (a “caregiver’s caregiver”). As Lila’s condition declined, Paul says he could see the strain on his father. That’s when he knew his parents needed more help. He and Barbara discuss the adjustment that comes when you bring in professional caregivers, and...

Steve Johnson joins Barbara to talk about caring for his wife of 22 years, Bonnie. In September of 2020, Bonnie was diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. He says the onset was radical – they’d taken a family trip in June but by August, Bonnie no longer recognized him. He tells Barbara about how much his life has changed in just two years, and his experience caregiving for someone who is too impaired to understand what’s happening to her. They discuss coping strategies and tactics for...

Are you a caregiver with a story to share? Please call Barbara at 310-362-8232. Today Barbara is joined by Kimberly Cruelle, whose husband  was diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s six years ago at the age of 47. She tells Barbara about the early signs, starting with memory loss that quickly became severe. They discuss the challenges of young onset Alzheimer’s – when the patient’s age makes it difficult to get the right tests approved, and how often it’s misdiagnosed as anything from sleep...

Barbara kicks off today's episode with a question for you: Would you (or someone you know) like to help other caregivers by sharing your caregiving story on Dementia Discussions? If so, Barbara would love to hear from you! Call or text: 310-362-8232. Next, Barbara welcomes facility placement specialist Stacy Brooks. Stacy’s company, Heart Light, helps place seniors in assisted living facilities. Stacy also knows first-hand how much the right living situation can improve someone's life. An...

Today Barbara welcomes back Dotti McLean, whose husband Brian was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease seven years ago. They talk about how the disease has progressed, and all the things Dotti has learned along the way. Dotti describes some of the physical problems – losing his muscle memory, having a hard time walking, getting dizzy and falling down – as well as the memory decline. She says that Brian is unable to understand basic directions or explanations and lives in his own imaginary life...

Today Barbara is joined by Marty Stevens-Heeber, founder and CEO of Clear Home Solutions. An accomplished business woman and entrepreneur, Marty tells Barbara why she was drawn to working with older adults. They discuss her work as a Senior Move Manager, a fairly new but growing role devoted to helping families deal with the difficult (and potentially traumatic) experience of moving loved ones into a new living situation. Her company can take over any and all of the logistics associated with...

Today Barbara is joined by Bobbie Schwarcz to talk about Bobbie’s father-in-law, Chuck, who died several years ago. When Bobbie met Chuck, he’d already been diagnosed with dementia. Bobbie describes Chuck as an intelligent, charming, and fascinating man who’d been quite an accomplished musician. As his disease progressed, Bobbie started listening to music with him. When she’d play Marie Callas, his all-time favorite singer, he’d light up and smile. “It was like a light bulb would go off,” she...

Today Barbara is joined by social gerontologist Benjamin Surmi. As director of culture, training and Koelsch Innovation Lab for Koelsch Communities, Benjamin focuses on seeking the most effective ways to support family caregivers. In the past, he says, most tools were human – nurses, dog walkers, house cleaners, drivers, bookkeepers. These days, thanks to technological advances and COVID, many are virtual. Benjamin shares some of the items in his “Tech Toolbox”: tracking devices that look...

A lot has happened since Ted Snyder was Barbara’s guest on Dementia Discussions last April. Today he tells Barbara how his wife Rena’s condition has progressed from mild cognitive impairment to late-stage Alzheimer’s; how she is often unresponsive, although she always responds well to music. Unstable on her feet, after Rena fell several times in the long-term care facility, Ted moved her into a small “board and care” in March. When she fell and broke her hip in September, Ted and his family...

Today Barbara welcomes back Owen Frances. Owen lost Rhonda, his precious wife of 52 years, to Alzheimer’s disease last year. In a beautiful, heartfelt, and extremely moving tribute, Owen shares memories and stories about Rhonda. He describes a remarkable woman who helped countless others through their grief as a bereavement counselor. “There was nobody who ever met her who didn’t come away better for it,” he says. 

In her first podcast of 2022, Barbara is joined by Cheri Dickard whose mother, 82, was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD) three years ago. Cheri tells Barbara how one of her sisters -- a professional healer who works with many older clients -- had picked up on the signs much earlier, recommending natural remedies (exercise, fresh air). But her parents are traditional and waited until they received the official diagnosis from a medical doctor before taking her advice. Cheri tells Barbara...

Happy Holidays from Dementia Discussions! In Barbara’s last podcast of 2021, she reflects on the past year and why she started Dementia Discussions. She also talks about the importance and benefits of gratitude, and two of the things she’s especially grateful for this year. 

Today Barbara is joined by Dr. Linda Ercoli, a clinical psychology professor and the director of UCLA’s Longevity Center. Linda has always been fascinated by what happens in the brain with dementia, and her graduate work was in geriatric psychology and the issues that elders face in our society. She talks to Barbara about neuropsychology, in which the focus is an assessment of cognizant and intellectual functions. She gets called in by neurologists, psychologists, and sometimes even lawyers...

Today Barbara welcomes Stefanie Elkins to the podcast. Stefanie is an aging-life care manager and an end-of-life doula whose company, Be Present Care, supports and guides families through end-of-life caring and planning decisions. They discuss the breadth and roles of a family caregiver, and how difficult it can be to make end-of-life decisions for a loved one. Stefanie talks about the importance of planning ahead and getting certain directives in place, and gives advice on how to initiate...

Today Barbara talks with Karen Tucker, who attends her Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) support group at UCLA. Karen takes care of her 71-year-old husband, who was diagnosed with LBD last year, as well as her 95-year-old mother who lives in her guesthouse and her 45-year-old son who still struggles after a psychotic break at 23. They discuss Karen’s journey as her husband’s condition declined, and some of her biggest challenges, such as learning not to take things personally -- even when her husband...