Caregiver Storyteller - About Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregiving

What if caregiving felt a little less overwhelming and a lot more supported? Caregiving can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. In this episode of Caregiver Storyteller , we sit down with Dr. Jessica Zwerling , neurologist and Director of the Montefiore Hudson Valley Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease, and a 2025 CaringKind New York City Alzheimer’sWalk honoree. Dr. Z...

✨ When words fade, music still speaks—and heals. For our season finale, we are honored to welcome Kendra Ray,   PhD, MBA, MPH, MT-BC, LCAT, Chief Research Officer at CaringKind . Dr. Ray shares her inspiring journey of falling in love with music and discovering its profound role in healing. She offers practical ways music can ease agitation, lift depression, spark joy, and restore connection, rem...

The best care partnerships honor two people-  the one you’re caring for, and the one doing the caring. In this heartfelt conversation, Gwen, a devoted mother, licensed practical nurse, and sole care partner for her 80-year-old mother, shares the lessons she’s learned from a lifetime of caring for others. From her service on the deacon board at Greater Zion Hill Baptist Church to her 34-year nursin...

You don’t have to live in the same zip code to feel the weight ofcaregiving. Whether you’re across the street or the country, the dementia journey changes you. In this episode, we welcome Francesca B.Falzarano, PhD , a developmental psychologist and Assistant Professor of Gerontology at USC, whose life and work have been shaped by her caregiving journey. Francesca became a caregiver at just 14 yea...

What if the first step after a dementia diagnosis wasn’t fear—but connection? In this compelling episode, Olivia Cohen , Director of Early-Stage and Engagement Services at CaringKind, opens the door to a world where a diagnosis is not the end—but the beginning of a deeply supportive journey. Olivia walks us through CaringKind’s early-stage programs, where individuals living with dementia—and the p...

Can music unlock the mind? Discover how melody brings memory to life in dementia care. In this moving episode, Dr. Anne Kenny sits down with world-renowned music therapist Dr. Concetta Tomaino to explore the transformative role of music in dementia care. As a pioneer in the field and co-founder of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, Dr. Tomaino shares her remarkable journey, from her...

When is the right time to talk about the future? On this episode of  Caregiver Storyteller , we sit down with  Pamela Edgar , Director of Education at CaringKind, to explore how advance care planning can shift from a daunting task into a powerful act of love. With warmth, wisdom, and years of experience supporting caregivers and families, Pamela shares how to initiate meaningful conversations that...

What would you do if you could know your genetic risk for Alzheimer’s? In this intimate episode, we go beyond science to the heart of a family navigating the impact of a genetic marker known as ApoE4. Michael Pollack, living with Alzheimer’s, joins his daughters Ava and Lucy for a powerful conversation about diagnosis, legacy, and the profoundly personal choices surrounding genetic testing. We exp...

In this moving preview of Alzheimer’s in Our DNA, Michael Pollack, living with Alzheimer’s, shares the emotional and familial complexities of genetic testing around the ApoE4 gene. 🎙 Hear his voice. Then subscribe now to hear the whole story.

Join our host Dr. Anne Kenny, in this episode of the Caregiver Storyteller Podcast, internationally renowned classical music publicist and strategist, Mary Lou Falcone, opens her heart to share intimate stories from her memoir, I Didn’t See It Coming. With profound love and vulnerability, Mary Lou reflects on her journey alongside her husband, artist Nicky Zann, as they faced the challenges of Lew...

Imagine navigating the challenges of Alzheimer's within your own family—feeling lost, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. In the inaugural Spanish-language episode of the Caregiver Storyteller podcast, hosted by Perla Tamez Casasnovas, we bring you the powerful story of Dr. Anderson Torres, President and CEO of R.A.I.N. TOTAL CARE, Inc. As a proud Puerto Rican Latino from the Bronx, Dr. Tor...

Dr. Shaw noted the loss of affection in a relationship in which ‘the luster had not worn off in 30 years of marriage’. When his wife Rebecca said that she could not remember anything from an article she had read three times, piecing this with the loss of affection. Dr Shaw knew that their journey with dementia had begun.  He pivoted from radiation oncology to mental health counselor specializing i...

Jordana's mother began showing signs of dementia relatively early. Luckily, her father was newly retired and was able to pretty quickly shift into the role of primary caregiver.

It was only when Ralph was diagnosed with Alzheimer's did Annette see the signs retroactively. With no one else to help, and a medical system that didn't seem to care, Annette took on the challenge of caring for Ralph until the end of his life.

Ellen Ratner inherited a love of music from her mother who loved to sing. Ethel had three loves: her husband, music, and her daughter, Ellen, whom Ethel referred to as 'my life.'

Steve Zellner is an only child who became the primary caregiver for his mother, Sylvia, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in her 80s.

Daniel Kenner is an actor based in New York City. As his father Buddy faced dementia and his mother Maureen battled cancer, Daniel served as one of many caregivers.

Sue Funke is the youngest of several children and the one who lived closest to her mother during her mother's diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

Nancy Hendley is a Dementia Care Trainer at CaringKind. Nancy shares some of her favorite stories from her life's work.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiving: One Couple, Three Cities

Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiving: Food As Medicine

Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiving: If I Had Only Known

Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiving: A Mother with Mixed Dementia

Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiving: Why Comfort Matters for People with Alzheimer's and Dementia

Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiving: When a Doctor has Alzheimer's Disease