Hold the Moment Season 2 - Spotlighting the people caring for a loved one with dementia

"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 body dementia, as they learn how their peers are managing their new circumstances.

We’ll also bring in a few experts along the way for advice on the especially tricky stuff, like navigating the complex maze of care systems. 

Follow Hold the Moment wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss an episode. And share it with anyone you know who’s caring for someone with dementia. 

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Hold the Moment is a podcast from Dementia Australia, produced by Deadset Studios and hosted by Jim Rogers and Hamish MacDonald.  

For support, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 (24 hours a day, seven days a week). The National Dementia Helpline is funded by the Australian Government.   

Follow Dementia Australia on Facebook and Instagram or find support resources on our website. 

This trailer was produced by Liam Riordan. Sound design by Ryan Pemberton. The executive producers are Gia Moylan and Kellie Riordan. Production Manager is Ann Chesterman. 

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. 

 

Episode Transcript

(00:04):
- It feels like such a blur,like the way I sort of put it
I feel like I've liveda hundred lives in the
past 18 months.
- This is Nick, who'sin his early thirties
and in charge of thebulk of his mum's care.
- The question I sort ofthought to myself, when we went
to hospital, I'm like,where is my mum's story?
It's, it's piecemeal, youknow, it lives in my head.

(00:24):
- We all, as carers orpeople living with dementia
or whoever we are,
we all have a publicface and a private face.
- And this is Wendy.
- When people say, "How are you going?"
We're all very keen to say, "Oh fine."
- She's balancing a busyjob and raising kids,
but she's also been juggling care
and responsibilities for both her parents.
- We do what we can do,

(00:45):
and then we just have to have a healthy
ability to just laugh.
[Jive Music]
- When Shirley and I jive, no dementia.
There really is no dementia.
- And Cole, well, he's thefull-time carer
for his wife of 50 years.
And every week, they head offto the local hall to sing,

(01:06):
and to dance, just like theyused to when they were younger.
- She will move to the music,not as good as she used to,
and I don't as good as Iused to, but she moves to it.
[Music Continues]
- Stories like thesearen't rare among carers.

(01:27):
- Caring for someone living
with dementia can be overwhelming,but you're not alone.
- I'm Jim Rogers
and I'm living withyounger onset Alzheimer's.
- And I'm Hamish McDonald.
I cared for my dad who
had Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's.
So, if you're a carer
and you're listening to this,I've been in your shoes.
- This is Hold the Moment.

(01:47):
A podcast from Dementia Australia.
- In series one, wetalked to people living
with dementia, about what's changed
for them since their diagnosis.
- And in season two, weare talking to carers.
You'll hear how people from all walks
of life manage caring responsibilities
for the people they love.
- Make sure you're followingus in your podcast app

(02:08):
to get updates whennew episodes will drop.
In the meantime, while you'rewaiting for season two,
you can go back and listento the entire first season
of Hold the Moment.
It's available in your podcast feed.