Truth, Lies & Alzheimer's

In this episode of The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s Show, Lisa Skinner talks with Karmon Hill, author, speaker, dementia care advocate, and care partner for her mother who is living with dementia.Karmon shares her personal caregiving journey and the realities of balancing family, career, and the changing responsibilities that come with caring for a loved one with dementia. She also discusses the importance of having difficult but necessary conversations about medical, legal, and financial affairs before a crisis occurs.Her caregiving experience is inspiring her second book, which she hopes will encourage families to begin these conversations earlier and better prepare for what may lie ahead.Karmon is also the author of Whisper of the Wings: 12 Lessons Revealed by the Butterfly Life Cycle, a faith-inspired book about transformation, waiting, growth, and finding purpose through life’s different seasons.In This EpisodeLisa and Karmon discuss:Karmon’s experience caring for her mother with dementiaHow caregiving can change family roles and responsibilitiesBalancing caregiving with work and family lifeWhy medical, legal, and financial planning mattersThe importance of starting family conversations before a crisisFinding faith, meaning, and strength during difficult seasonsTurning personal caregiving experiences into advocacy for othersKarmon’s story reminds families that dementia caregiving is not only about managing the needs of today. It is also about preparing, communicating, adapting, and finding ways to remain connected through every stage of the journey.About Karmon HillKarmon Hill is an engineer, wife, mother, author, speaker, dementia care advocate, and care partner for her mother. She has shared her caregiving experiences through podcast appearances and is currently writing her second book about her dementia caregiving journey.She is the author of Whisper of the Wings: 12 Lessons Revealed by the Butterfly Life Cycle and is active in leadership and ministry within her church.Connect with KarmonWebsite: KarmonMillerHillBooks.comInstagram: @krayne95Whisper of the Wings is available through Amazon, IngramSpark, BookPeople in Austin, Texas, and other online booksellers.Hashtags#Dementia #DementiaCare #DementiaCaregiver #Caregiving #FamilyCaregiver #CaregiverSupport #DementiaAwareness #CarePartner #Alzheimers #AgingParents #CarePlanning #PersonCenteredCare #KarmonHill #LisaSkinner #TheTruthLiesAndAlzheimersShow

Creating Calm with Sensory Tools in Dementia CareHow can a simple sensory object help during a stressful caregiving moment? Lisa Skinner explores how fidget blankets and other sensory tools may offer comfort and support calmer interactions with someone living with dementia.Through everyday caregiving scenarios, Lisa discusses responding when someone insists on going home, worries about a loved one who has passed away, or accuses a caregiver of stealing. The focus is on recognizing the feelings behind the behavior and pairing sensory engagement with calm, reassuring communication.In this episode:Using sensory objects to gently redirect restless energy.Responding to distress without arguing or correcting.Choosing tools that match the person’s preferences and abilities.Supporting comfort, safety, and dignity at home.Learn more at MindingDementia.com.

In this episode of The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s Podcast, Lisa Skinner explores the growing conversation around the p-tau217 blood biomarker test and its potential role in identifying Alzheimer’s-related biological changes.P-tau217 can provide valuable information about the likelihood of Alzheimer’s-related amyloid and tau pathology, but a result is not the same as a dementia diagnosis and cannot predict exactly if or when symptoms will develop.Lisa discusses:What the p-tau217 biomarker test measuresWhat a positive or negative result may meanWhy results should not be viewed as a guarantee or prediction of the futureThe importance of symptoms, medical history, other testing, and clinical evaluationQuestions to consider before deciding to be testedHow testing may help provide direction for next steps rather than simply another numberThe key question may not be just, “Should I get tested?” but rather, “What am I hoping to learn, and what will I do with the information?”Hashtags#Alzheimers #Dementia #DementiaCare #PTau217 #AlzheimersResearch #Biomarkers #MemoryLoss #BrainHealth #CognitiveHealth #DementiaAwareness #CaregiverSupport #TheTruthLiesAndAlzheimers

What Do We Do Now After a Dementia Diagnosis?In this episode of The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s Show, Lisa Skinner interviews Jill Poser, founder and principal of Life Care Concierge of South Florida.Jill helps families navigate the difficult questions that often come after an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis, including care planning, healthcare decisions, safety concerns, changing family roles, and preparing for future needs.Lisa and Jill discuss why dementia impacts the entire family, common mistakes families make when trying to manage everything on their own, and how caregivers can advocate for their loved ones while also protecting their own well-being.With more than 15 years of experience in aging services, Jill brings both professional expertise and personal experience caring for her own parents. Her approach focuses on compassionate, person-centered care that balances clinical guidance with genuine human connection.SEO DescriptionLisa Skinner interviews aging life care expert Jill Poser about what families should do after an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis, including care planning, safety, family dynamics, caregiver advocacy, and preparing for future care needs.Hashtags#Alzheimers #Dementia #DementiaCare #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #FamilyCaregiver #AgingLifeCare #SeniorCare #CareManagement #PersonCenteredCare #AgingInPlace #DementiaSupport #TheTruthLiesAndAlzheimersShow

Loss of Smell: An Early Sign We Shouldn’t IgnoreIn this episode of The Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s Show, Lisa Skinner explores an often-overlooked symptom that may provide an early clue to neurological changes: loss of smell, also known as hyposmia.A reduced sense of smell is commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease and can sometimes appear years, or even decades, before a diagnosis. While losing your sense of smell does not mean that you will develop Parkinson’s disease, it is a symptom worth paying attention to, especially when it occurs alongside other neurological changes.Lisa discusses why our sense of smell matters, how changes in smell can affect taste, appetite, nutrition, and quality of life, and why subtle changes in the body should not always be dismissed as simply part of aging.This episode is an important reminder to notice changes, ask questions, and talk with a healthcare provider when something feels different.Learn MoreFor additional information about loss of smell and Parkinson’s disease, visit the Parkinson’s Foundation:https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/non-movement-symptoms/loss-of-smellHashtags#TruthLiesAndAlzheimers #MindingDementia #LisaSkinner #ParkinsonsDisease #ParkinsonsAwareness #LossOfSmell #Hyposmia #NeurologicalHealth #BrainHealth #DementiaAwareness #EarlyWarningSigns #CaregiverEducation #HealthyAging #PersonCenteredCareThe Parkinson’s Foundation notes that hyposmia is a common early Parkinson’s symptom, although not everyone who experiences reduced smell will develop Parkinson’s disease. (parkinson.org)wiF3VfsgZcVwRRgQ8SmW