Grief, Hospice, and Holding It Together as a Caregiver

Grief, Hospice, and Holding It Together as a Caregiver

Alana and Darah get candid about Alzheimer's caregiving, grief, self-care, and grace: the milestones Lloyd can't hold onto, the slow losses nobody else sees, and the toll of caring for an aging parent when nobody's watching. While sharing an update on Lloyd's hospice care, they talk about anticipatory grief, dementia caregiver burnout, and why self-care for caregivers must be intentional. It takes a written plan, a caregiver support system that knows your warning signs, and the understanding that you must put your mask on first. You don't have to wait for the loss to start grieving, and you don't have to wait until you're drowning to ask for help. Resources: WRAP for Caregivers: Wellness Recovery Action Plan — https://www.wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com/wrap-taking-care-of-the-caregiver/ [https://www.wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com/wrap-taking-care-of-the-caregiver/]

Burnout isn't a badge of honor. What happens when the caregiver breaks down?

Nobody wants to talk about caregiver burnout but we're talking about it. After an unexpected hiatus, Alana and Darah share the health scare that forced them to slow down, the warning signs they almost missed, and the lessons they learned about putting themselves first. Because you can't pour from an empty cup and burnout doesn't have to be the end of your story.

The H Word: Hospice, Palliative Care & Real Talk with Dr. Lyn Weinberg

Nobody wants to say it, but we're saying it. Lloyd's doctor, Dr. Lyn Weinberg, joins Alana and Darah to break down the difference between hospice and palliative care, when to ask for it, and why choosing hospice isn't giving up; it might actually be the most loving decision you can make. Plus, what families say to loved ones with dementia that isn't helping, the clinical language that needs to go, and Lloyd unlocking a memory from Saigon that nobody saw coming.

It Shouldn't Be This Hard: Navigating Dementia Care with Dr Lyn Weinberg

Part 2 with Dr. Lyn Weinberg, geriatrician at Allegheny Health Network. When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, they're surrounded by resources. Dementia? "Here's your prescription, good luck." Dr. Weinberg gets it because she's fighting to change it. She shares why families are left to figure this out alone, what happened during Darah and Alana's two-day hospital vigil with their dad, and the programs proving that dementia care doesn't have to be this hard. This is about more than medical terms. It's about families who deserve better. ABOUT DR. LYN WEINBERG Dr. Lyn Weinberg has been a geriatrician with Allegheny Health Network since 2013 and is now director of the geriatrics division for AHN Primary Care Institute. She specializes in Geriatric Medicine and Internal Medicine, and is affiliated with West Penn Hospital, Allegheny General Hospital, Forbes Hospital, and Temple University Hospital. * Ask a Doc: Dementia and Caregiving [https://www.highmarkhealth.org/blog/care/Ask-a-Doc-Dementia-and-Caregiving.shtml] DEPARTMENT OF AGING * Pennsylvania Department of Aging: pa.gov/agencies/aging [http://pa.gov/agencies/aging] * Local Resources: pa.gov/agencies/aging/local-resources [http://pa.gov/agencies/aging/local-resources] ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION * Website: alz.org [http://alz.org] * 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900 PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES * Aging Brain Care Program | AHN [https://www.healthyagingchallenge.org/awardees/dementia-super-network-] * Dr. Malaz Boustani [https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/4975/boustani-malaz] * GUIDE Model (Medicare) [https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/guide] * Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) [https://help.agscocare.org/] * AHN HELP Program Recognition [https://www.prweb.com/releases/allegheny-health-network-program-for-older-adults-receives-top-designation-from-american-geriatrics-society-302009131.html]

She Answered and Changed Everything: Meeting Dr. Lyn Weinberg (Part 1)

This is the woman who answered when we didn't know who else to call. Dr. Lyn Weinberg—Lloyd's gerontologist, the reason we got to speak at the AHN Aging Brain Caregiver Conference, and honestly, one of the most important people in our caregiving journey. We found her by accident. We were desperate, calling doctors who no longer existed, until someone at AHN listened to us fall apart on the phone and connected us to Dr. Weinberg. And from that first appointment, we knew: this is what good care looks like. In Part 1 of 3  conversation, Dr. Weinberg gets real about why she chose geriatrics (spoiler: it started with painting nails in nursing homes as a kid), why there are only a handful of geriatricians for an entire region of aging adults, and what happens when you're a doctor who feels everything your patients' families are going through because you know it's coming for you too. She also shares how she takes care of herself so she can keep showing up for families like ours, and offers advice for caregivers who are struggling to find the specialized care their loved ones need. In Part 2  we dive into the programs and resources Dr. Weinberg is championing  some national, some right here in Pittsburgh for people living with dementia and Alzheimer's. If you've ever felt lost in the healthcare system, this episode is for you.