The Whole Care Network

Trigger Warning: The content of this episode includes narratives about seriously ill children. If you need to sit this one out, catch up with us on another episode and please take time to care for yourself. In his memoir titled “Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul”, Dr. Robert Macauley tells the story of the patients who have impacted his life, and how he’s cha...

Have you noticed yourself feeling sad when your loved one can't remember their phone number? Do you find yourself withdrawing from friends or losing patience more easily? These feelings might be grief—and you may not even realize it's happening. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, we've learned that grief doesn't only c...

Even though P.K. Beville is considered an expert in psychology and gerontology, she still felt lost and overwhelmed as a dementia caregiver for her dad. P.K. is the founder of Second Wind Dreams, a pioneering nonprofit that fulfills dreams for older adults and champions dignity, hope, and joy in aging. She is the creator of the internationally acclaimed Virtual Dementia Tour®, a training tool that...

 In today’s episode, we take a thoughtful look at the things we hold on to—especially the clothes and belongings that no longer serve a real purpose in our lives. It’s easy to keep items simply because they once worked for us or because they hold sentimental value. But just because something was useful or meaningful in the past doesn't mean it's still helping us thrive today. We invite you to cons...

With honest information and gentle humor, the founders of Before the Casket are teaching us how to plan for more than just funeral arrangements. Hospice nurses Erin Putney and Amy Hensley have designed workshops that educate attendees about hard end of life decisions, empowering them and their decision-makers and making the whole experience easier. Before the Casket also provides education for hea...

Meet Lisa Musselman, a 2025 Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow, military caregiver, and passionate advocate for equitable care for veterans and their families. Lisa talks about her caregiving journey supporting her husband Andy, a pre-9/11 Air Force veteran living with ALS, while raising a family and trying to stay afloat herself. Lisa shares the emotional and physical toll of those early years—miss...

Welcome to the fourth film discussion in AlzAuthors' 10th Anniversary Film Festival. This powerful episode features a deep-dive into the documentary "Wine, Women & Dementia,” and offers community, validation, practical wisdom, and a celebration of caregivers. Meet Kitty Norton, creator and director of "Wine, Women & Dementia." After leaving her television career in Los Angeles, Kitty retur...

In this special film festival episode celebrating the 10th anniversary of AlzAuthors, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates welcome filmmaker Frank Silverstein for an intimate discussion about his documentary, “Lousy: Love in the Time of Dementia.” Frank shares his journey capturing the realities of caring for both parents with dementia, offering raw insight, practical wisdom, and hope fo...

Celebrate a decade of AlzAuthors with this replay of a film discussion from our first film festival! Marianne Sciucco and the AlzAuthors community gathered to discuss Susie Singer Carter's documentary series  No Country for Old People , inspired by her painful but illuminating journey alongside her mother in a five-star Los Angeles nursing facility. Key Topics Behind the Film: Susie shares what dr...

Welcome to a special episode of the AlzAuthors podcast, part of our first-ever Film Festival! Celebrating our 10th anniversary, host Marianne Sciucco sits down with acclaimed arts educator, author, and filmmaker Mary Crescenzo to explore the transformative role of the arts in dementia care. In this heartfelt conversation, Mary shares her journey from early experiences in nursing homes to the creat...

Join AlzAuthors Film Fest 2025 – Celebrating 10 Years of Dementia & Alzheimer’s Awareness Experience powerful films on dementia, Alzheimer’s, and caregiving—stories of hope, love, and resilience. Register now at  AlzAuthors.com  to receive streaming links and watch from the comfort of your home, anytime. Each month, meet a featured filmmaker in a live Q&A event at 2 PM ET, and explore thei...

Have you moved beyond the initial steps of your caregiving journey and now find yourself needing to take more control while your loved one still believes they can do most things independently? Are you noticing that simple tasks are becoming increasingly challenging for them, yet they resist your help? You’re not alone! You’ve entered what we call the “messy middle” stage of your caregiving journey...

DNP Elena Prendergast is empowering people with serious illness to find their voices, and advocate for their best quality of life. Working with patients who are dealing with end of life issues showed her how much extra support is needed, even when there’s a healthcare team providing care. Elena helps clients navigate the confusing maze of the US healthcare system. She listens to what they think is...

Dan Contreras is a U.S. Army veteran, proud husband, and devoted caregiver to his wife, Teresa. After years of service and leadership with DAV (Disabled American Veterans)—including his role as National Commander—Dan has become a strong advocate for both caregivers and care receivers. Like many military spouses and family members, Dan didn’t initially see himself as a “caregiver.” That changed whe...

In this episode of AgingGayfully®, hosts Chris and Josh discuss health updates, personal growth, and the importance of stepping into one's comfort zone. Chris shares his recent experiences with artistic expression and how it has helped him rediscover himself. The conversation reflects on life lessons, regrets, and the significance of using one's talents and skills. Takeaways Life does not stop whe...

Have you completed the first six essential steps of the comprehensive 20-step caregiving journey roadmap guide Navigating Dementia Caregiving: Your Resource Roadmap for Every Stage ? Are ready to take on more? Do you find yourself wanting to learn faster and more easily than trying to figure everything out on your own? If you answered ‘Yes’, you’re in the right place for the next phase of the deme...

Palliative physician Emma Jones knows the real effects of burnout, and now she’s coaching others to rise from the ashes. While working in a high-pressure pediatric palliative care job, she found herself suffering the fallout of severe burnout. Emma was told to go home and figure out what was going on, but she realized there was no guide for how to do that. She began dealing with depression, trying...

In this intimate and heartfelt episode of I Saved You. Now Do the Dishes podcast, Carrie sits down with her husband, Gavin—the very person who inspired this podcast after his head and neck cancer diagnosis two years ago. With honesty, humor, and the kind of raw vulnerability that only comes from living through it, they revisit the milestone that changed everything. Carrie and Gavin unpack the days...

Dr Shoshana Ungerleider, is a board-certified internal medicine physician, science journalist, and passionate advocate for compassionate end-of-life care.  She hosts and produces TED Health and the NY Radio Award–winning podcast Before We Go ,  and founded the End Well Foundation to make end of life a part of life. Shoshana regularly appears as a medical expert on CNN, MSNBC, and CBS News, with by...

In a conversation that challenges stereotypes and brings to light the unexpected realities of caregiving, this episode reveals the experiences of three men who stepped up to care for their mothers with dementia. It's a heartfelt exploration of grief, growth, and the bonds that are both tested and strengthened through caregiving. Shattering Stereotypes: Men as Caregivers We often associate caregivi...

Our guest is Barry J. Jacobs — he’s a clinical psychologist and author based just outside of Philly who has a real heart for supporting family caregivers. And that passion is personal. Barry’s caregiving journey started young — when he was just 14, his dad was diagnosed with brain cancer and sadly passed away the following year. That experience shaped the direction of his life and career. Later, f...

In today’s episode of A Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast , we welcome grief expert Danielle Southwick for a heartfelt and enlightening conversation on one of the most universal yet often misunderstood experiences: grief. Danielle reminds us that grief is a normal and natural part of life—it’s not something to hide, fix, or rush through. She expands our understanding of grief by explaining that...

Caregiving isn’t always a storybook journey, especially when family ties are already frayed. In this candid, emotionally charged episode, Jennifer Sullivan joins Christy Byrne Yates and Jean Lee, an acquisitions editor at AlzAuthors, to share her raw and inspiring account of caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s—through complicated family dynamics, financial crises, and the unique heartbreak of t...

 In today’s episode, we speak with Eve Buck , an expert in generational trauma —the emotional and psychological wounds that are passed down from one generation to the next. Eve helps us understand that trauma isn’t always caused by a single event. Sometimes, it’s inherited. We may carry the weight of experiences we didn’t personally live through, but that were passed to us through learned behavior...

With honest information and gentle humor, the founders of Before the Casket are teaching us how to plan for more than just funeral arrangements. Hospice nurses Erin Putney and Amy Hensley have designed workshops that educate attendees about hard end of life decisions, empowering them and their decision-makers and making the whole experience easier. Before the Casket also provides education for hea...