Love Conquers Alz

A rushed discharge. A chart that does not match reality. A loved one with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s dementia who cannot explain what hurts. If you have ever felt bullied by a system that moves too fast, this conversation is for you. Susie and Don talk with Laura Finnelly, a registered nurse with 25+ years in healthcare, a certified senior care manager, an Air Force veteran, and the founder of Gui...

Alzheimer’s can take so much, so fast, and the hardest part is feeling like you have zero control. We’re Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess, and we’re joined by Mark Wilson, a former Fortune 500 leadership executive whose new book, Breakthrough Alzheimer's Care , offers a hopeful roadmap that leads to thriving, not just surviving through a dementia journey. After his mother was diagnosed with...

What happens when society looks away from its most vulnerable? In this episode of Love Conquers Alz , hosts Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess welcome WGA, AWD, award-winning, neurodiverse, bi, writer/director, and podcaster, Ellen Ancui, who specializes in traumadies—darkly funny stories where (mostly) women dig their own graves, then complain about the landscaping. Ellen writes about caregiving,...

In this episode of Love Conquers Alz , hosts Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess welcome Kathy Bradley , a nationally respected advocate with over 3 decades of experience in long-term care and the founder of Our Mother’s Voice . After retiring from a career as a nursing home administrator, Kathy faced the system again as a daughter when her own mother rapidly declined into severe dementia. What she...

The long-term care system is one of the most important issues families will face, yet few people understand it until they are in the middle of a crisis. In this episode of Love Conquers Alz , hosts Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess welcome Lindsay Friedman , a care advocate, writer, and educator dedicated to transforming how families navigate aging, caregiving, and long-term care.  Lindsay is a f...

What if shopping for medical equipment felt empowering instead of depressing? Caregiving is hard enough. Getting the right equipment should not be. In this episode, Hosts Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess talk with Erica Sell , founder of Harmony Home Medical in San Diego, about how the right equipment can help families keep loved ones at home longer, safer, and with more independence. Erica brea...

One of the most precious resources in dementia care are the stories we share.  Today, we welcome back two deeply respected members of the Love Conquers Alz family for a conversation rooted in care, credibility, and shared purpose that has led to a major milestone: Marianne Sciucco, registered nurse, author, and  founding member of AlzAuthors , a groundbreaking global, rigorously vetted hub for Alz...

This episode originally released on March 11, 2024. While Don and I are taking a much needed break, we wanted to share one of our most popular and valuable episodes in case you missed it. And if you already heard it, it couldn't hurt to listen again because the episode is filled with powerful informstion for keeping your brain as healthy as you possibly can! Have a happy and healthy 2026...an...

In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with elder care attorney Anthony Lanzone, we continue pulling back the curtain on why elder abuse and neglect cases are so hard to fight — and what families must know to protect their loved ones. In this episode we dig into: • Why arbitration agreements are hidden in nursing home paperwork and how they stack the deck against families • How residents and famil...

The moment a loved one lands in long‑term care, everything feels urgent and unclear. We’ve been there—rushed discharges, impossible forms, promises that don’t match reality—and we wanted a straight answer on what legal accountability looks like when neglect or abuse causes real harm. That’s why we sat down with elder abuse attorney Anthony Lanzone to map the path from pain to action without sugarc...

If you’ve ever left a doctor’s appointment wondering what was said—or wished your siblings understood how much you’re doing—this conversation is a must-listen. In episode 112, Susie and Don sit down with Crystal Gallo , founder of i nnerhive —a groundbreaking app using AI to help caregivers capture, organize, and share vital information while staying present for the people they love. From preventi...

In this powerful episode of Love Conquers Alz, Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess sit down with Neal K. Shah , visionary founder and CEO of CareYaya, a groundbreaking platform that connects families with compassionate, college-educated student caregivers. Neal shares how his personal caregiving journey inspired him to reimagine elder care, creating affordable, dignified, and deeply human support t...

This episode launches Season 10 of Love Conquers Alz 🎙️! And fittingly, we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of Alz Authors , the global community changing the dementia narrative one book at a time.  My co-host,   Don Priess and I sit down with Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates to reflect on a decade of impact — from books to podcasts to their brand-new film festival. What began as a one-...

Every caregiver knows the feeling—overwhelmed by endless to-do lists, struggling to coordinate help from well-meaning family members, and searching desperately for reliable information at 3 AM. Nicole àBeckett lived this reality when she lost both parents in her thirties, emerging from what she calls "the washing machine" of caregiving determined to create a solution. As co-founder of He...

Alzheimer's and elder care demand our attention not just because millions endure them, but because the systems that are supposed to protect our most vulnerable are fundamentally broken. In light of the upcoming release of our documentary, No Country For Old People; a Nursing Home Exposé, August 1st on Amazon, my producing partner and today's guest host, Rick Mountcastle (whose work prose...

Could artificial intelligence be the solution to our eldercare crisis? In this riveting episode, we dive deep into the intersection of technology and compassionate care with Breana Patel, founder and CEO of Owie AI. The statistics are sobering – we're facing a projected shortage of half a million nurses within the next decade while our aging population grows exponentially. But Breana's i...

What happens when your caregiving journey is complicated by family betrayal, mental illness, and profound loss? Meet Sheri Smith, a resilient entrepreneur whose life took unexpected turns when faced with both her mother's dementia and her husband's bipolar disorder simultaneously. Sheri's new memoir "Mama Drama: A Journey with Bipolar and Dementia, Finding Light Through Loss an...

What happens when a former federal judge faces an Alzheimer's diagnosis? For Stephanie Duncan-Peters and her husband Richard James, it becomes an opportunity to showcase remarkable resilience, joy, and a refreshing perspective on living with cognitive change. In Episode 105,  Don and I have a deeply moving and uplifting conversation with Stephanie, whose impressive career spans nearly 20 year...

In this episode of Love Conquers Alz, Don and I sit down with Kristina Hayes , the inspiring founder of Waltz Through Life. Kristina shares her journey of using dance, movement, and creativity to support individuals and families navigating the challenges of aging, dementia, and caregiving. Through her unique approach, she brings joy, connection, and healing to those who need it most. We explore th...

Imagine your loved one living with Alzheimer's in a place where they could truly feel at home, free from the fear of wandering. This episode shares heartfelt stories of personal experiences, including my own mother's joyful time in a vibrant Los Angeles loft community. Join my co-host, Don Priess and I, as we welcome esteemed guest Dr. Allen Power , a renowned geriatrician, whose compass...

Finding the right elder care for your loved ones shouldn't be a stressful challenge. But for most of us it is.  Elder care is EXPENSIVE! Yet, families everywhere grapple with the lack of reliable information. Imagine if booking elder care were as easy as booking a hotel. In this episode of Love Conquers Alz, we sit down with Daniel Clarke , the visionary founder of Elderado — which is not a C...

Navigating the emotional labyrinth of Alzheimer's care can be both heartbreaking and frustrating, especially when personalized care falls by the wayside. Our journey begins with a relatable exploration of these challenges—stories of care facilities that miss the mark on truly understanding their residents, turning beloved family members into mere room numbers. We wrap this poignant narrative...

What better way to celebrate our 100th episode than with an interview that truly reflects the definition and the title of our show: Love Conquers Alz. Former Wisconsin Gov. Martin J. Schreiber is an award-winning crusader for Alzheimer's caregivers and persons with dementia and author of the best selling novel, My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver . Sinc...

Betsy Wurzel started her career as a Talk Show Host at Passionate World Talk Radio and the name of her show was Chatting with Betsy . Betsy is also is an unwavering advocate for Alzheimer's caregivers who shares her own heartfelt experiences caring for her husband, Matt Sloan. Her stories are candid and passionate and truly exemplify the transformative power of love, humor, and community in t...

In Episode 98, Don and I have a fantastic conversation with Dr. Marc Rothman, MD,founder and president of the Dementia Spring Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) venture studio that invests in visual and performing artists and innovators who are changing the prevailing narrative of dementia and bringing joy and creativity to the dementia community through their work. Founded in 2020, the Artist Net...