The Sandwich Generation: Parenting Through a Parent’s Dementia

The Sandwich Generation: Parenting Through a Parent’s Dementia

What happens when you're trying to care for an ageing parent with dementia while also raising children, holding down a career, and keeping family life afloat? In this episode, it's just the two of us as we have an honest conversation about the reality of being caught in the middle – the guilt, the exhaustion, the impossible balancing act, and the emotional weight that so many families quietly carry. We share our own very different experiences of navigating dementia within our families, the impact it's had on our relationships, work and parenting, and the lessons we've learned along the way. If you're supporting a loved one with dementia, or know someone who is, we hope this conversation reminds you that you're not alone – and that asking for support isn't a sign of weakness, it's essential. Please subscribe and follow us on Instagram: @doiknowyoupod

Alcohol & Dementia: What the Science Really Says with Professor David Nutt

In this episode of Do I Know You?, Jo and Anna are joined by world-leading neuropsychopharmacologist Professor David Nutt to unpack the complex relationship between alcohol and dementia. Together, they explore what alcohol really does to the brain, how binge drinking differs from regular drinking, whether any amount of alcohol is truly safe, and what the latest research tells us about reducing your risk of cognitive decline. Professor Nutt also explains why alcohol is one of the biggest preventable risk factors for brain damage, the role of inflammation and head injuries, and why social connection still matters when thinking about brain health. This is a fascinating, evidence-based conversation that cuts through the myths and offers practical advice for anyone wanting to better protect their brain as they age. Find out more: * Learn more about Professor David Nutt's work at GABA Labs [https://gabalabs.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. * Discover Professor Nutt's alcohol-free botanical spirits, SENTIA Spirits [https://sentiaspirits.com/pages/red-ingredients?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. * Follow Professor David Nutt and his latest research via GABA Labs [https://gabalabs.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. Please subscribe and follow us on Instagram: @doiknowyoupod

Who Cares for the Carer?

Caring for someone with dementia is often described through the practical tasks it involves, but far less attention is given to the invisible mental load that carers carry every single day. In this episode, Anna and Jo explore the emotional reality of dementia caregiving: the constant background worry, the feeling that a loved one is living "rent-free" in your mind, and the challenge of balancing caring responsibilities alongside work, parenting, relationships and everyday life. Through their own personal experiences, they discuss guilt, overwhelm, exhaustion, anger and the often-unspoken impact dementia can have on the entire family. They also unpack some fascinating research on the toll caregiving takes on mental health. Studies show that dementia carers experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety and emotional burden compared to non-carers, while "sandwich carers" - those caring for both children and ageing parents - report even greater levels of stress and overload. Anna and Jo also discuss research linking dementia caregiving to poorer sleep quality and chronic exhaustion, while sharing practical reflections on support, respite, carers' groups and why looking after yourself isn't selfish - it's essential.  Research and support discussed in this episode: * The hidden mental health impact of caregiving: An umbrella review of caregiver research found significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety and caregiver burden among informal carers. https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5491&context=soss_research [https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5491&context=soss_research&utm_source=chatgpt.com] * The reality of being a sandwich caregiver: Research exploring those caring for both ageing parents and dependent children found higher levels of emotional strain, financial difficulty and feelings of overload. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10023280/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10023280/] * The impact of caregiving on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis found that dementia caregivers experience significantly poorer sleep quality and lose up to 3.5 hours of sleep per week compared to non-caregivers. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2748661 [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2748661] * Support for dementia carers: Information, resources and support groups for people caring for someone with dementia. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/help-dementia-care [https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/help-dementia-care] * Dementia UK – Support for family carers: Practical advice and specialist support from Admiral Nurses. https://www.dementiauk.org/for-family-and-friends/ Please subscribe and follow us on Instagram: @doiknowyoupod

What Nobody Tells You About Caring For A Parent With Dementia with Professor June Andrews

When a parent or loved one is diagnosed with dementia, most families are left asking the same questions: What happens now? How do we cope? And why does nobody talk about how emotionally difficult caring can be? In this episode, Anna and Jo are joined by dementia specialist Professor June Andrews for an honest and practical conversation about diagnosis, care planning, family dynamics and the realities of becoming a carer. Together they explore the hidden grief that often comes with dementia, the guilt and isolation many carers experience, and why looking after yourself is just as important as looking after the person you love. Full of warmth, wisdom and reassurance, this is an episode for anyone navigating dementia, caring responsibilities, or supporting a loved one through later life. Find Professor June Andrews: https://juneandrews.net/ [https://juneandrews.net/] Please subscribe and follow us on Instagram: @doiknowyoupod

The Grief of Losing Someone Who Is Still Alive

In this episode, Anna and Jo have an honest conversation about anticipatory grief, ambiguous loss, and the emotional reality of loving someone with dementia. Together, they explore the experience of grieving someone who is still alive — the heartbreak of watching a parent slowly change, the loss of reciprocity in relationships, and the confusing emotional tension of feeling both connection and distance at the same time. From navigating care homes and family dynamics to moments of lucidity, guilt, exhaustion, and unexpected humour, this episode sheds light on a form of grief that so many people experience but rarely talk about openly.  They also discuss the psychology behind ambiguous loss, drawing on the work of Pauline Boss, and reflect on how dementia impacts identity, attachment, caregiving, and emotional resilience. Whether you are supporting a loved one with Dementia or another progressive illness, caring for ageing parents, or struggling with anticipatory grief yourself, this conversation offers comfort, validation, practical insight, and a reminder that you are not alone in what can often feel like an isolating experience. Please subscribe and follow us on Instagram: @doiknowyoupod