Navigating modern, meaningful caregiving. When caring for someone with dementia, their past is key to their present. Understanding their life story – their passions, values, and beliefs before diagnosis – equips caregivers to navigate a more meaningful care journey.

These details aren't relics of the past; they are the very essence of who your loved one is, even when memories dim. By sharing this personal narrative with healthcare professionals, you empower them to make choices that resonate with your loved one's core identity. Imagine, for instance, a former teacher with a passion for literature. Music therapy sessions featuring classic poems could spark joy and connection, even if they can't recall the author's name. This is the power of weaving your loved one's story into the fabric of their care.

Our Guest

Dr. Allison Applebaum is an Associate Attending Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and an Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. She is the Founding Director of the Caregivers Clinic at MSK, the first program of its kind to provide comprehensive psychosocial care to family members and friends of patients who are in the caregiving role.

Dr. Applebaum’s program of research focuses broadly on the development and dissemination of supportive services for family caregivers. She has published over 100 articles, reviews, and book chapters on caregiving, and is the editor of the textbook Cancer Caregivers (Oxford University Press, 2019). Dr. Applebaum has received competitive funding for her research, including awards from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Nursing Research, and the American Cancer Society. She is also the author of the recently published narrative nonfiction book, Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving (Simon Element, 2024).

Grab Stand By Me Here

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Love & Dementia: The Challenges of Caregiving Together

Yes, And: Experience Comedy in Dementia Caregiving

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Feeling overwhelmed? HelpTexts can be your pocket therapist.

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Contact Jen at hello@fadingmemoriespodcast.com

or Visit us at www.FadingMemoriesPodcast.com