Answers For Elders Radio Network

Carol Rosenstein, the founder of Music Mends Minds, joins Suzanne to talk about how music transforms people's lives, particularly those suffering from Parkinson's disease, dementia, or Alzheimer's. Carol was deeply affected by this story: “In 1992, Dr. Concerto Tomano was a newly graduated music therapist. She was summoned to a local facility of end-stage dementia patients. The facility said, come...

Suzanne talks with Julie Wilkins, Ignacio Lopez, and Rebecca Martin to talk about MorningStar Senior Living's Lavender Sky program. Rebecca Martin is VP of Memory Care, Julie Wilkins is Vice President of Clinical Resources at EmpowerMe Wellness, and Ignacio Lopez is a dementia resident expert at MorningStar at West Valley.  This segment focuses on where we go in the future with breakthroughs in Al...

Rebecca Martin, MorningStar Senior Living ’s VP of Memory Care, joins Suzanne to talk about their Lavender Sky program. Lavender Sky is the communities’ Alzheimer's and dementia memory care philosophy and programming services, which takes a holistic approach.  Why is it called Lavender Sky? Rebecca explains, “That really comes from our tagline at MorningStar, which is to cast a new light, and that...

Julie Wilkins , Vice President of Clinical Resources at EmpowerMe Wellness , joins Suzanne to talk about their Mindful Living memory program, a formalized approach to addressing the needs of seniors who are experiencing memory loss or a decline in function related to dementia or other cognitive issues. It is based on Claudia Allen's work of the six levels of cognition, which is a test that evaluat...

Suzanne is joined by Ignacio Lopez III, CDP, dementia resident expert at MorningStar Senior Living's new community, MorningStar at West Valley in San José, California. They have a dedicated art studio, fitness studio, living areas, two dining rooms, and a sky terrace. The Lavender Sky approach is to serve them, enter their world and embrace them where they are. The community is set up for person-c...

Kelley Smith at CarePartners Senior Living joins Suzanne to talk about CarePartners memory care and their Bonded Pairs program, which keeps spouses together at a senior living community. Kelley talked about CarePartners cottages: "The cottages has been such a winner from the very beginning, and it allows residents autonomy because they each live in a little house — they have their own little bedro...

Kelley Smith at CarePartners Senior Living joins Suzanne to talk about the most common questions she's asked every day about Alzheimer's and Dementia. Kelley explained, “People want to know what a normal day looks like. You may go in for a tour and see people sleeping on the couch. Depending on the time, they'd probably be doing that at home — and this is their home. Don't expect there to be parti...

Kelley Smith at CarePartners Senior Living joins Suzanne to talk about different types of dementia, and how to approach caring for a senior loved one. If you contact the Alzheimer's Association, they'll tell you there are over a hundred different types of dementia. Alzheimer's is the kind of dementia you see the most, and you also see vascular dementia that can be brought on by a number of differe...

Kelley Smith at CarePartners Senior Living joins Suzanne to discuss how to talk about dementia or Alzheimer's with your senior loved one. We all get forgetful at times, depending on our stress level and workload. You can be forgetful at 20, you can be forgetful at 40. You can be forgetful at 80. Normal forgetfulness is you're walking out the door; did you bring your keys? Not normal is you've got...

Sarah Luetke, founder and CEO Sound Dental Care, joins Suzanne to talk about breakthroughs in geriatric dental care. In this segment, Sarah talks about her mission and where the breakthroughs will take us. Her goal and team is about serving others, helping family members, and trying something different. We're all aging, and we're all going to go through this process – seniors should be able to liv...

Sarah Luetke, founder and CEO Sound Dental Care, joins Suzanne to talk about breakthroughs in geriatric dental care. Sarah shares a story: “I saw a couple - husband and wife's spouse - for years at the private practice. I was their hygienist at the dental office, and both had excellent teeth, lots of crowns in their mouth. Anytime they needed work done, they financially did it, they could afford i...

Sarah Luetke, founder and CEO Sound Dental Care, joins Suzanne to talk about breakthroughs in geriatric dental care and services. COVID changed a lot of things for a lot of people, and the pandemic really sped up tele-dentistry and mobile dentistry. If you Google mobile dentistry, there are many many people - providers, whether it be dentists, hygienists, dental therapists, denturists - starting t...

Sarah Luetke, founder and CEO Sound Dental Care, joins Suzanne to talk about geriatric dental health. Sarah has worked in dentistry for over 20 years, for some time in Bainbridge, a very affluent community as a dental hygienist for a group practice dentist. Patients had the ability to pay for dental care that could keep up on their dental health. She has also had the opportunity to work in farm co...

Pauline Smith, executive director of Encore Communities at Laurel Cove in Shoreline, Washington joins Suzanne to talk about how the community supports families of senior loved ones.  Encore Communities at Laurel Cove is located at 17201 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155. Learn more at https://encorecommunities.com/laurel-cove or call 206-364-9336. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

With high rates of Alzheimer's in Washington, Suzanne talks about memory care at Encore Communities at Laurel Cove in Shoreline, Washington with executive director Pauline Smith. She talks about memory care and the services provided for those with Alzheimer's. Encore Communities at Laurel Cove is located at 17201 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155. Learn more at https://encorecommunities.com/laurel-...

Working with seniors in their 70s or 80s who are considering downsizing to senior living. The thought of moving is unpleasant, especially for people who have lived in their home for a generation or move. Pauline Smith, executive director of Encore Communities at Laurel Cove in Shoreline, Washington joins Suzanne to talk about how Laurel Cove helps. With the senior, they help brainstorm through the...

Pauline Smith, executive director of Encore Communities at Laurel Cove in Shoreline, Washington joins Suzanne to talk about Laurel Cove, an independent assisted living and memory care residence in one community. Starting out in skilled nursing as a caregiver, Pauline progressed to resident care coordinator and eventually executive director. They also talk about seniors in their 70s or 80s who are...

In this segment, Rebecca Bomann , CEO and founder of SASH Services , talks with Suzanne about the differences faced during the sale of a senior loved one's home in situations were there's an only child and where there are multiple siblings. People in each situation envies the other. If you are a caregiver, you've got to take breaks, have balance and boundaries. Don't fall into the slippery slope o...

Bumpy family dynamics are normal through transitions and a senior loved one's home sale. It's not a matter of whether there will be differing opinions, conflicts, and differences in goals, it's when they'll come up. Continuing from the previous segment, Rebecca Bomann , CEO and founder of SASH Services , talks about some more family roles some people might resonate with: the "expert" who knows mor...

In this segment, Rebecca Bomann , CEO and founder of SASH Services , describes some typical roles that siblings and family members fall into during the sale of a senior loved one's home — why they fall into these role, how that impacts the whole family dynamic, and how we can provide support to these people during our care for a senior loved one. Rebecca talks about family roles some people might...

If you have a family going through changes with a senior loved on, or is expecting soon to go through a transition, this is show you may want to listen to. Family plays an outsized role during transitions. With all the stress, strife, and confusion for caregivers, it's easy to come apart at the seams with the family you love, particularly since it's the family home that's going to be sold. Rebecca...

Nationally renowned Alzheimer's and dementia expert Lori La Bey joins Suzanne from Minneapolis at Alzheimer’s Speaks . In this segment, Lori introduces the Dementia Map , a global resource directory, event calendar, glossary, and blog. There's such a need to connect families with products and tools to find support. They don't want to give away their personal information to find tools. It's crafted...

If you know of someone who is dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia, or caregiving for them, direct them to Lori La Bey 's resources at Alzheimer’s Speaks . Nationally renowned Alzheimer's and dementia expert Lori La Bey joins Suzanne to talk about educational videos, dementia quick tips, the Purple Angel Project, a list of dementia-friendly businesses, blog, caregiver roadmap, poetry, art, news,...

The need in the community drove Suzanne to form Answers for Elders, Similarly, nationally renowned Alzheimer's and dementia expert Lori La Bey was frustrated by the lack of resources, products, tools, services, and educational support available to families and professionals back when she needed them to help care for her mom. She became committed to make a difference shifting dementia care from cri...

This fall, nationally renowned Alzheimers and dementia expert Lori La Bey joins Suzanne from Minneapolis at Alzheimer's Speaks . Lori talks about her personal experiences with her mom, who was first diagnosed in the 1980s. La Bey is a passionate advocate who searches for ways to shift our dementia care culture from crisis to comfort around the world. She understands change is needed on multiple le...