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Diane Carbo, RN, talks with Susan L. Koen, PhD, organizational psychologist, entrepreneur, and author of "Dancing in the Face of Death," about caring for her partner of 40 years, Barbara, through behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). https://www.caregiverrelief.com/when-dementia-changes-personality-frontotemporal-dementia-caregiver-grief-with-susan-l-koen-episode-268 In this episode: 🧠 Why dementia is about more than memory, and why bvFTD is often mistaken for depression👀 The earliest warning sign Susan noticed in Barbara🎤 How "cognitive loading" helped Barbara stay sharp, from learning languages to singing in an a cappella quintet🧪 Barbara's clinical trial: the first person in the U.S. to receive gene replacement in the brain for FTD🏡 Why caregivers can't do it alone, and why Susan waited too long to ask for help❤️‍🩹 The toll caregiving took on Susan's own health🕊️ Healthy love, anticipatory grief, and honest end-of-life conversationsIf you are caring for someone with dementia, grieving someone who is still here, or trying to understand frontotemporal dementia, this conversation will speak to your heart. ❤️

Retirees ask, “Who am I without my career?” Caregivers ask, “Who am I when caregiving changes or ends?” In this episode, Diane Carbo, RN talks with Anne van Leynseele, creator of Preferment®, a research-backed alternative to traditional retirement. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/finding-purpose-after-retirement-seniors-caregivers-and-the-new-retirement-with-anne-van-leynseele-episode-267 Anne is a five-time career reinventor, three-time author, former Hollywood producer, Fortune 100 consultant, Obama Administration attorney-advisor, and founder of Rarified Life LLC. She shares why retirement should be about creating fulfilling hours, not just filling them, and how purpose, identity, and personal boundaries can carry you through life after 50. 🌟 In this episode:🌱 Why Preferment® is a better word than “retirement”⏳ Filling hours vs. fulfilling hours💔 How loneliness and isolation affect health🪪 Introducing yourself without your career🙅‍♀️ Setting boundaries and saying no👨‍👩‍👧 Talking with your family about aging befo 💛 If this episode helped you, please follow, rate, and share it with a caregiver or retiree who needs to hear it.

Diane Carbo, RN, talks with Alder Allensworth, MM, RN, and Brenda Freed, MA, MUS, creators of the picture book Mackenzie Meets Alzheimer's, about how story, music, and family connection can help kids stay close to a loved one with dementia. 💛 https://www.caregiverrelief.com/helping-children-understand-alzheimers-through-story-music-and-family-connection-with-alder-allensworth-and-brenda-freed-episode-266In this episode: 🧒 Simple, honest ways to explain memory loss to kids🎶 Why music reaches people even when words fade📓 Memory books, daily schedules, and activities the whole family can share🔍 How kids can be "detectives" and help bring comfort and joy🌐 Learn more: mackenziemeetsalzheimers.com📝 Read the full episode post: caregiverrelief.com🎧 Press play, and share it with a family caregiver who needs it.

In EP 265 of The Caregiver Relief Podcast, host Diane Carbo, RN is joined by Mark Astor, attorney and founding partner at Astor Simovitch, to explore how guardianship can provide families with the legal tools needed to save a loved one’s life. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/when-mental-illness-or-addiction-puts-a-loved-one-at-risk-how-guardianship-can-help-families-with-mark-g-astor-episode-265 In this episode, we discuss: • How guardianship applies to addiction and mental health crises • Warning signs that a loved one can no longer make safe decisions • What legal rights are temporarily transferred to a guardian • Why true recovery requires a full year of structured care rather than a 30-day quick fix • How families can navigate emotional guilt and overcome paralysis If this episode speaks to you, please like, share, or leave a review to help us reach more caregivers who need hope and guidance! 🌟

In Episode 264 of Caregiver Relief, host Diane Carbo, RN sits down with Ju Tu, founder and CEO of Aegeliss, to explore why engagement is vital medicine in dementia care. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/dementia-engagement-activities-that-bring-joy-purpose-and-connection-with-ju-tu-episode-264 Ju shares her personal journey as a care partner to her grandparents and explains how small, intentional moments of meaningful activity can restore comfort and confidence. Key Highlights: • Why cognitive stimulation is crucial for preserving long-term abilities• How to use affirmative, positive framing to invite participation• Using visual supports to reduce anxiety and promote independence• Why caregivers should stop correcting memory and start stepping into their loved one's reality• Choosing dignified, adult-appropriate activities over infantized tools

Weight gain and blood sugar problems are often blamed on a lack of willpower, bad diets, or inadequate exercise—leaving families frustrated and seeking real answers 😔 In Episode 263, host Diane Carbo, RN is joined by Dr. John Poothullil, board-certified physician and author of "Diabetes: The Real Cause and the Real Cure" and "Beat Unwanted Weight Gain". Together, they break down the metabolic mechanics behind obesity and Type 2 diabetes to expose why conventional advice falls short. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/obesity-and-type-2-diabetes-the-real-root-cause-of-weight-gain-and-blood-sugar-problems-with-dr-john-poothullil-episode-263 Key Highlights: • Why the standard BMI chart is flawed and how to find your "Authentic Weight" 📊 • How the agricultural revolution shifted global eating habits 🌾 • The fundamental difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes (Underutilization vs. Overconsumption) 🔄 • How to break conditioned eating habits like "The Clean Plate Club" 🍽️ • Re-learning natural hunger signals and practicing true mindful eating 🧠 If this episode helped you, please leave us a 5-star rating and share it with a friend or caregiver who needs encouragement today! 🌟

In this episode, host Diane Carbo, RN, speaks with grief companion Terri Chaplin about the emotional complexities of caregiving. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/anticipatory-grief-in-caregiving-grieving-before-death-while-still-giving-care-with-terri-chaplin-episode-262 ✨ Highlights from the Episode: 🤍 Defining Anticipatory Grief: Why grief starts with change, long before physical loss occurs. 🛑 Breaking the Shame Cycle: Normalizing feelings of anger, frustration, and deep exhaustion. 🫁 Regulating Your Nervous System: Simple, real-time tools to calm fight-or-flight responses when feeling overwhelmed. 🕊️ Practicing Self-Compassion: Learning to treat yourself with the same grace you would give a best friend. 💬 “You don’t have to carry this heavy weight alone.” — Terri Chaplin 👉 Listen now to find comfort, practical coping tools, and permission to feel.

Join us as we explore what it truly means to "age out loud" with dignity, purpose, and connection. Discover how positive views on aging can add 7 to 8 years to your life, how caregivers can preserve an older adult's self-direction, and how communities can better support those living with dementia. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/aging-with-purpose-how-seniors-can-stay-independent-connected-and-valued-with-vince-tilford-episode-261 ✨ What You’ll Learn in EP 261: • 💡 Why ageism is so widely accepted—and how to overcome it• 🎓 Lessons from the Blue Zones on purpose and longevity• 💖 Supporting loved ones with dementia while honoring their identity• ✨ Diane's story of becoming a "Glitter Goddess" to fight invisibility

In Episode 260 of the Caregiver Relief Podcast, host Diane Carbo, RN welcomes Mark Wilson—author of Breakthrough Alzheimer’s Care and former Taco Bell executive. When Mark's mother received a 5-year Alzheimer's prognosis, he stepped away from his corporate career to lead her care. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/how-to-lead-alzheimers-care-with-confidence-joy-and-better-decisions-with-mark-wilson-episode-260 Using executive leadership and HR principles, he helped her live three times longer than doctors predicted—all while maximizing her joy and safety. Episode Highlights: 🧠 Shifting from passive caregiver to "Bold Care Leader"🏠 Practical, budget-friendly home safety tips👥 Building and leading an effective care team (doctors included!)🥗 Nutrition, supplements, and avoiding harmful sedatives❤️ Creating a "Surround Sound" environment of positivity a

In EP 259: Aging at Home Safely, Diane Carbo welcomes Occupational Therapist Christy Hier to break down how to replace fear and denial with practical home safety, fall prevention, and dignified caregiving. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/aging-at-home-safely-prevent-falls-plan-ahead-improve-quality-of-life-with-christy-hire-episode-259 Highlights: 🚨 Red Flags: Spotting subtle signs an aging parent needs help. 🛑 Fall Hazards: Fixing common home risks and reframing grab bars as independence tools. 📋 Proactive Care: Navigating healthcare gaps, elder care attorneys, and caregiver contracts. 🤖 The Future: How emerging technology and teletherapy are reshaping care at home. ❤️ If this episode helped you, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with another caregiver!

In Episode 258 of the Caregiver Relief Podcast, host Diane Carbo, RN, welcomes Dr. Jason Shumard (CEO of DrShumard.com), a functional medicine expert with over 20 years of experience. They unpack why standard labs often miss early metabolic breakdown for decades, how systemic inflammation and cellular damage cause insulin resistance, and what you can do to take control of your metabolic health. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/the-truth-about-type-2-diabetes-insulin-resistance-blood-sugar-and-what-standard-labs-may-miss-with-dr-jason-shumard-episode-258 Key Topics Covered:• The car engine analogy for insulin resistance 🚗• Serum insulin & Triglycerides-to-HDL ratio (what your PCP might be missing) 📊• How stress, toxins, and gut health affect blood sugar 🌿• The hidden pros & cons of GLP-1 weight-loss medications 💊• Shifting from "sick care" to true health investment 💰 "Type 2 Diabetes is a diagnosis, not your identity." 😎 Tune in for a empowering conversation filled with practical steps, hope, and root-cause solutions!

In Episode 257 of The Caregiver Relief Podcast, host Diane Carbo, RN speaks with Evan Bass Zeisel, author of How to Play with a Grandma and creator of the How Are You, Me? approach. Evan brings together dementia education, creative practice, and improv techniques to help families build meaningful, joyful moments of connection. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/how-to-know-when-death-is-near-a-hospice-nurses-guide-for-caregivers-and-families-with-barbara-karnes-episode-256 In this episode, you’ll learn: 🤝 The "Squeeze and Release" technique for when someone living with dementia grips your hand and can't let go. 🎭 The "Yes, And..." approach to meet your loved one in their reality instead of correcting them. 🧠 How viewing dementia as an accessibility issue changes the entire family dynamic. 💬 How binary questions give choices without overwhelming complex processing in the brain. 🕊️ Why self-forgiveness is vital for caregivers balancing it all.

Is this the beginning of the end? 💔 That quiet question brings immense panic to caregivers. Today, host Diane Carbo, RN, is joined by pioneer hospice nurse and educator Barbara Karnes, RN (Gone from My Sight) to bring clarity, peace, and comfort to one of the most emotional and misunderstood parts of caregiving. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/how-to-know-when-death-is-near-a-hospice-nurses-guide-for-caregivers-and-families-with-barbara-karnes-episode-256 ✨ In this episode, you’ll learn: • 🕊️ The natural "birth in reverse" process of end-of-life care• 🍲 Why appetite loss is normal and forcing food causes discomfort• ⏳ How to spot the physical signs of active dying and "labor"• 💊 Managing pain, breathing shifts, and terminal agitation calmly• 🏥 Knowing when to call hospice and self-refer for earlier support

In this episode, Diane Carbo, RN, is joined by Bryce Williams, PT and founder of The Meta Caregiver, to discuss the invisible load that family caregivers carry every day. From decision fatigue to tricky family dynamics, Bryce shares actionable strategies to help you sort through the noise, delegate tasks, and reclaim your mental space. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/caregiver-overwhelm-why-caregiving-feels-so-hard-even-when-youre-doing-everything-right-with-bryce-l-williams-episode-255 🎙️ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS • 🧠 The Invisible Load: Why mental anticipation exhausts you more than physical tasks.• 🔋 Mental Bandwidth: How background worrying drains your energy battery.• 🗑️ Care Strategy Sessions: How to separate what you can control from what you can't.• 🌳 Decision Trees: Automating boundaries so you can say "no" without guilt.• 🤝 Practical Delegating: How to ask family members for specific, actionable help.

Host Diane Carbo, RN speaks with Dr. Robert C. Keefer, PhD (Hear Better, Live Longer) about protecting your loved one's brain health. https://www.caregiverrelief.com/untreated-hearing-loss-and-dementia-what-families-need-to-know-before-its-too-late-with-robert-c-keefer-episode-254 Key Highlights: 🚨 The Stats: Research shows hearing loss can double, triple, or 5x dementia risk. 📉 Cognitive Decline: NIH shows hearing aids reduce cognitive decline by ~50% in high-risk adults. 👂 The ITD Problem: Why so many expensive hearing aids end up "In The Drawer". ✅ Best Practice Questions: What to ask your audiologist to ensure a proper fit. 💬 Family Nudge: Gentle ways to get reluctant parents tested using a "baseline" approach.