Aging Angst and Alleluias Podcast

Being prepared is one thing, but not having the correct knowledge and fortitude to make sure your loved one is getting the care they need, is another. Featured in this episode is Jeff Duffield and his sister, Susan Kuff, along with host, Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly, as they converse quite candidly the near disaster of caregiving and a NJ nursing home. This true account of Jeff and Susan's uncle and...

A very difficult episode, but one that surely needs to be told. This situation is one family's struggle with when their loved ones need care in a community setting.  It's a hard decision. The word placement strikes fear in their hearts for many reasons. Since the recording of this episode, the Colonel, as you'll hear about, passed away within a few weeks of his placement. To be honest, there are t...

This is part two of Anthony Facello's difficult story. The value of having a POA (power of attorney) is of utmost in any family with a loved one. And if that loved one is suffering from dementia and is a mother of an only child, it's even more imperative. What makes Anthony's story even more tragic is the abuse his mother received from her second husband.  Making things worse, the cocktail of meds...

Medicare's hospice regulations are not working as intended for many people with dementia, says many experts of end-of-life care. The "long goodbye", the phrase Barbara Karnes describes about hospice patients with dementia, is, for the medical profession, a difficult diagnosis. About 5 percent are pulled from hospice when their condition seems to have stabilized. Plus, the number of Americans over...

The Talley family's love and compassion for their parents and grandparents will bring sincere joy, levity and hope for families who take on this great calling called "care partnering." Gospel singer/songwriter, Lauren Talley, along with her Uncle Kirk Talley (also a singer/songwriter), shares on this episode that through thick and thin, family always comes first.  Even throughout their former road...

It's a known fact that the elderly and especially those with dementia or Alzheimers respond positively to the music that was part of their world for most of their lives. Today's episode features two friends of host Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly, who have a long and productive history in southern gospel music. Danny Jones is vice president of The Singing News and Billy Blackwood is a singer/songwriter...

This episode shows the extraordinary love of a son for his mother with dementia. Host Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly's part of this story was in previous episode 25. This is a heart-felt perspective and cry from that son, Anthony Facello  Being a caregiver for a parent is never easy, especially if you are younger and thrown into a broken system that makes no sense in treating those with dementia. It's...

Maybe one day, the medical profession will understand and improve the quality of the pieces of the puzzle of dementia. For now, though, the research and emphasis are more about dealing with the symptoms than addressing the cause and management of dementia.  Why can we not do more training and improvements with the medical communities' skillset? Many questions need to be addressed.    Host Mary Ann...

Host, Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly and producer, Sue Duffield come right out of the starting gate discussing the hilarity of being hacked and cloned on Facebook! Plus an update on Mary Anne's client whose charges were dropped after being arrested - is a great story with a compassionate ending. There's still the on-going struggle with those who have dementia, and how the system treats these individua...

There's a lot we can learn from the palliative care movement: it considers death as meaningful and dying as a stage of life to be valued, supported and lived. Welcoming mortality might actually help us live better lives and support communities — rather than relying on medical systems — to care for people at the end of their lives. And if you're new to the Aging Angst and Alleluias Podcast, be intr...

God has positioned Himself strategically in the hearts of three friends: One from Arkansas; one from East Tennessee, and one Jersey transplant to Middle Tennessee. And God's the ONLY one who knows the plans for these three! Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly, Debra Talley and Sue Duffield take the discussion and interaction to a new place, discussing the difficulties of aging, caregiving and the hope of s...

When the FDA gives approval for the first drug to be used for agitation (brexpiparazole) in Alzheimer's and dementia patients, there's also fair warning for the hidden side effects along with mortality risk. Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly and Sue Duffield have an honest and informative discussion about the pros and cons of using this type of drug in a brain that has a disease, and not just depression....

With twenty-six years experience as a nurse and nurse practitioner, Crystal Yokley received her BSN at Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN and her MSN at Western Kentucky University. She worked in hospitals and clinics with a wide range from Med-Surg Cardiology, Pediatrics, women's health, family health occupational med and acute care. She has recently announced the opening of Pinnacle Family Pra...

On previous episode number 28, "Markers of the Heart" touched on the truth about advocating for ourselves. This week's episode number 29 continues with that topic as Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly and Sue Duffield discuss how to support and advocate for those living with dementia and the aging population. As usual, something always sparks Mary Anne's desire to share the truth with honest concern of li...

Today's guest, Richard Patterson, is a husband and father of two children and also the owner and administrator of Preferred Care at Home of North Nashville, Sumner, and East Wilson Counties in Middle Tennessee. Richard's first opportunity to work with seniors was at the age of 14 when he worked through high school at an assisted living facility. Richard's love for that job began as serving and con...

This week's episode is honestly one that Mary Anne never dreamed she would record on the "Aging, Angst & Alleluias Podcast." As an advocate for those living with dementia and their families, Mary Anne suddenly experienced a heart attack and immediately became an advocate for herself and for her own brain. This was a tough job especially when there were so many physicians counseling her on what to...

This week's episode is part two of episode 25 of the Aging, Angst & Alleluias Podcast "A Dementia Doula's Blessing from the Basement."  Experience the "alleluias" from that nine-day stay in the basement for host, Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly's special friend, Diane. This is a resource of magnitude for those living with dementia and those at the end of life. Kim Derrick, Founder and Director of The H...

This compassionate episode is about a woman who Mary Anne grew to love and yet never heard speak her name. It's about a broken medical system that truly left this woman completely desperate and at death's door. Yet, when all options were completely exhausted, a simple basement full of love in Nashville Tennessee was sent via a special friend in Oklahoma.  Though the basement is simple, the love of...

Today's conversation with Barbara Karnes is to announce her new book, "By Your Side," (A Guide for Caring for the Dying at Home) and the discussion of how vital End of Life Doula and Dementia Doula work is becoming in our society. Her new book is one of the best for family caregivers and since Barbara has been a family caregiver herself, her knowledge of Hospice and the experience in that field is...

The concept of "Dementia Doula" is somewhat new to the community of caregivers, but not new to compassionate expert, Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly. This episode is a celebration of this podcast's first year, but also an anticipatory view ahead into the lives of those who are becoming more aware of how quality end of life should look. With heartfelt truth and wisdom, the Veranda Ministries continues t...

Welcome to SEASON TWO! Last year (2022) was the Aging Angst & Alleluias pilot year, and what a successful one it was! For dementia, alzheimer's and caregiver interests, this podcast ranks in the high 10% of podcasts internationally of the same theme. To that, we are very proud. This #22 is a 2022 encore of a previously recorded episode with Barbara Karnes. Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly and her guest,...

This week's episode "A Caregiver's Christmas" is all about finding joy in the journey, even during the holiday season.  Our team's desire is to help families find peace and comfort during Christmas. We also desire as always to help those living with dementia have the best holiday possible. Today's special guest is Mary Anne's friend, mentor, and the one that keeps her grounded, Toni Joleen Clay. T...

What could be better on this twentieth episode of "Aging Angst and Alleluias" Podcast than to have the guest of the first episode discuss thankfulness and the pure joy of this holiday season? Today's special guest is Debra Talley, but wait, not only is Deb the guest, but the producer of the podcast, Sue Duffield, is guest number two.  Let's just say this - get ready, folks.  This episode 20 will d...

Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly's guest, Katlyn G. Clifton, developed a business model for aging care with a social work perspective. Her dream was realized through a series of life-long community and familial experiences while caring for the aging, developing chaplaincy and counsel, and also studying and understanding grief care. Her website puts two ideas together (Gerontology and Doula) to form a ho...

It's a known fact that singing and music therapy can be used as a treatment for the improvement of cognitive function in people with dementia. On a basic level, songs, hymns and interactive music connect in ways that can't always be explained. Special guest, Dave Clark, a prominent songwriter and storyteller, shares his heart on this episode about his experience within his family navigating Alzhei...