Episodes

  • The Signs We Missed: Early Alzheimer’s, Long-Distance Caregiving & Fighting for a Diagnosis

    The Signs We Missed: Early Alzheimer’s, Long-Distance Caregiving & Fighting for a Diagnosis
    Feb 24 2026
    What are the early signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia that families often miss? In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with Madeline, a long-distance caregiver whose father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019, to talk about the subtle red flags, cultural stigma, advocacy battles, and emotional toll of caregiving. Madeline shares how her father—once the life of the party in Puerto Rico—began isolating, experiencing depression, hallucinations, repetitive shopping behaviors, and personality changes long before an official diagnosis. From navigating long-distance caregiving between Puerto Rico and Seattle, to fighting for earlier neurology appointments, to advocating for proper medication management, this conversation highlights what it really means to become your parent’s caregiver overnight. Together, we discuss: Early warning signs of Alzheimer’s that are often dismissed as depression or aging Long-distance caregiving challenges Sundowning and behavioral changes Hallucinations and dementia-related paranoia How to advocate for faster specialist appointments The emotional whiplash of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis Why dignity and purpose matter in memory care Creative, purpose-driven activities for mid-stage dementia Madeline’s caregiving approach is both practical and beautiful. By giving her father small handyman tasks, music, dancing, and meaningful daily routines, she preserves his dignity and sense of purpose. Her joyful, viral videos show that connection is still possible—even in memory care. Follow Madeline’s journey on Instagram: @andy.maddy.alzHer videos are a powerful reminder that Alzheimer’s is not just loss—it’s also love, adaptation, and advocacy. This episode is for anyone navigating Alzheimer’s, dementia caregiving, memory care placement, caregiver burnout, or the complicated grief of watching a parent change in real time. If you’ve ever wondered, “Was that an early sign?” — this conversation will resonate deeply. 🎧 Subscribe, follow, and leave a review to help more caregivers feel less alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • Living on a Closed Dementia Ward at 21 | A Conversation with Teun Toebes

    Living on a Closed Dementia Ward at 21 | A Conversation with Teun Toebes
    Feb 17 2026
    What if dementia isn’t a care crisis — but a societal one? In this powerful episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, we sit down with Teun Toebes, a Dutch activist and global advocate who made an extraordinary decision at just 21 years old: he moved into a closed dementia ward. Not as a researcher. Not as a staff member. But as a neighbor. Born in the south of the Netherlands, Teun first visited a nursing home at 17 and was struck by what he describes as a “surreal nobody’s land” — beautiful people living inside a system that sorted them by their diagnosis. What followed was not a project, but a way of life. He chose to live alongside people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia to understand what life inside long-term care truly feels like. In this deeply emotional and thought-provoking conversation, we explore: What it’s really like inside a closed dementia ward How nursing homes prioritize safety and control over individuality The stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia Why dementia is often framed as a “terminal disease” — and how that language strips humanity The isolation so many residents face The impact of intergenerational connection Why Teun believes dementia is not a healthcare problem — but a societal issue We also discuss Human Forever, the internationally acclaimed documentary Teun co-created with filmmaker Jonathan de Jong. After traveling to 11 countries, they uncovered a powerful truth: the greatest suffering experienced by people living with dementia often comes not from the diagnosis itself, but from how society treats them. If you are caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s, supporting someone with early-onset dementia, or questioning how long-term care is structured, this episode will challenge and inspire you. Dementia does not erase humanity.Systems can.But systems can also change. 🎧 Listen now to hear why Teun Toebes believes a better future for people living with dementia starts with all of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • Do You Want to Know? Living Out Loud After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

    Do You Want to Know? Living Out Loud After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
    Feb 10 2026
    Today’s episode is different — and deeply important. We sit down with David Uhlfelder, an advocate & podcast host living with dementia. David was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease in April 2025, and from the moment of diagnosis, he made a conscious decision: this would be part of his story, but it would not be the part that silences him. David is the host of David’s Alzheimer’s Fight, a podcast he co-hosts with dementia care specialist Dr. Karen Gilbert, where they explore what it actually looks like to live with clarity, purpose, and connection after a diagnosis. Together, they share practical guidance on brain health, caregiving strategies, community resources, and navigating life with Alzheimer’s — whether you’re living with it yourself or caring for someone who is. In this conversation, David takes us back to the moment he received his diagnosis and walks us through the early signs that led him to seek medical answers — from forgetting long-standing routines and passwords to the fear of making critical mistakes at work. He speaks candidly about the emotional impact, the relief of finally knowing, and the mindset shift that allowed him to move forward with intention rather than fear. We also talk about: The early warning signs of Alzheimer’s and when to trust your gut Why early diagnosis matters more than most people realize Living an active, purpose-driven life after a dementia diagnosis Anger, agitation, and emotional changes — and how awareness can help Advocacy, research, and the hope behind early detection and trials This episode is honest, empowering, and surprisingly hopeful — a reminder that a dementia diagnosis does not erase identity, agency, or the ability to help others. Learn more about David’s work:🌐 https://davidsalzheimersfight.org/🎙️ Podcast: David’s Alzheimer’s Fight📱 Instagram: @davidsalzheimersfight Whether you’re living with Alzheimer’s, supporting a loved one, or simply want to better understand what early dementia can look like, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • There Is No Roadmap for Aging (So Here’s How to Build One)

    There Is No Roadmap for Aging (So Here’s How to Build One)
    Feb 3 2026
    In this episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, we’re joined by Kelly Baarley, a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) with over a decade of experience in the senior care industry and specialized training in Alzheimer’s and dementia education. Kelly’s work is deeply personal. Her journey began as a family caregiver to grandparents living with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s, and that experience shaped her belief that there is no one-size-fits-all roadmap for aging. Today, Kelly helps families create their own roadmap—offering clarity, education, and guidance during some of the most overwhelming moments of caregiving. We break down what a Certified Senior Advisor actually does (in plain English), including the licensing process, ethical standards, and the core areas of aging and senior care expertise—ranging from health and dementia care to financial planning and probate. This conversation also tackles the real-life issues caregivers face every day: When and how to talk to a loved one about stopping driving Navigating family dynamics without blowing things up Understanding the differences between assisted living, skilled nursing, hospice, and rehab Why so many caregivers feel lost—and why that’s not a personal failure Kelly explains how she works with families across the U.S. and internationally, offering virtual support that removes geographic barriers and provides non-biased, compassionate advocacy when families need it most. If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s, feeling overwhelmed by senior care options, or wishing someone could just explain things clearly—this episode is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • She Still Knows the Words: Music and Dementia

    She Still Knows the Words: Music and Dementia
    Jan 27 2026
    Music has a way of reaching places that words — and even memory — sometimes can’t. In this episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, we explore the power of music as a caregiving tool for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. From singing in the car to hallway concerts in care facilities, we reflect on how familiar songs can spark joy, unlock memories, and create moments of connection even during the hardest seasons of caregiving. After an emotionally exhausting year — and an especially difficult month — we talk honestly about what it feels like to give everything and still wonder if it’s enough. Inspired by family experience and research, we share how music isn’t a cure or a miracle, but something deeply human, accessible, and real that can make caregiving days gentler, calmer, and more connected. We also discuss: Why music often reaches people with dementia when other communication can’t How familiar songs can trigger nostalgia, emotion, and joy The role of music in nursing homes and assisted living settings Simple ways caregivers can use music to connect with loved ones Singing, memory, and the moments that still feel like them If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s — especially during times when the days feel heavy — this episode is a reminder that connection doesn’t always come from answers. Sometimes it comes from a song. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Raising Kids While Caring for Parents: A Lifetime of Caregiving

    Raising Kids While Caring for Parents: A Lifetime of Caregiving
    Jan 20 2026
    In this episode, we’re joined by Edina, a lifelong caregiver whose story spans generations, diagnoses, and deeply personal responsibility. Adina found herself caring for aging parents while raising children of her own—living squarely in the reality of the sandwich generation. From supporting a mother with chronic mental health challenges, to caring for a fiercely independent father who later developed dementia, Adina’s caregiving journey began long before most people even recognize the role. She shares what it was like growing up as an only child, becoming a caregiver early, and navigating dementia alongside family history, trauma, and love. We talk about the moment she first noticed something was wrong with her father, the subtle signs of cognitive decline, and how dementia reshapes independence, identity, and family dynamics over time. This conversation also touches on: Caring for a parent with dementia later in life The emotional weight of caregiving without siblings Guilt, responsibility, and resilience in the sandwich generation Dementia behaviors, safety concerns, and early warning signs How humor shows up—even in the hardest moments Most importantly, this episode offers a grounded, honest look at what long-term caregiving really feels like—before labels, before systems step in, and long after childhood ends. Whether you’re caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia, supporting a loved one with mental illness, or balancing caregiving alongside parenting and work, this episode will resonate deeply. 🎧 Listen now for a candid, funny, and deeply human conversation about caregiving across a lifetime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • Yes, and...

    Yes, and...
    Jan 12 2026
    Caregiving for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s often feels like trying to follow a script that keeps changing — sometimes minute by minute. In this episode, Barry introduces the improv principle “Yes, And” and explains how the skills he learned in improv have become powerful tools for caregiving. While improv is often mistaken for being funny or quick, Barry and Wendy break down what it actually teaches: presence, flexibility, emotional listening, and acceptance — all essential when supporting someone living with dementia. Through real, unfiltered caregiver moments — frantic phone calls, imagined locations, repeated questions, and emotional distress — this episode explores why correcting facts often escalates agitation, and how meeting your loved one in theirreality can preserve dignity, reduce stress, and strengthen connection. The conversation also touches on the emotional toll caregiving takes, sibling dynamics, and the ongoing challenge of choosing emotional truth over factual accuracy — especially when fear, confusion, or panic take over. This episode is for caregivers who feel overwhelmed, unsure of what to say, or exhausted from trying to “fix” situations that can’t be fixed. It offers practical mindset shifts and real-life examples that show how caregiving is improvisation, whether we realize it or not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Sibling Dynamics in Caregiving

    Sibling Dynamics in Caregiving
    Jan 6 2026
    What happens when siblings aren’t just siblings—but part parents, part roommates, part emotional support systems? In this episode, Wendy & Barry pull back the curtain on their complicated (and often hilarious) sibling dynamic, shaped by age gaps, birth order, resentment, love, and decades of unspoken roles. From being mistaken for a couple in public (gross 😬), to joking about “giving orders since 1980,” they unpack what it really means to grow up in the same family—but in completely different realities. They explore: How being raised by different versions of the same mother shaped them The impact of becoming a “third parent” before adulthood Why sibling relationships take effort, grace, and brutal honesty And how humor became their survival language This episode is part family history, part therapy session, and part comedy routine—revealing how years of growing pains ultimately laid the groundwork for how they now show up together while caregiving for their mom. If you’re navigating sibling dynamics while caring for a parent, feeling the weight of old roles resurfacing, or wondering why caregiving brings everything to the surface—this conversation will feel painfully familiar, validating, and unexpectedly funny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 mins