Hold the Moment

Jenny started grieving well before her husband passed away.  

After Noel was diagnosed with dementia, Jenny knew their life together would never be the same. But the grief she felt about that gave her strength and purpose too... 

Grief will be a major part of your journey if you’re caring for someone living with dementia. You might grieve the relationship you had before their diagnosis and you might be grieving after the person you...

Navigating the healthcare system on behalf of someone living with dementia can be challenging, especially when the different systems you’re engaging with don’t speak to each other. This episode offers simple tips to streamline the process.  

If you’d like personalised support on how to approach appointments or figure out the health care systems, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a...

Nick’s in a pretty unique position as a carer.  

“I can’t fix the problem with my mum but as an engineer, I can problem-solve. I can advocate for her and give her a voice when she can’t navigate the system,” Nick said. 

As an engineer, Nick’s used to untangling complex systems. He’s about as tech-savvy as they come but even he found it frustrating trying to access support for his mum, who’s living with Alzheimer’s disease.    

Deme...

Whether you're new to caring or have been supporting someone with dementia for a while, it’s not always clear where to turn to for help. Every carer’s path is different, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. This episode offers straightforward advice on where to get help, what support services are available and why it’s never too early to reach out.

If you’d like tailored support, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline...

Rachel Corbett couldn’t afford to put her life on hold, even when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She was in her 20s, her career wasn’t established and she wanted to have kids, so spent the next few years looking after her mum while juggling everything else in life.

Then her dad was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.

Rachel would go on to spend her 30s supporting and caring for her parents.

“I did have a difficul...

"As carers of people living with dementia, we all have a public face and a private face."

When someone you love is diagnosed with dementia there’s a lot you take on – physically, mentally and emotionally. So how do you even start to process all these changes?

On Hold the Moment, you’re not alone. Join Jim, who was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, and his co-host Hamish Macdonald, whose dad lived with Parkinson’s and Lewy b...

Over the last few months, the Hold the Moment team has been hard at work...

Your response to our first season was incredible, and luckily you won’t have to wait long for more episodes.

Hamish and Jim are back for a quick announcement. 

+++ 

Hold the Moment is a podcast from Dementia Australia, produced by Deadset Studios and hosted by Jim Rogers and Hamish Macdonald. Follow Dementia Australia on Instagram and find support resources...

A dementia diagnosis has a ripple effect across families. So where can you turn for information and support? 

This bonus episode is packed with tips for families who want to know more about how to support themselves and a family member living with dementia. 

Whether you live close to your loved one or further afield, Dementia Australia has many helpful resources and programs specially tailored to family members of any age, includin...

When Millie Rogers first discovered her dad, Jim Rogers (co-host of Hold the Moment), had received a diagnosis of younger onset dementia, she felt like a rug had been pulled from beneath her feet.  

“I just froze. I just couldn’t believe what he was saying.” 

In this candid episode, Millie and her sister Daisy open up to journalist Hamish Macdonald about the initial shock of the diagnosis, Jim’s role as a grandfather to their young...

If you’re looking for new ways to get around town or travel further afield with a dementia diagnosis, this episode is full of tips and resources on how you can do just that.  

If you’d like tailored support on travelling with dementia, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email with whatever is on your mind. You can also find so...

Jim Rogers was once ‘captain organised’ when planning overseas trips with his husband Tyler. But after his diagnosis of younger onset dementia, he’s learnt to get Tyler to assist with online check-in, packing and itinerary planning.  

And it’s not just setting off overseas that’s changed. Getting around town has become trickier now that Jim’s lost his driver’s licence.  

Like Jim, Juanita wishes she could zip over to the shops to d...

Getting a restful night’s sleep when you’re living with dementia can be an elusive task. This episode contains tips on managing your changing sleep patterns.

If you’d like tailored support to tackle sleep issues, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email.

Dementia Australia has plenty of resources relating to sleep on its websi...

Ann, a former nurse, struggles to sleep because of the symptoms of her Lewy body dementia. Most nights, Ann experiences intense, multi-sensory hallucinations.  

Meanwhile, Jim Rogers takes us through some of the long nights he’s experienced since his diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.  

Sleep is vital to both mental and physical health, and it’s disrupted for many people living with dementia. Associate Professor Stephanie Rainey-Smi...

Your close relationships enter new territory once you’ve been diagnosed with dementia. Roles change, people might pull away but, for the most part, your loved ones just want to know how to be there for you. This episode helps you navigate these changes.

If you’d like tailored support you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a...

Anthony was by himself when he first learned he had dementia. He didn’t feel like he had a close-knit family or a group of friends to turn to for support. 

But now, Anthony’s not only made new friends and become closer with his three siblings – he’s also found love again.  

So much changes after being diagnosed with dementia, including your relationships. But it doesn’t mean you have to let go of them. When Dom’s father was diagnos...

Whether you’ve always been a marathon runner or just love getting out in your garden, staying active is an important way to manage symptoms of dementia. 

Here’s your quick guide on building physical activity into your routine in a way that suits your lifestyle. 

If you’d like support to stay active with dementia, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start...

If you take a long walk around Bealiba in regional Victoria, you might spot the occasional water bottle, perched under a tree. Those would be Heather’s.  

Heather’s always been a keen athlete and, even now at 80 years old, she loves long-distance running. That hasn’t changed since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but she’s had to adapt her training to make sure she stays safe and on the right track. The water bottles, st...

Feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of writing or updating a will? Want to better understand things like power of attorney and enduring guardianship? Help is at hand! This episode breaks it down so you can start planning with confidence. 

Dementia Australia also has a webinar on ‘Future Planning’ you can watch online and other resources to help get your affairs in order. 

If you’d like tailored support, you can contact the National...

“I was diagnosed early, so I got what I call my ‘active dying plan’ out of the way. And now I’m on my ‘active living plan’ and my adventure with dementia.” 

Pam was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia in her late 50s. Although the diagnosis at such a young age was a shock, Pam wasted no time making arrangements for her own funeral so that when the time comes, her family can celebrate her life the way she prefers. 

For Hold t...