Truth, Lies & Alzheimer's

In today’s episode, Lisa discusses a wide range of challenges that family members and caregivers struggle with when faced with dementia.  Many of the highlights of this episode include:             

• The emotional distress of watching a loved one’s mental faculties decline.    
• The communication difficulties that accompany living with dement...

In today’s episode, Lisa sheds light on how to tell if your forgetfulness falls into the category of Normal Aging Forgetfulness, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or is it perhaps Dementia? Many of the highlights of this episode include:             

• What exactly is Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?     
• How is MCI different from normal aging ...

In honor of April being Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, Lisa discusses its symptoms, the differences and similarities between Parkinsons’ disease and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the challenges of living with PD and PDD (Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia) in the hopes of increasing awareness about living with this neurological disorder.  Some of the highlights of this episode include:      ...

Lisa’s special guest this week is Vivianne Israel, RN. Lisa shares with her audience a compelling story told by Vivianne about the many challenges she faced after her mother’s dementia diagnosis in the hopes that it can help others who are in the same situation learn from her experience. Some of the highlights of their interview include:             

• How Vivianne ...

Lisa’s special guest this week is Lance A Slatton, CSCM, of Enriched Life Home Care Services and Host of the Award Winning Podcast, All Home Care Matters. In this episode, Lisa and Lance discuss his newly released book, “The All Home Care Matters Official Family Caregivers’ Guide”. Some of the highlights of their interview include:               

•   &...

Lisa shares an article that was published very recently (on 3/24/24) in The Guardian that updates us on the status of the drugs that have been touted as the “Alzheimer’s breakthrough”. In this episode, Lisa shares:

•    Why these much-hyped drugs are now facing approval delays.
•    Do their potentially harmful effects outweigh the benefits they were thought to deliver?
•    What changed?
• &nb...

Lisa shares a very uniques interview with her guest, Alicia Masari-Anderson, Ph.D, where they talk all about the power of exploring our genetics, and how it can change our lives for the better. Some of the topics they disucuss include:

• How identifying your DNA and makeup of genes can be a powerful influence to longevity, including the ability to lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.
• Alicia discus...

Lisa shares a very special report published in the AARP Bulletin dated March, 2024, that talks about the Future of Alzheimer’s and why doctors have new hope about it – Finally! Some of the highlights stated in the article are:

•  An update on the new drug lecanemab (Leqembi) – one of a handful of the recent advances expected to transform the medical community and how it handles Alzheimer’s disease.
•  Why there is no time t...

In providing a person-centered approach to care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia means focusing on the individual as a whole person with unique preferences, values, history and needs, rather than just treating the symptoms of the disease. Lisa shares a story about a memory care neighborhood that practices the philosophy of person-centered care to illustrate the difference it can make in the quality of one’s life whe...

Lisa dives deep into a powerful and detailed discussion about the demanding lives that many caregivers experience, especially those who care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, and how it can lead to insurmountable stress, depression, feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and more. Some of the topic she covers in this episode include:

• First hand accounts from real caregivers expressing the impact that...

Lisa shares a recent story that was published on February 10, 2024 in the Daily Mail. co about Dr. Daniel Gibbs, age 72, who is a retired neurologist in the U.S., who has early-stage Alzheimer’s dementia. Dr. Gibbs spent 25 years caring for his patients many with dementia – and has now written a compelling book combining his expert insight with his own experience of now living with Alzheimer’s disease. Lisa then continues this epis...

Lisa has noticed an uptick in people being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease more than ever before, so she decided to do some research to find out if it’s true, and if so, what is contributing to the rise in cases?  Here are some of the reasons that have been determined through research for the increase in the rise of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease: Please listen to the entire episode to find out more of the deta...

Lisa has invited a very special guest onto her Truth, Lies, & Alzheimer’s Show Today. His name is Lance A. Slatton, CSCM. Lance is a Certified Senior Case Manager at Enriched Life Home Care Services and the Host of the Award Winning Podcast, All Home Care Matters. Lisa and Lance discuss what shifts they are seeing in this post-COVID world in terms of the way our loved ones, especially those living with dementia, are being cared...

Lisa shares a narrative she wrote about a caregiver named Sarah who found herself in the position of being the primary caregiver for her mother, who was living with dementia. The story focuses on Sarah’s struggles and the challenges she faced taking care of her mom as she progressed through the disease to illustrate what most caregivers experience and what they can do to best cope with taking on the caregiver's responsibilities.&nb...

Paranoia in the context of dementia can take various forms and may manifest differently in individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. It’s a very typical occurrence with dementia, so Lisa shares some of what the more common signs are that one can expect to see, and what the best practices are to responding to paranoia.  Lisa describes examples of paranoid behaviors such as:

•  Suspicion of theft.
• &n...

Can Alzheimer’s disease be diagnosed properly today? Lisa discusses this age-old question and shares the most recent and updated answers in order to vanquish the confusion.

She discusses:

• Why it is so difficult to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease?
• The current medical and neurological evaluations available today.
• How doctors currently approach the diagnostic process of Alzheimer’s disease.
• What advances in Alzheimer’s disease research ha...

Lisa explains how repeating questions and stories is a very common behavior in people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, but one that can be a huge source of frustration for loved ones and caregivers. Why Do They Do This? Lisa shares with her audience some of the factors related to repetitive behaviors and why it occurs. Some examples that she discusses are:

• How memory impairment plays a direct role.
• How communication...

Lisa explains how Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia progresses through its various stages and how that impacts the cognitive functions of people who live with it and will therefore greatly affect how they will be able to live their lives.

In this episode you will discover:

• How and why short-term memory is altered.
• Signs of language and communication impairments.
• How loss of visual perception can impact their daily lives.
• How ...

Because there are so many aspects of living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia that are completely unpredictable, Lisa shares some of the behavioral triggers that family members and caregivers should be aware of so they can then be more prepared to resolve these situations before they escalate. Not only does Lisa identify possible triggers, but also discusses key tips and strategies for responding to these unexpected beh...