Dementia Caregivers Community

Episode 9: When the Casseroles Stop Coming

When we learn of a family in need we want to butter up a baking dish and make them a casserole. But for caregivers of those living with dementia the need for help goes far beyond what a hot dish can provide. In this episode of Dementia Caregivers Community hosts Marketta Puckett and Tracey Kendall Wilson discuss the best ways to offer help. Perhaps more importantly, they help families to get comfortable with accepting and even asking for help. 

Episode 8: ADAPT for the Holidays

The Holidays are full of joy, but they can be stressful. Caregivers may be doubly stressed trying to make the season bright for their loved one with dementia and for the rest their family and friends. Two of Alzheimer's Tennessee's dementia care experts, Tracey Kendall Wilson and Cheryl Blanchard, have wrapped up a big box full of practical advice to help you ADAPT your celebration to a new reality. Plus, some bonus tips from people actually living with the disease.
For even more resources to help you have a Merry Christmas, go to www.alzTennessee.org/Holidays .

Episode 7: Duck DNA

Ducks thrive in almost any situation. They swim in freezing water, fly in the air and walk on the ground. These ordinary looking water birds use their diverse traits to cope with whatever the environment requires.
What can dementia caregivers learn from that? Host Marketta Puckett explains how you can use your own varied traits and skills to deal with what ever comes your way.    

Episode 6: A Caregiver’s Journey: Al and Ellen

Al first saw Ellen beautifully playing a piano with no white keys. For more than 40 years they were husband and wife as well as best friends. Today, Al is caring for Ellen who is living with dementia. 
From the first signs "something was wrong" to the tough decisions dementia forces on families, Al bravely shares his "Caregiver's Journey."
Our hope is to bring a sense of community and togetherness for those on their own journey.  We hope through these stories you will feel empowered and know you are not alone.

Episode 5: Difficult Discussions and Difficult Decisions - In the Doctor’s Waiting Room

Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia affect the caregiver as well as the person with the disease. The beginning of the dementia journey begins before getting a diagnosis. Marketta and Tracey discuss how a caregiver might know when it's time to see a medical professional.
Go to the Alzheimer's Tennessee website for more information. www.alzTennessee.org 
Contact Tracey at tracey.kendallwilson@tnalz.org.
 

Episode 4: Sincerely - A Letter from a Caregiver

The Dementia Caregiver Community brings you a letter from a family caregiver, Carol to her sister Sandy, who passed away with Alzheimer’s disease. We hope this letter and others like it will help you connect with each other and find comfort and inspiration from the community of caregivers.
 
If you have a letter to share or want to learn more about this podcast and Alzheimer’s Tennessee, please go to alzTennessee.org/Podcast.  

Episode 3: Dementia A-Z - Normal Aging vs Dementia

Research shows that two out of three people in the United State believe dementia is a normal part of aging. It is not. Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia is a medical condition.
In this episode, Tracey Kendall Wilson with Alzheimer's Tennessee and experienced family caregiver, Marketta Puckett discuss the differences between Alzheimer's and normal aging. Listen and learn when to know when to get help.  

Episode 2: Marketta’s Musings - Managing Expectations

Our second episode is the first of "Marketta's Musings." Co-host Marketta shares the "heart blisters" earned on her journey as a caregiver. As Marketta's father was passing from complications due to Alzheimer's disease, her husband had just been diagnosed. In this episode, she looks back at her expectations of being a caregiver of two loved ones at the same time.   

Episode 1: Welcome to the Dementia Caregiver Community

Our desire with this podcast is to create a welcome listening space for you…the caregiver.  Welcome to our community!
You will meet our hosts in this first episode. Tracey Kendall Wilson has more than two decades of experience as a professional working with individuals living with dementia, their families and their caregivers. In addition to her work with Alzheimer's Tennessee, Tracey has also traveled along with five members of her own family on their dementia journeys.
For Marketta Puckett, this podcast is a labor of love. Both her father and her husband had Alzheimer's disease. Marketta sincerely hopes to educate and inspire family caregivers by sharing what she discovered while caring for her loved ones for 15 years. 
Marketta and Tracey share a common bond in this community. They are caregivers just like you.