Parent Caregiver | dementia caregiver, parent with dementia, dementia support

Has the thought of moving your parent with dementia to a memory care facility started to creep into your mind? Do you crave life balance, but feel guilty even thinking about making a move for your parent to a facility? This episode is for you and will help you discern what is best for your parent. 

Head to your favorite podcast app to listen — and come join us in the Caregivers of Parents with Dementia Facebook group. We’re buildin...

If you have ever felt guilt or resentment from your caregiver role, this episode is for you. This path is not easy, and you deserve to be seen, heard, and supported in it. 

Head to your favorite podcast app to listen — and come join us in the Caregivers of Parents with Dementia Facebook group. We’re building a space where you don’t have to do this alone.

If the podcast is helpful for you, please leave me a written review where ever...

Reduce caregiver stress by being prepared for unplanned visits to the doctor or hospital. Have all the necessary information with you when needed and feel more confident as a dementia caregiver. 

Head to your favorite podcast app to listen — and come join us in the Caregivers of Parents with Dementia Facebook group. We’re building a space where you don’t have to do this alone.

If the podcast is helpful for you, please leave me a wr...

Holidays can be stressful, overwhelming, and unpredictable - especially when you're caring for a parent with dementia. In this special Fourth of July episode of Parent Caregiver, I share how to balance your holiday traditions with compassion and creativity. Whether it's finding peace in simpler celebrations or managing family expectations, this episode is filled with practical tips and heartfelt encouragement to help you protect yo...

Are you tired of bad days? Today, I'm sharing 4 tips on how to start your day that can really change the course of your day. And you can do these 4 things in 20 minutes or less.  Take charge of your days by starting them off right!

Head to your favorite podcast app to listen — and come join us in the Caregivers of Parents with Dementia Facebook group. We’re building a space where you don’t have to do this alone.

If the podcast is ...

Have you been putting your needs last? Feeling guilty for wanting a break?

In the latest episode of Parent Caregiver, we’re talking about how to set healthy boundaries — not to push people away, but to protect you.

Because your identity matters too.

Head to your favorite podcast app to listen — and come join us in the Caregivers of Parents with Dementia Facebook group. We’re building a space where you don’t have to do this alone.

I...

I know what it feels like to be in the middle of a life you didn’t quite plan. Maybe you thought this would be your season of freedom, or finally chasing your dreams — but instead, you’re helping your parent through the hardest chapter of their life.

You love them. You want to show up for them. But… you’re tired. You feel alone. And sometimes, it feels like your life is on pause. Today, I want to talk about something that can mak...

Don't let your role as a parent caregiver keep you from dreaming and reaching your goals. You CAN still balance your dreams and your reality, even if it's at a slower pace than you expected. Today I'm reintroducing the podcast. I hope this podcast helps you find peace and balance in your parent caregiver journey. If the podcast is helpful for you, please leave me a written review where ever you are listening. 5 star reviews help m...

Don't let your role as a parent caregiver keep you from dreaming and reaching your goals. You CAN still work toward those dreams, even if it's at a slower pace than you expected. Today I'm sharing 4 simple tips to help you keep your dreams alive and help you continue to reach your goals - even when you are overwhelmed and exhausted. I hope this episode helps you find peace and balance in your journey. If this is helpful for you, p...

I'm back after a break for a few months, and this episode is talking about giving yourself grace during your caregiving journey. I didn't want to put this podcast on the back-burner, but life - right? I gave myself grace and am back!  I hope this episode helps you find grace for your journey. If this is helpful for you, please leave me a written review where ever you are listening. 5 star reviews help my podcast reach more listene...

UGH! The healthcare system is broken when it comes to the flow of information for dementia (and so many other) patients! Today I'm sharing a few tips that my sister and I have used when our mother has been in the hospital since her FTD diagnosis. There has to be a better way! I'd love to hear from you at mel@themelcogar.com if you have experiences or thoughts that could help! 

And please leave me a written review on iTunes. 5 star...

Do you desperately miss your girls night out? Or just laughing with friends? 

Friends are invaluable on your caregiver journey! They laugh with you, cry with you, listen to your fears, and just sit with you when there's nothing to say.  Today I share 3 tips that have helped me to maintain friend connections - and those friends have helped me more than they will ever know!  I hope this helps you to reconnect with your own friends ...

Does your to-do list feel like it's crushing you? Or do you not even have one because it seems like too big of a task? I have been there, and I'm still a work-in-progress! This is a huge area of struggle for me and one that I am constantly working on! In today's episode, I share a few tips that helped me to get my to-do list to a point that seemed a little bit manageable.  I hope this helps you in some way as you are traveling y...

Today's episode was recorded on the 15th anniversary of my father's death, which I fully believe triggered Mom's dementia diagnosis. I share a little more about the backstory, and continue to vulnerably share more specifics of Mom's FTD symptoms and behaviors. I hope this helps you in some way as you are traveling your own journey as a parent caregiver. 

As always, if you have questions or would like to learn more about a topic th...

Your parent or loved one with dementia probably displays behaviors that lead you to react in ways that leave you feeling regretful or even more frustrated.  Today I will share 3 things NOT to do, and alternative reactions to help you maintain mental peace.  As always, if you have questions or would like to learn more about a topic that I have discussed, please email me at mel@themelcogar.com.

Also, if you are interested in starti...

Caregiver overwhelm is REAL!! Instead of looking within the caregiver role to find ways to reduce stress, today I am sharing 5 tips that are more general in nature to help reduce caregiver stress and overwhelm. As always, if you have questions or would like to learn more about a topic that I have discussed, please email me at mel@themelcogar.com.

Also, if you are interested in starting your own podcast as an outlet and way to help...

What do you do if you suspect your parent has dementia, how do you get a diagnosis? Where do you find support as a parent caregiver?  These are just a couple of the questions that I have been asked along this journey. Tune in to find out real life answers from my own experience.  As always, if you have questions or would like to learn more about a topic that I have discussed, please email me at mel@themelcogar.com.

Also, if you a...

"What is FTD? Tell me more!" Today I'm going to do just that! As always, I am sharing my knowledge from a daughter's perspective, not a medical perspective. I am going to share the very basics of understanding a frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. 

Please email me at mel@themelcogar.com with comments or questions or topics you would like to hear about.

The information that I share on this episode can be found with a quick Google se...

Some days, you wonder how you are going to make it through the day! Caregiver stress is REAL and REAL HARD! This episode is going to show you 5 ways (plus a bonus) to reduce stress in the moment, in 5 minutes or less. These strategies are meant to give you a quick win so that you can continue helping your loved one with peace in your heart. 

*Bonus*

Here are a few of the verses (or partial verses) that are special to me, especially...