Caregiver Chats

Dr. Lakelyn welcomes Cristi Stearns and Ricky Enger from Hadley, an organization that provides practical help, resources and community for adults adjusting to vision loss and the people who support them. Together, they discuss how family caregivers can support a loved one through vision changes while helping them maintain independence. Cristi and Ricky explore both the emotional and practical side...

Dr. Lakelyn welcomes family caregiver and advocate Karen Sandone to share her family’s journey after her husband, Anthony, was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 55. Karen opens up about the long road to a diagnosis, how Alzheimer’s changed the future they had imagined, and what she has learned about caregiving, grief, family and finding meaning in the present. Karen also shar...

Dr. Lakelyn welcomes back Nicole Will, international thought leader on aging, caregiving and connection, to take a closer look at one of the biggest decisions families may face: moving a loved one into senior living. Building on their Episode 10 conversation about the care continuum, Nicole shares a more person-centered way to approach the search, one that begins not with the building, but with un...

Dr. Lakelyn welcomes gerontologist Dr. Julie Masters for a thoughtful conversation about what it means to be there for someone we love at the end of life. Together, they explore why accepting death can be especially difficult for family caregivers, including how the loss of a loved one can also bring changes to a caregiver's identity and sense of purpose. They also discuss life review, meaning...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by licensed mental health counselor Rebecca Johnson for an honest conversation about one of caregiving's most complicated and often unspoken realities, caring for a narcissistic parent. For many adult children, becoming a caregiver means stepping back into painful family dynamics that never truly healed. Feelings of obligation, guilt, resentment, grief, and responsibility...

Dr. Lakelyn welcomes Emmy-nominated actress, producer, author, and caregiver advocate Yvette Nicole Brown for an honest and heartfelt conversation about caring for her father, who is living with Alzheimer's disease. Together, they discuss Yvette's caregiving journey, the lessons she's learned over more than a decade, and how her background in acting and improvisation has helped her nav...

Dr. Lakelyn welcomes audiologist Dr. Debbie Abel for an important conversation about hearing loss and why recognizing it early can make a tremendous difference in health, relationships, and quality of life. Hearing loss is often dismissed as a normal part of aging, but untreated hearing loss can affect communication, increase social isolation, contribute to fall risk, and is associated with cognit...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by geriatric social worker and author Mindy Crouch for a thoughtful conversation about helping children understand dementia and grief. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience supporting older adults and families, Mindy shares practical guidance for caregivers who are navigating difficult conversations with children after a loved one is diagnosed with dementia or experie...

Dr. Lakelyn sits down with Debbie Weiss, author, speaker, and host of the “Maybe I Can” podcast, for a heartfelt conversation shaped by more than 40 years of caregiving. From supporting her father after a stroke at age 17 to raising a son with autism and caring for her husband through cancer and mental health challenges, Debbie shares the lessons she’s learned across a lifetime of care. Together,...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined live in the Caregiver Chats studio by a panel of three dementia care experts: Michelle Magner, Carrie Aalberts (aka Dementia Darling), and Aaron Fish. Together, provide practical tips to help family caregivers create more comfortable family gatherings, as well as tips for caregiver self-care, meal options, and more. Episode highlights include: Deconstructing the misconception...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Sam and Susan Simon for an inspiring conversation about what it means to live well after a dementia diagnosis. Together, they share how purpose, creativity, advocacy, and connection continue to shape their lives and relationship as they navigate dementia as a couple. Years before Sam’s own diagnosis with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, he cared for Susan through Stage 3 b...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Jean Hartnett, a healthcare leader and trauma-informed care advocate, for a powerful conversation about the hidden ways trauma—both past and present—can show up in caregiving. With more than 30 years of experience in senior care, Jean shares insights shaped by her work across the field and through her organization, Radical Sabbatical, where she helps individuals and commun...

Dr. Lakelyn sits down with fellow gerontologist, licensed clinical social worker, and dementia educator Ashley Stevens for an honest conversation about what caregivers truly need beyond traditional self-care advice. With 16 years of professional experience and a personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease, Ashley brings both expertise and lived insight to the discussion. Together, they unpack the e...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by retired nurse and stroke caregiver Lana Wilhelm for a deeply personal and practical conversation about what happens after a stroke. In 2021, Lana’s husband Rick suffered a severe stroke, and overnight she transitioned from bedside nurse to full-time caregiver. Drawing from both her professional background and lived experience, Lana shares the emotional realities of stroke...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by occupational therapist Lindsay DeLong, founder of EquipMeOT, for a conversation about supporting personal care routines as we age. Together they discuss how everyday activities like grooming, bathing, and getting ready for the day are closely tied to dignity, identity, and emotional well being. Lindsay shares how common physical changes can make these routines more challen...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined once again by caregiving expert and author Dr. Aaron Blight, returning to Caregiver Chats after his first appearance in Episode #25, Reflecting on Your Caregiving Mindset. This time, the conversation explores the role of spirituality and faith in caregiving. Caregiving often places people in some of the hardest moments of life, including times of decline, uncertainty, and end...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Nicole Smith—author, advocate, and dementia daughter—for a heartfelt conversation about caring for multiple parents living with dementia across different states during the pandemic. Nicole shares what it was like to navigate healthcare, legal, and financial systems while learning the language of caregiving in real time. Together, they discuss the importance of building a c...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by return guest April Ibarra, gerontologist and aging expert, for a thoughtful conversation on a topic that many families don’t know how to approach: what happens when an aging parent or loved one starts dating again. From companionship and loneliness to online dating safety and changing family dynamics, this episode explores how caregivers and adult children can support thei...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Sheri Biller, philanthropist, cancer caregiving advocate, and co-founder of the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. Sheri brings both personal experience and professional passion to the conversation as she shares how her foundation is changing the landscape of supportive care for serious illnesses, especially for cancer patients and their caregivers. The Biller Family...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Carmen Bowman, consultant, educator, and founder of Edu-Catering, to discuss the Validation Method, a compassionate approach to dementia care. Caregivers often feel stuck when faced with repeated questions like “Where’s my mom?” or behaviors they don’t understand. Instead of arguing, redirecting, or dismissing, Carmen introduces simple yet powerful techniques—like rephrasi...

Dr. Lakelyn welcomes Dr. Kerry Burnight, a nationally recognized gerontologist and bestselling author of Joyspan , for a powerful and uplifting conversation about redefining what it means to grow older. In this episode, they explore how caregivers can cultivate “joyspan”—the quality of life in aging, not just the quantity—and help their loved ones do the same. Together, they challenge ageist myths...

Dr. Lakelyn is joined by caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson to explore one of the most emotionally complex and commonly misunderstood aspects of caregiving: navigating blended family dynamics and complex relationships. As families evolve through remarriage, step-siblings, second spouses, or late-in-life partnerships, caregiving roles can become blurred. Tensions may arise around who makes decision...

In this listener-favorite episode, Dr. Lakelyn revisits a powerful conversation with Laurel Wittman, spousal caregiver and President of the Well Spouse Association. Together, they explore the deeply personal and often under-discussed experience of caring for a spouse or partner. Whether due to illness, disability, or chronic conditions, spousal caregiving brings its own set of emotional and relati...

Dr. Lakelyn welcomes Jennifer FitzPatrick, gerontologist and author of Cruising Through Caregiving , to discuss one of the biggest decisions caregivers face: whether to move a loved one into their home. Drawing from her clinical background and decades of experience advising families, Jennifer unpacks the emotional, logistical, and relational factors behind this choice. This episode provides tools...

Dr. Lakelyn talks with sisters Natalie and JJ Elliott, hosts of Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver, about the ups and downs of caregiving with siblings. They share personal stories from supporting their mom through Parkinson’s and navigating family roles, disagreements, and emotional challenges along the way. It’s an honest, relatable look at what happens when caregiving becomes a team effort, a...