Hello Alzheimer’s

Kanada Yazbek on Living with MCI: "It's sad... But my life is good."

Hello Alzheimer's host Karla Hult talks with Kanada Yazbek, the 2024 Alzheimer's Impact Movement Advocate of the Year.
Kanada's courage knows no bounds: She fights for her extended Alzheimer's and other dementia family, for families like hers and even, for herself. At only age 41, doctors diagnosed Kanada with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Now 50, Kanada believes she's the 7th person in her family to live with Early-Onset Alzheimer's. But Kanada continues to inspire, saying "It's sad... But my life is good."
Please reach out if you have questions, requests for other episode conversations or if you need support: Karla@SoManyGoodbyes.com. And please remember, you are not alone.

The Blood Test Breakthrough (when it comes to diagnosing Alzheimer's disease)

Hello Alzheimer’s host Karla Hult talks with Dr. Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, about all those new Alzheimer’s blood tests.
Dr. Algeciras-Schimnich addresses every aspect of this exciting new diagnostic tool: From how the blood tests work, to who should be tested, to why the blood tests may also play a critical role in developing more Alzheimer’s treatments.
Honestly, if you’ve missed some of these developments – or simply felt intimidated by the science – you’re not alone. But this conversation with one of the world’s top Laboratory Medicine and Pathology experts will demystify the medicine while also explaining why this development should give all of us… Hope.

Family Dynamics During the Dementia Marathon

Hello Alzheimer's host Karla Hult talks with Dr. Robyn Birkeland, a study interventionist and coach at the University of Minnesota's Families and Long-Term Care Projects team.
The conversation covers the spectrum of what happens to nearly all families during the dementia journey: From contending with communication challenges, to navigating local versus out-of-town logistics, to dealing with a history of complicated family dynamics. 
Most importantly, listeners will learn strategies and perspectives that will help them cope and find peace within their family and throughout the dementia journey.

"What Happened to PopPop?" Children & Dementia

Hello Alzheimer's host, Karla Hult, talks with Maren Levad, the Dementia Friendly Initiatives Program Manager at Trellis, the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging.
Maren shares about an amazing new Dementia Friends program -- one that helps younger children (kindergarten through 2nd grade) learn more about how to cope and even help during the dementia marathon. And they do so by modifying the curriculum of the proven Dementia Friends program.
Listeners may recognize "Dementia Friends" from one of our earlier episodes, featuring Colleen Fritsch, the Volunteer Dementia Friends Champion Coordinator. Again, this phenomenal curriculum has been adapted to be accessible, comfortable, safe and overall age-appropriate for our kiddos. This new program can also inspire outreach throughout the country, beginning with conversations in a child's own home. 
During this conversation, Maren mentions the beautiful children's book, The Remember Balloons. The University of Pennsylvania's Penn Memory Center also offers a list of dementia children's books they recommend; and the Alzheimer's Association has also curated an excellent list.
A humble reminder to please like, share and subscribe to "Hello Alzheimer's" if you're enjoying these conversations. We're grateful for your support, and want to remind you... You're not alone.

Dementia-Friendly Dental Care

Hello Alzheimer’s host Karla Hult talks with Stephen Shuman, DDS, MS, Professor and Director of the Division of Hospital and Special Care Dentistry and the Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. The two discuss a new, online training course that represents a milestone in overall care for those living with dementia: Creating a Dementia-Friendly Dental Practice: An In-depth Training Program.
As Dr. Shuman explains, the course – like the overarching wisdom inspiring this curriculum – addresses the nature and challenges of all forms of dementia and how dental professionals, students and academic institutions throughout the world can adapt to meet the needs of patients living with dementia.
We promise… every person with even a distant connection to dementia – and that’s frankly ALL of us – will benefit from learning about this unique opportunity to make this critical part of health care more “dementia friendly.” To register or learn more about the course, just click here.
As always, if you’re enjoying this content, please review, share and subscribe to “Hello Alzheimer’s.” We’re so grateful for your support. You can also email us with questions or suggestions: Karla@SoManyGoodbyes.com 

Cue the Music: The Proven Benefits of Music for People Living with Dementia

Hello Alzheimer’s host Karla Hult talks with Andrea Leap, a “Music for Life” teacher at MacPhail Center for Music and Ann Schrempp, the Dimensions Program Coordinator at Ebenezer Foundation (which runs communities for aging adults in several states).
The trio discuss how a partnership between MacPhail and Ebenezer represents a musical mission. More specifically, Ann and Andrea share about the emotional, practical and, yes, cognitive benefits of bringing music into the lives of aging adults.
To learn more about the MacPhail Music for Life program click here. You can also learn more about Ebenezer’s Dimensions Memory Care program here.
As mentioned, Northwestern Medicine published an article on the benefits of music on people living with dementia in July 2022. The Pacific Neuroscience Institute shared similar findings in a September 2023 report. And of course, the Alzheimer’s Association offers an excellent and practical overview of how to unlock the benefits of music during the dementia marathon.
As always, please reach out with questions or suggestions for future conversations. Please also consider leaving a review on “Hello Alzheimer’s” – we are grateful for your support. And above all, please remember you’re not alone.
*Support for this episode comes from Starkey. The team behind Starkey continues to help all of us hear better, live better -- and now more than ever -- through the new Omega AI, the most advanced hearing technology to date.
Omega AI hearing aids can transform the listening experience for people worldwide given its improved sound quality, hardware durability and tools to protect our overall health – helping people connect to the world around them.
Please go to Starkey.com to learn more about how you, too, can hear better, live better.

Mary Frances Prices: Preparing Yourself -- Legally & Financially -- for the Dementia Marathon

Hello Alzheimer's host Karla Hult talks with Elder Law Attorney Mary Frances Price, a founding member of Bravura Group. Together, the two tackle all those daunting legal and financial questions, documents and overall next steps families and individuals want to address when they believe their Alzheimer's or other dementia journey has begun.
You can learn more about the documents and recommended "next steps" at this Alzheimers.gov website or at the National Institute on Aging website. The Alzheimer's Association also provides several resources -- including a free e-learning workshop -- here. 
NOTE: This is the third episode in an ongoing series dedicated to answering the question families may have when they first suspect they've started the Alzheimer's or other dementia journey: "What do we do now?" Please check out previous conversations for more insights and information. And please reach out if you have any questions or need support: Karla@SoManyGoodbyes.com

Dementia-Friendly Air Travel

Just in time for any spring break travel... Hello Alzheimer's host Karla Hult talks with Sara Barsel, founder of the Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group. The group is committed to uplifting – pun intended – the airplane travel experience for everyone affected by any form of dementia. Truly, their mission is a profound one, given the inherent challenges of navigating airports and the flying experience, especially when we -- or our loved ones -- may be living with Alzheimer's or other dementia. 
Again, you can check out the Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group website for information, including the current context, airport training materials and the latest travel resources for families.
As always, if you're enjoying these conversations, please subscribe, review and share with others. We are truly so grateful for your support. Please also feel free to reach out with questions or suggestions: Karla@SoManyGoodbyes.com. And above all, please know you are not alone.

Trish Cook: 'Anishinaabe Comedic Raconteur' & Dementia Daughter

Bringing back the incomparable... Trish Cook.
Hello Alzheimer's host Karla Hult talks with Trish Cook. According to her website, Trish is an "Anishinaabe Comedic Raconteur." But her brilliance doesn't stop at the stage. Trish brings her talents, kindness and wisdom to her many professional and personal roles -- including her cherished role of daughter. 
In this captivating conversation -- that yes, may make you both laugh and cry -- Trish shares her insights from walking alongside both of her parents during their dementia journeys. Trish's dad, Lee Cook, was a member of the Red Lake Nation and a lifelong advocate for tribal rights. Trish's mom, Dana Cook, remains a spitfire, smart former nurse.  
This is the third conversation in an occasional series, Voices of Dementia. The conversations highlight the courageous voices of people touched by Alzheimer's and other dementia. And in Trish's case, the conversation also offered an opportunity to talk about the persistent and inordinate toll of dementia on the Native American community (and what we can do about it). 
By the way, scroll down on this page to find Trish's performance schedule. Trust me, it's worth your time and effort to enjoy her brilliance in person. 

'How to Care' -- The Lessons of a Documentary (and Son)

Watch film + listen to this conversation = Greater appreciation for "How to Care."
Hello Alzheimer's host, Karla Hult, talks with Brennan Vance, filmmaker and force behind the phenomenal new documentary, How to Care. The 22-minute, 26-second film covers the most critical details related to caregiving: The selfless people who courageously sign up to care; the beautiful people who meet them in this care partnership; and the caregiving crisis, complete with inadequate compensation.
To say watching this film is the best 22 minutes, 26 seconds you'll spend all week is an understatement. We encourage you to watch... and then listen to this (a bit longer than usual) conversation with Brennan, who brings both his talents and heart to his work... Because it just so happens Brennan also offers a "Voices of Dementia" perspective, given he lost his own father, Thomas Vance, to frontotemporal dementia in 2017. 
Again, you can watch How to Care here or on Twin Cities PBS. Brennan also recommends a unique self-care column, called the Care Collective with Kelsey Peterson. 
Please enjoy... and please know... You are not alone.