An online support group may just be the right option for people who are caring for a loved one in their home. You get the benefit of the support without the worry of what to do with your loved one while you attend a meeting. Online support groups was the focus of this podcast episode.
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Brain stuff isn't really the main focus of my podcast. However, sometimes with the right guest, it's hard to avoid some of the more scientific parts of Alzheimer's. Before we even started talking about Canine Caregivers the host of Dogs In The News podcast, Ben Brooks wanted 2 minutes to “nerd out” about what I call, “brain stuff”. Ben teaches biochemistry and he frequently asks his students how Alzheimer's affects his students.
Discussing Alzheimer's with Ben in depth might be an upcoming episode so stay tuned for that!
Dogs in The News Podcast
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Jennifer is also available for speaking engagements.
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I've had dogs all my life. However, I was not aware of canine caregivers until Ben & Michele of “Dogs in the News” podcast approached me. The idea was to create a shared episode to educate people about these dogs. After my conversation with Ben & Michele, I now want to get and train a dog to be a memory impaired communities caregiver!
How can a dog help someone with memory loss? That was my question as well. Surprisingly, there are lots of things a dog can do to help someone living with memory loss. Dogs are especially useful one on one with someone in the earlier stages of the disease.
One of the main things a dog can do is get their owner home. They can also be trained to stay with their person if they refuse to leave, and bark to get attention for help. They can wear a GPS outfitted collar for easy tracking and can even prevent someone from leaving the home without them.
You'll hear in our conversation that canine caregivers can also be a benefit in a memory residence. These highly trained dogs can help break repetitive behaviors which is common in the later stages of the disease. Dogs can give the residents a purpose, caring for their furry caregiver. There are lots of ways dogs can be a huge help for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia.
After you listen to our podcast, be sure to check out Dogs in the News. I have also released a bonus episode where Ben starts talking about “brain stuff”. You'll enjoy that bit of behind-the-scenes banter.
Another Fading Memories episode about Dogs
The New Breed of Service Dog: Canine Caregivers for People Living with Alzheimer's or dementia.
How to Make Your Dog A Service Dog
The 15 Best Breeds for Therapy Dogs
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Jennifer is also available for speaking engagements.
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Caregiver confessions is something we all have but don't usually want to discuss. Wouldn’t it be nice to be a caregiver who never gets frustrated and is an eternal optimist? If that describes you, I applaud your emotional strength and resilience. However, many of us providing care for a cognitively impaired loved one, do not fall into that category; I know I don’t.
Similarly, most caregivers struggle with negative emotions, frustrations, and the uncertainty that comes from caring for someone with memory loss. Helping people navigate this treacherous journey was the reason I started my podcast.
For instance, wanting to help ease the burden of having negative emotions sent me on a quest to find the right person to talk with. Subsequently, I found Kate, the host of the podcast, Ignorance Was Bliss. For example, she started her podcast because she had things she wanted to say and the conversations she wanted to have. Kate is also a trained psychologist and a person living with serious health issues. Naturally, she was an ideal person to talk to.
Difficult Caregiver Thoughts (AKA Caregiver Confessions)
I'm sick of having no life of my own.
Dad tries to control everything I do—it’s exhausting.
How much longer can I continue caregiving? It seems like there is no end in sight.
My loved one has no clue what I give up to care for them. They think this is a normal routine.
Everybody constantly wants a piece of me, and there’s nothing left for myself.
Nothing I do ever pleases them.
Mom is suffering so much and has no quality of life. Why can’t she just let go and die?
As a result of some of my negative feelings about Mom, I wanted to find ways to see the positive in our interactions. Searching for ways to turn that negative narrative in my head around has been something I’ve worked on for many months. Consequently, my conversation with Kate gave me some terrific insight that I'm sure will help you.
Meanwhile, check out the other part of our conversation on Ignorance Was Bliss. As a result of our 2 plus hour conversation both of us got exactly what we wanted for our individual podcasts. Kate talked to me about my journey with Mom and moreover, I got an insight into dealing with my negative thoughts.
To sum it all up, talking through some of our negative thoughts and feelings can be a huge help. Certainly, it can't hurt even if we don't come up with any answers. In addition, you might feel better just for having a conversation.
Related Episode
Giving A Caregiver Help
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Jennifer is also available for speaking engagements.
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Starting this podcast was all about sharing my knowledge with other caregivers. That was the plan with Francey, to have a conversation where we shared resources. As many of my recorded conversations go, we ended up talking about our shared journey.
That's okay because I feel that hearing other caregiver stories, them sharing their knowledge is helpful to all of us. Knowing we're not alone, that we have similar struggles can be truly beneficial. I like to think of episodes like this one as a way to get support without having to leave your home. We all know what a struggle that can be.
Francey bounced all over the country for 25 years chasing her career in airport operations and management, She moved to Sarasota, Florida in 2015 to take care of her mother. Not long after this big change, she started her blog as a way of sharing her knowledge with others.
Becoming a full-time caregiver came with a steep learning curve. Having never been married or raising any kids, Francey never had to care for anyone but herself! Her blog is about her challenges and also the joys and rewards. It’s a way for her to keep her Mom forever alive in cyberspace. It's a place to vent, and, hopefully, to lend support, experience, and knowledge to others who are or will soon be a memory loss caregiver.
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Also, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. There you can see me in “action” and watch the bonus videos I share.
Jennifer is also available for speaking engagements.
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