Claim OwnershipThe Surviving Alzheimer's Podcast
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This podcast is the story of Ken and Shanna, a married couple who's lives have been forever changed (for the better) because we have learned to live with and ultimately Survive Alzheimer's disease. We have learned many lessons in our 12+ year journey together down Dementia Road. Our mission is to help caregivers and families who have been changed by Alzheimer's disease. We share our experiences on how we both eventually rediscovered joy and gained a peace that passes all understanding, all while dealing with our lifes greatest challenge.
48 Episodes
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Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast In this first episode I will give you some of background information and introduce you to the people that this podcast is about. I'll also introduce you to how we have survived Alzheimer's disease so far. It's my hope that you'll be able to connect with us, thus, be able to relate your experiences to ours in doing this. I hope that you can learn from our experiences. Why did I decide to do this podcast? It's about you. I wanted to help you in ...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Surviving Alzheimer's: Reflections on Early Signs and Coping Strategies In this episode of the Surviving Alzheimer's podcast, host Ken Cardita shares his journey alongside his wife, Shanna, who has been battling Alzheimer's disease. He reflects on their early life together, identifying initial signs of cognitive decline, and the crucial lessons learned during their journey. The podcast delves into the importance of selecting the right medical support...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Navigating Denial and Driving: A Caregiver's Journey In this episode of the Surviving Alzheimer's podcast, host Ken Cardita recounts his personal experiences dealing with denial and the challenges of getting his wife, Shanna, to stop driving once it was no longer safe for her to drive. He shares valuable insights and resources for caregivers, emphasizing the importance of overcoming denial, being proactive, and finding support. Ken also offers practi...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Navigating Early Stage Alzheimer's: Personal Reflections and Advice In this episode of the Surviving Alzheimer's podcast, host Ken Cardita delves into his personal experiences during the early stages of his wife Shanna's Alzheimer's diagnosis. Ken recounts the emotional challenges and adjustments needed to manage caregiving duties effectively. He discusses common symptoms such as repeated questioning, short-term memory loss, and poor judgment, and sh...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Navigating Diagnosis and Acceptance: A Journey through Moderate Alzheimer's In this episode of the Surviving Alzheimer's podcast, host Ken Cardita delves into 2016, a pivotal year in his 12-year journey with his wife Shanna's Alzheimer's. Ken shares the challenges of undiagnosed moderate Alzheimer's, the life upheaval from early retirement, and the financial planning that shaped his transition to a full-time caregiver. He recounts the stress and real...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast EP 6 I have Grieved 100 Losses .. Thoughts on Grief, Guilt, and Ambiguous Loss as a Dementia Caregiver In this episode of the Surviving Alzheimer’s podcast, host Ken Cardita shares his personal journey of caregiving for his wife Shanna, who has Alzheimer's. Ken delves into the complex emotions of grief, guilt, and ambiguous loss that caregivers often face. By reflecting on his own experiences, he provides insights and strategies on how to mana...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Moderate Stage of Alzheimer's: A Caregiver's Journey In this episode of the Surviving Alzheimer’s podcast, host Ken Cardita shares his experiences and lessons learned while caring for his wife Shanna at home during the moderate stage of Alzheimer's. Ken discusses various challenges encountered, such as increased memory loss, language difficulties, and handling unexpected outbursts. He highlights the importance of adapting as a caregiver, the value of...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Leading Your Caregiving Team: Insights and Experiences In this episode, the Ken draws an analogy between the role of a football quarterback and that of a primary caregiver in managing the needs of a loved one with dementia. He provides an overview of the different aspects involved in leading a caregiving team, sharing personal experiences of assembling 'Team Shanna'—a support network comprising medical professionals, financial and legal advisors, fri...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Advanced Alzheimer's: Lessons Learned in Caregiving In this episode, Ken reflects on a listener's comment before delving into their personal journey of caregiving for their wife, Shanna, who transitioned from moderate to advanced Alzheimer's between late 2019 and early 2020. The host shares observations and experiences from their journals, describes the symptoms and daily challenges of advanced Alzheimer's, and offers practical advice and insights on...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Facing the Decision: A Journey Through Alzheimer's Care Transitions In this episode of the Surviving Alzheimer's Podcast, host Ken Cardita delves into the heart-wrenching decision to move his wife, Shanna, to a long-term memory care facility after 12 years of battling Alzheimer's. Ken recounts the emotional stages leading up to the move, sharing journal entries detailing Shanna's rapid decline, wandering incidents, and the challenges of caregiving. H...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast The Hardest Transition: Moving a Loved One to Memory Care In this heartfelt and emotional episode, the host reflects on the difficult decision to move his wife, Shanna, to a memory care facility 18 months ago. I will tell the story of the hardest thing I've ever done. That is moving my best friend and wife to a Memory Care Facility. I discuss the anxious week before this happened, the actual moving day and how we were able to move her without a...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Memory Care: Lessons and Challenges from Our Journey In this episode , host Ken shares his and his wife Shanna's experiences during the 11 months they spent transitioning Shanna into her first memory care facility. Ken discusses the initial expectations and realities of the memory care environment, the importance of dedicated caregivers, and the frequent turnover that impacted Shanna's care. He also shares personal stories of their emotional j...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Embracing Change: Ken and Shanna's Journey with Alzheimer's In this episode Ken shares the heartfelt story of moving his wife Shanna to a new memory care facility, recounting their eight-month journey of adjusting to the transition. He delves into the emotional challenges and victories they experienced, from finding the right place with a caring and competent staff to overcoming the grief and sadness associated with Alzheimer's disease. ...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Finding Hope and Support in the Journey through Dementia In this episode, the host reflects on his journey and experiences over the last decade, specifically focusing on the challenges and emotional toll of being a caregiver to his wife, Shanna, who has Alzheimer's. He shares his past despair and recent uplifting moments, including the profound realization of acceptance and the invaluable support from a group called 'Men Who Care.' He emphasiz...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast The Power of Connection: Rediscovering Joy Amidst Alzheimer's Challenges Ken shares his journey and lessons learned from over 12 years with his wife, Shanna, who has Alzheimer's disease. He recounts a touching visit from Shanna's long-term friends, Judy and Wanda, and highlights the emotional connections that remain despite the disease. Through personal anecdotes, Ken explores the evolution of their communication and the importance of staying ...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Navigating Holidays with Alzheimer’s: Finding Joy and Managing Emotions Ken discusses the emotional challenges and practical adjustments required during the holiday season when caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's. Sharing personal experiences from his journey with his wife, Shanna, over the past 12 years, Ken offers tips and advice for managing holiday stress and creating new memories. He also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, f...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Finding Joy and Gratitude Amidst the Challenges of Alzheimer's The episode focuses on finding peace and joy during the holiday season despite the challenges posed by the disease. Ken shares his unique anti-depression plans for Thanksgiving, reflecting on their success and the lessons learned about the power of giving thanks and doing things differently. Listener feedback, heartfelt reflections, and the significance of gratitude in coping with ...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast A Second Home, A Second Family: Finding Comfort and Community in Memory Care Ken shares their emotional journey of moving his wife, Shanna, to a memory care facility. Initially filled with anxiety and worry, the experience eventually became comforting as both Shanna and Ken adapted to their new environment. Over time, the memory care facility transformed into a second home and a new family for them. The episode also highlights listener feedbac...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Reflecting on 2022: Lessons and Insights from the Journey Down Dementia Road In this final episode of 2022, Ken reflects on the past year of his and his wife Shanna's 12-year journey with Alzheimer's. He shares personal anecdotes and key lessons learned from their experiences and deep discussions with friends who are also navigating similar paths. Ken introduces a model that breaks down the roles of a caregiver into three categories: pre-existing r...
Send Ken a Text Message about the Podcast Understanding and Managing Caregiver Burnout Ken explores the heavy toll that caregiving can take on individuals tending to loved ones with Alzheimer's or related dementias. With 57% of family caregivers providing care for four or more years and 40% experiencing depression, the physical and emotional impacts are significant. Host Ken shares alarming statistics from the CDC and the American Psychological Association, emphasizing the importance ...
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