dementia caregivers

This episode with guest, Gay Gingrich, RN, BSN, and host Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly, shares how both women met through their studies with Teepa Snow's “Positive Approach to Care.” The discussion begins with two new friends with shared interests and passion for those with dementia as well as Gay’s obvious love of her work as a Geriatric Psych Nurse.  

Gay’s approach to caring for those living with dementia is that of relationships, compassion, and a different perspective of care. She discusses how she believes it’s a better approach when these principles are adhered to. Gay’s faith is of utmost importance to her daily walk and the care given to her patients. It's an unwavering belief that there is a better more compassionate way to care for and give hope to families along with those living with dementia. There is a much better way to help those with no voice in today’s society. We must all come together and seek that better way. 

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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 thousands in this country with the same outcome. This is the tragedy of a healthcare system that gives little to no hope or direction when treatment is administered to someone with dementia. There has to be a better way than the massive amounts of medications to “combat bad behaviors and agitation.” 

People living with dementia and dying from massive amounts of drugs not indicated for dementia need to stop. We need more voices to advocate for those with no voice. It's simply out of hand. This podcast episode makes no apologies for the blunt honest reaction to a system gone bad. It was literally “from dancing to dying”, in less than thirty days for the Colonel.

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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 that were given to Anthony's mother, sent her to a tragic end, when indeed it didn't have to be that way. Sadly, it's not unusual in the realm of care for those with dementia.

His mother wasn't afraid to die, and thankfully Anthony knew that his mother was dying. That was obvious. It was the goodbye that was the worst part. Thankfully, host Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly walked alongside Anthony with counsel and guidance during his most desperate of times.

Listen to the heartache of a family caught up in a broken system, a relationship that on any given day was intense, and a son who found himself in that broken system trying to help find peace for his mom and himself.

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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 life together as a family with extensive touring and concert appearances, the Talleys (including Roger and Debra) managed to be creative with their care for their loved ones at home with dementia. Host Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly, expresses the privilege and honor it was in helping this family's journey during some of the most difficult of times.

But the best part of this episode is the hilariously true stories that are like a salve to the soul. Laughing WITH your family during the tough times, is and will always be a thorough and amazing way to healing. Care partners will identify with the hope and joviality that the Talley family convey, as they share the aspect of joy in the journey of dementia. 

www.theverandaministries.org

www.laurentalley.com

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 taken a few months for Anthony to share his journey but if your loved one has dementia, you will definitely relate and benefit from his story of redemption for his "mama", as Anthony so affectionately calls her. That unseen hand of miracles guided Anthony through Mary Anne and a nun from Oklahoma, to a basement hospice full of compassion and mercy called "The Heart of Mary House" in Nashville, TN.

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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 exceptional. 

Barbara Karnes, is an RN Award-Winning End of Life Educator, an Award-Winning Nurse, an NHPCO Hospice Innovator Award Winner 2018 and 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year. 

While at the bedside of hundreds of people during the dying process, this Hospice Pioneer noticed that each death followed a near-identical script. Each person went through the stages of death almost the same way and most families came to her with similar questions. These realizations led Barbara to write "Gone From My Sight, (The Little Blue Book), which changed the hospice industry. 

"Gone From My Sight" also remains to be the most widely used patient/family educational booklet on the signs of approaching death. It has been in print continuously since 1985 and has sold over 35 million copies worldwide. With its publication and distribution, Barbara created one of the essential tools in the end-of-life movement today. 

www.bkbooks.com

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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 to open doors for families who so desperately need expert wisdom and tips on how to handle their mentally impaired loved ones. These quality minutes on this episode are merely a conversation between good friends (Sue Duffield, producer and host, Mary Anne) who continually support and bring to light the need for understanding and insight when the time comes to place a loved one in a dementia care facility. It's not easy, but knowledge through training and discernment gives the power to overcome a lot of what's ahead for every caregiver.

Be sure to invest in the ministry of The Veranda, in Gallatin, TN. The Veranda Ministries is a 501(c)3 ministry.

www.verandaministries.org

Speaker/singer and worship leader/music minister, Toni Clay,  is an ordained & licensed minister. She holds a Masters diploma in Biblical/Pastoral Counseling with specializations in Child and Adolescent counseling. She has served as a support pastor on church staff. 
She has served as a hospital Chaplain in a Mental Health assessment facility. Toni has also served as a Chaplain with The United States Corps of Chaplains, holding the rank of Captain and Tennessee Brigade Executive Officer. She is the founder and President of Voices with Purpose, a 501(c)(3) non profit ministry organization founded in 2004. She is a multiple Dove nominee for her work in Christian music as a producer, songwriter and publisher. Her songs have been recorded more than 200 times, and have been included in the popular Gaither Homecoming Series, and featured in the GMA's 'Hall of Fame' Series. She hosted “Voices with Purpose”, an interview style Christian television program. Toni resides in Nashville Tennessee.

And on this episode today, she talks with Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly about one of her greatest assignments of all - caregiving.

Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly and her guest, Barbara Karnes, get right to it from the beginnging, describing Barbara's iconic hospice guide “the little blue book”, Gone from My Sight. Barbara is an internationally respected speaker, educator, author, and thought leader on matters of end of life. She is a renowned authority on the dying process and a leading educator for families, healthcare professionals, and the community at large.

Barbara's award winning DVDs and books about death and dying are changing lives - in this country and around the world. In her work, Barbara compassionately explains stages of the dying process, living with a life threatening illness, pain management, and how people grieve. She explains how important it is to take care of yourself as a caregiver and offers guidelines for professionals.  

For more information on Barbara and her life as an American Hospice Pioneer, plus her resource of materials, get on https://bkbooks.com/blogs/media

www.verandaministries.org 

What a fun episode with Mary Anne Oglesby-Sutherly, musician/producer Rob Novell and Sue Duffield! This casual chat between musician friends will have you laughing, especially when the discussion morphs into their soon-to-be competitive world of the dunk tank! But on a serious note, the late Charles Novell, Rob's dad, suffered with Parkinsons Disease. Hearing the emotion of his son's take on it all, gives such hope for all who are caregivers.

On Saturday, June 4th, 2022, from 9am - 12 noon, The Veranda Ministries will host "Dunking for Dementia" as a fundraiser for the ministry in Gallatin, TN. For more information, see www.verandaministries.org

www.cnsmusic.com

Robin Dill is a frequent speaker about dementia caregiving, faith and respite ministry. She is a certified trainer for the Rosalyn Carter Institute for Caregivers Dealing with Dementia Class. Robin graduated from Clemson University with a BS degree, earned a Certificate of Professional Development in Gerontology from Kennesaw State, a certificate in Montessori-Based Dementia Programming, a certificate in Alzheimer's Care from the Alzheimers Association and other several accolades and advancements within her profession. She launched and directed Grace Arbor, a 4 day per week program that targets people with dementia. For more information on Robin and her amazing skill, passion and journey, get on www.rdillblogwalkingwithgrace.wordpress.com

Robin wrote and published Walking With Grace, a manual to help other faith based organizations launch respite ministries. (Available on Amazon)

www.theverandaministries.org