The Caregiver's Journey Podcast Por Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster arte de portada

The Caregiver's Journey

The Caregiver's Journey

De: Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster
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The Caregiver’s Journey podcast is an innovative and refreshing way to learn how to tackle day-to-day Alzheimer's and dementia family caregiving challenges with strength, patience, and peace of mind. Using practical tips and candid conversations, Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster help you navigate caregiving’s ups and downs, so you move from feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and sometimes frightened - to confident, balanced, and supported.

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Episodios
  • Studying Sleep Early in the Dementia Journey: Five Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

    Studying Sleep Early in the Dementia Journey: Five Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
    Jun 17 2025
    Do you wish you could get a good night’s sleep? We do too! We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we appreciate the insights Dr. Glenna Brewster, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, Assistant Professor at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, shared for all of us about her sleep study titled SLEEPMATE, and how we can all create good sleep habits. Dr. Glenna Brewster’s background is impressive, and her passion for good sleep is inspiring! In addition to her responsibilities as a professor, she is a nurse scientist, family nurse practitioner, and she leads the Emory University Mind at Rest research team, which develops and tests practical, evidence-based programs to reduce sleep problems and improve health outcomes for people living with memory loss or dementia and their caregivers. Good sleep isn’t just for your care receiver, this is for you too! According to Dr. Brewster: Sleep problems, especially if you’re a caregiver or person living with cognitive impairment, are significant. You might have a hard time falling asleep, wake up multiple times during the night, or notice that as the disease progresses there is daytime sleepiness. Sleep disturbances are prevalent both in care partners or caregivers and people living with cognitive impairment. Dr. Brewster has developed the SLEEPMATE study for caregivers and people living with cognitive impairment and types of dementia. It’s a six-week virtual intervention where you participate together. The study examines whether the intervention is feasible, acceptable, and if it improves sleep outcomes. At the end of this blog post is the link you can use if you’re interested in participating in this virtual study. This topic is incredibly valuable for us as caregivers. We’ve learned the need for quality sleep — and what not having it is like. We’ve also learned that we’re often so focused on quality sleep for our care receiver, we don’t prioritize our own sleep as caregivers! One important take-away from Dr. Brewster for caregivers it’s so easy not to consider — or to lose sight of: Your quality of sleep is every bit as important — and sometimes even more — important than your care receiver’s. Full Show Notes here Additional Resources Mentioned Dr. Glenna Brewster, assistant professor, shares her innovative study designed to improve the sleep outcomes of persons living with preclinical and early-stage dementia and their caregivers. Brewster is also founder of the Mind at Rest research lab.For more information about joining this study, visit mindatrest.org/contact/.Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Takeaways Tip 1: Practice Good Sleep Hygiene Tip 2: Limit Daytime Naps Tip 3: Make Your Bedroom Like a Cave Tip 4: Schedule Worry Time Earlier in the Day Tip 5: Keep Your Bedroom for the Three S's About the SLEEP-MATE Study Dr. Brewster's study is recruiting pairs. The person who is receiving the care doesn't have to be diagnosed with dementia, just have a complaint or an experience of cognitive changes. Caregivers or care partners—different people want to be called different things based on where in the dementia journey they are—both people participating, both having some type of sleep disturbance or sleep problems. That could be difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep (meaning that you fall asleep and then you wake up, and when you wake up, you have a hard time falling back asleep), or significant daytime sleepiness or some other type of impairment during the day. It's for people who are living within the contiguous US. Each of you gets an honorarium for participating as a thank you for your time and investment in participating in the study. If you have any questions or want to find out more about the study, please reach out at 404-712-9164 or you can check out their lab's website at www.mindatrest.org.
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    24 m
  • Studying Experienced Caregivers: Four Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

    Studying Experienced Caregivers: Four Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
    Jun 10 2025

    "When it comes to caregiving, the assumption about being able to take what we've learned and just naturally grow is not always going to be true."

    How do you think you would feel if you were caregiving for a second or third person living with dementia? Would you feel more prepared because of your previous experience? If you answered "yes," you might be surprised by what research is revealing about experienced caregivers.

    We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia, both of us have been caregivers more than once, and we recently learned about enlightening research from Dr. Emily Mroz, a researcher at Emory University's School of Nursing who coined the phrase "experienced caregiver." Her research is shedding light on a common phenomenon that affects millions of families: providing dementia care for multiple loved ones throughout adulthood.

    Dr. Mroz is a tenure-track assistant professor and social behavioral scientist who studies how people think, feel, and act within their social and personal situations. With training in developmental psychology, gerontology, geriatrics, and public health, she uses her multidisciplinary perspective to develop resources and interventions that support people living with serious illness, family caregivers, and those who are bereaved.

    Through her research and interviews with caregivers, Dr. Mroz has identified crucial insights about experienced caregivers that challenge common assumptions and offer practical guidance for those stepping into the caregiving role again.

    Full Show Notes

    https://thecaregiversjourney.org/37-studying-experienced-caregivers-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/


    Additional Resources Mentioned

    • Dr. Emily Mroz, assistant professor and social-behavioral scientist, discusses her research on improving how patients and caregivers navigate serious illnesses such as dementia, end-of-life care and bereavement.
    • Link to study flyer here
    • To join this study, visit survey.qualtrics.emory.edu/jfe/form/SV_cYfshxWcThSSV5s.
    • Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney

    Takeaways


    Tip 1: Avoid Assumptions About Who Is Prepared to Be a Dementia Caregiver

    Tip 2: Assess How Prepared You Really Feel

    Tip 3: Don't Hesitate to Get Involved in Skills Training and Support Groups

    Tip 4: Share Your Stories with Grace, Not Judgment


    The Importance of Research for Experienced Caregivers

    Dr. Mroz's study is part of a growing recognition that experienced caregivers represent a significant population with unique needs and strengths. Her virtual research study involves participants completing surveys about their caregiving experiences and sharing their stories to help researchers understand the differences between new and experienced caregivers.

    Study details:

    • Focuses on people currently in active caregiving roles, including those early in their journey with a second or third care recipient
    • Participants receive a $50 gift card honorarium
    • Sessions are conducted virtually and take about one to two hours
    • Can participate alongside other dementia caregiver research studies
    • Research is crucial for developing resources specifically tailored to experienced caregivers


    Read More in This Blog here
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    26 m
  • Learn to Navigate Support Systems: Four Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

    Learn to Navigate Support Systems: Four Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
    Jun 3 2025
    “An educated and confident family caregiver who knows what to do in their role is really the absolute best medicine for the care receiver.” Dr. Carolyn Clevenger Do you know extensive research specifically focused on dementia caregivers is being conducted? Are you aware of innovative studies designed to equip family caregivers with navigation skills? Now you will, and you’ll be learning about valuable opportunities to strengthen your caregiving journey. We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we are continuously learning new ways to support our health and well-being, and that of our care receivers. We recently discovered the groundbreaking dementia caregiver research, the CANDO Study, Dr. Carolyn Clevenger, DNP, RN, GNP-BC, AGPCNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN, Professor at the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing is conducting. When most people think about dementia research, they focus on studies involving people living with dementia or pharmaceutical treatments. This crucial area of research focuses on supporting the family caregivers themselves. Dr. Clevenger is a professor and gerontological nurse practitioner who is nationally recognized as an education leader in advanced practice nursing and geriatrics. Carolyn founded, and directs, the comprehensive dementia care model called Integrated Memory Care (IMC), which provides memory and primary care in a single integrated approach for people living with dementia and their care partners. Full Show Notes https://thecaregiversjourney.org/36-learn-to-navigate-support-systems-four-essential-tips-alzheimers-and-other-dementias/ Additional Resources Mentioned Dr. Carolyn Clevenger, a nationally recognized educational leader in advanced practice nursing, geriatrics and gerontology, shares her groundbreaking work on dementia family caregiver education programs that teach new caregivers how to transition into the role and navigate various support systems.For more information about joining this study, visit scholarblogs.emory.edu/CAN-DO/.Savvy Caregiver course: Available face-to-face or online (in-person version includes support group benefits)“Best Programs for Caregivers” website: A collaboration between the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and Family Care Alliance featuring only research-proven programs.Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney Additional Resources Mentioned Takeaways Tip 1: Understand Different Levels of Care Early Home-Based CareCommunity-Based ProgramsResidential Care Options Key considerations: Each level has different eligibility requirements and payment structuresAvailability varies by state—some follow federal guidelines, others have state regulationsPeople often wait until they desperately need memory care but try to access assisted living instead, creating unnecessary stress Tip 2: Stay Ahead of Financial Challenges Protect your assets while maintaining oversightUnderstand the early warning signsWatch for judgment impairment issues Tip 3: Leverage Legal Support from Elder Law Experts What sets elder law attorneys apartSpecialized dementia expertiseLong-term benefits Tip 4: Take Evidence-Based Classes What makes evidence-based courses effectiveMeasurable outcomes The CAN-DO Study: Training Caregivers as Navigators Dr. Clevenger's current research project, CAN-DO (Caregiver As Navigator Developing Skills Online), trains family caregivers to navigate four critical systems: healthcare, financial, legal, and family systems. Course structure: Six-week online course following three families through different types of dementiaEach day presents real-life scenarios with appropriate responses and preventive measuresVideos from subject matter experts including elder law attorneys, investigators, estate planners, and healthcare providers
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    23 m
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