In this heartfelt episode of 'Life on Repeat', host Laura Vaillancourt welcomes Martha Ranon, the Executive Vice President of Southern Caregiver Resource Center, based in San Diego. Martha shares her personal journey from caring for her great aunt, who was living with dementia, to her role in supporting other caregivers through her work. The conver…

The Dementia Connection Model: Non-Pharmacological Tools for Better Dementia Care Licensed Mental Health Counselor Laura Vaillancourt talks to Clinical Psychologist Dr. Jennifer Stelter, who co-owns the Dementia Connection Institute. Dr. Stelter has created the Dementia Connection Model, aiming to improve dementia care through non-pharmacologic int…

Laura and Kimberly explore the world of transformative mediation with family members who are caring for older adults. Kimberly has some fantastic tips on maintaining your calm in the midst of family chaos. You will love this discussion! Here are some interesting points from our discussion: -Factors that might contribute to caregiving conflict -Help…

Join us as we talk with Cindy Weinstein, author and English professor, about her experience with her father's Alzheimer's diagnosis, as a distant caregiver and her new book. Cindy's goal in writing her book, Finding the Right Words, was to equip readers with knowledge by sharing terms, basic neurology, graphs and images weaved throughout her story …

You'll love this episode with Laura and Gretchen as we talk about Gretchen's experience caring for her mother. Gretchen left her job and friends on the East Coast in 2012 and returned to her childhood home on the West Coast to companion her 96 year old mother from whom she had been 'comfortably distanced' for 36 years. Her degree in counseling didn…

You will love this episode with the amazing Adria Thompson! I was so excited to interview her, as she has a wealth of knowledge and experience in getting creative with challenging situations that caregivers face. Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) do so much more than assist with swallowing and speaking. I personally follow her Instagram account an…

What do humans beings spend more time doing than anything else? Sleep! Dr. Kim was so kind to share about all things sleep with us in this episode. Caregivers often struggle with sleep whether it is due to increased stress, worry or needing to be awake and alert to care for loved ones. Did you know that what you do in the morning has a direct impac…

This is a special episode with two participants, father and son, of the Amazon Original World's Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji. Mark and Travis Macy have life-long experience training and participating in Eco-Challenges all over the world and are intimately familiar with uncertainty and resiliency. You will appreciate hearing their perspective o…

Is it possible to love your life as a caregiver? Many caregivers do not have a choice in their role as a caregiver and can sometimes feel as if they are failing no matter how hard they try to control, fix things, or prevent a crisis. Charlotte Bayala shares that in crisis, we have an opportunity to tap into the deep parts of ourselves that can teac…

What is SoulCollage® and how can it be used to help burnout and compassion fatigue with caregivers? Jennifer Wolfe-Hagstrom joins us to talk about how this modality can help people process, honor and connect with all parts of themselves and their greater community. In this episode, we talk about: The process of SoulCollage® How SoulCollage® taps in…

Caregivers are likely all too familiar with the reality of burnout. In this episode, Gabrielle Juliano-Villani discusses how to pay attention to signs such as feeling as if every day is a bad day, feeling numb or apathetic and living with a sense of isolation (even when you're with others). We discuss the importance of connection and appreciation- …

Most of us have not been taught how to grieve. This is a great conversation with Beth about taking care of yourself around your loss, avoidance of the pain, and changing our coping mechanisms. My favorite quote from Beth: "We are made to heal" In this episode, we talk about: Why it is so important to do the work around loss Approaches outside the c…

Nicole Burgess is one of my favorite people to talk to. I am sure you will enjoy this episode! Are you curious about how your inner critic impacts your relationship with yourself and others? Nicole refers to herself as a "recovering perfectionist" and shares ways to manage stress and promote self care. In this episode, we explore: How stress manife…

In this episode, Peg Sandeen, the CEO of Death with Dignity in Portland, OR, and a social worker with 25+ years experience in end-of-life care, talks with us about the Death with Dignity laws, assisted dying and the limits of physicians assisted suicide and dementia. We learned the criteria in accessing Death with Dignity and why folks with dementi…

Welcome to this episode with Laura and Maggie Syme, PhD! Maggie is the Project Director at Marcus Institute for Aging Research and specializes in sexual wellness. In this episode, we discuss: How sexual relationships change during the course of dementia progression Ways to maintain sexual wellness as both a caregiver and a person living with dement…

I hope you enjoy this episode with Teresa Quadres as she talks about Polyvagal Theory, how our autonomic nervous system works and the "rungs of the ladder": ventral vagal state, sympathetic state and dorsal vagal state. Most importantly, we talk about how to recognize and befriend each of these states. She encourages doing these three things to hel…

Join us in this episode as we explore how to get a dementia diagnosis. Laura will review the many causes that look similar to dementia and how to rule out and treat those disorders that are reversible. Find out who the best diagnosticians are when looking at cognitive and memory concerns, the types of assessments that are readily available and lear…

In this episode, Laura reviews what is considered "normal" forgetfulness and when to be concerned. Memory impairment is not a normal part of the aging process. Our brains have the capacity to produce throughout life. FOLLOW LIFE ON REPEAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: lifeonrepeat.podcast Facebook: https://www.lifeonrepeatpodcast.com/ (https://www.li…

This is a special bonus episode to showcase the new release of the song, "Let's Reimagine" with a goal to inspire and spread humanity and end the stigma around the world. Please check out this amazing group of people from all over the world who come together to create a sense of inclusion, creativity, growth and collaboration with folks who live wi…

In this episode, we delve deep into the power of sound and music and explore how music can serve as a bridge to connect us with those who have dementia. Grace Meadows is a music therapist and Campaign Director for Music for Dementia, a UK based campaign with a mission to make music an integral part of dementia care. "Music isn't a nicety, it's a ne…

I love this interview with Stacy Scheel-Hirsch about 'resourcing'. Resourcing is how we access and apply self-care. Imagine all the resources we tap into within to survive and thrive. Stacy talks us through how to access our inner resources, how mindfulness is a helpful tool and the different dimensions of wellness. We explore stories and examples …

I hope you will enjoy this podcast episode as I talk about the sense of isolation that so many caregivers experience and how to minimize it. I feel so strongly about supporting caregivers that are extremely overwhelmed (all of you!) and are putting others before themselves. Caregivers need every bit of encouragement and support they can get. In thi…

You will love this episode with Larry Griner. Laura and Larry talk about his experience as a caregiver for his mother who has dementia. They explore how music brings his mother (and himself) back to life, the many fans his mother has received due to his social media videos, the challenges he has had as a caregiver and what gets him through the hard…

You will love listening to this podcast interview with Kari Rogenski, LMFT about the program she created that focuses on bringing joy and meaning back to the lives of older adults: The Hummingbird Project Something I feel so strongly about is supporting our older adults in continuing to find meaning in their lives whether that is giving back, pursu…

Today’s show is a wonderful conversation with one of the founders of AlzAuthors, a global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's disease and other dementias from their personal experience. I believe that one of the most profound elements to change is both sharing story and experience as well as receiving knowledge from those that have a sha…

Today’s show is about one of my most favorite topics in the world: supporting caregivers. I’ll admit that I’m always seeking new techniques, creative tools and new ways to reframe the caregiving journey. Whether you’re a champion at caregiving or someone who needs more support, I hope today’s show has helpful information and tips for you. Join us! …

Join Laura and Tracy as they explore how to manage through times of chaos as a caregiver. They talk about a variety of techniques that may be helpful in calming the chaos many caregivers feel. Listen in for practical tools and new ways of surviving tumultuous times! Tracy Kenela is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Rehabilitation Coun…

Join me in this exploration of resistance to care, challenging behaviors and getting curious about what is being communicated for those with dementia. We look at who is being challenged and how to approach challenging situations as well as how to assess for low vs high safety behaviors.By Laura Vaillancourt

Join us for a discussion with Amy O'Rourke about the 'Fragile Years' and the importance of approaching decision making and relationships from this perspective. We examine questions such as when to step in as a decision maker, what you might be doing to make your stress worse and what you can be doing to minimize your own memory loss. Amy Cameron O’…

A wonderful episode with an amazing human being and dementia specialist, Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN, neurologist, Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center and the University of Alabama, Founder and President of Cognitive Dynamics Foundation. Dr. Potts explores the Pillars of Personhood: learning to honor, validate, and build relationships around the innate pers…

Join us for a conversation with Angel Duncan, PhD Candidate in Psychology of Gerontology, marriage and family therapist and art therapist working in mental health and dementia forms research, teaching, holistic program developments in care treatments, arts and neurosciences enthusiast. We had a wonderful conversation about the creative self, the im…

Join us in this great conversation with Megan as she explores quality of life for both caregiver and the person with dementia, taking a deeper look at situations that seem helpless, the human spirit underneath the disease and how to frame life and the dementia experience in a new, positive light. Learn more about Megan and her work and join her mai…

Join Laura as she interviews Teresa Quadres, LCSW about hospice, palliative care and the important decisions that caregivers are faced with. She has wonderful tips and thoughtful and very helpful considerations for everyone. You can check out more about her work and her Living with Intention class and the ARC model here: www.teresaquadres.com Also …

Join us as we explore the types of dementia, some very interesting information about how the brain works and impact on dementia impacts parts of the brain and a great discussion about therapeutic fibbing with those that have dementia. This is a fantastic interview you will not want to miss!By Laura Vaillancourt

Join us as we learn a little about what a Geriatric Psychologist is, how they might help and when to add one to your team! We talk about the Get in the Lifeboat Summit and an amazing Facebook Support group.By Laura Vaillancourt

Join Laura Vaillancourt as she explores considerations when moving your loved one from one setting to another. She educates about Relocation Stress Syndrome, how much to share with your loved one, how to make the transition go as smooth as possible as well as how to support the family during this time. Laura's website: www.eldercarecounselor.com Po…

Join Laura as she interviews Lisa Mayfield about Care Managers and the world of Aging Life Care Professionals. Lisa Mayfield founded Aging Wisdom® in 2003. She is trained and licensed as a mental health counselor, geriatric mental health specialist, and is a certified Aging Life Care Professional. Lisa brings over two decades of experience supporti…

Join Laura and Sara as they discuss aging in place for some great tips and important considerations. Sara Wasser is a social worker and is certified in geriatric mental health. She has spent the last 10+ years serving older adults by providing care coordination, resources and referrals in a continuing care community. Sara has a wealth of informatio…

Join us as we explore dying, death, grief and dementia with Jill Johnson-Young: caregiver, counselor, author and grief expert. Jill has spent her career as a social worker and clinician. After a long career, including ten years as a hospice social worker and ten years in private practice, her goals are clear: "We need to change how we talk about dy…

Join Laura V and her guest, Laura Smothers-Chu as they explore the unique challenges and gifts that come with long distance caregiving. This episode covers tips and tools as well as self-care opportunities such as mindfulness. You can find more about Laura Smothers-Chu at her website: https://www.joyindementia.com/home…

Learn about Occupational Therapy and how an OT might be helpful for your loved one with dementia. We discuss great tips on remaining at home safely, how to plan ahead and other ways an OT might be helpful to you. You can find more about Jennifer Hopps at her website: AdaptiveLivingOT.com Her Facebook: Adaptivelivingllc…

Explore all of the facets of choosing whether or not to move your loved one with dementia. How do you know it's time? Is there a black and white answer? We take a deep dive into making what can feel like an impossible decision in this podcast episode.By Laura Vaillancourt

Join us as Elisabeth Mack, RN, BSN and owner of Holistic Caring shares with us about the benefits of using medicinal cannabis with your loved one with dementia. She covers the history, the science, the benefits and risks. This episode is packed with information, you may want to listen twice! You can learn more about Elisabeth and her work here: htt…

Christy and Laura explore the "Sandwich Generation"- those that are raising children while caring for older family members. Her knowledge and research in this area is so informative and normalizing. We examine how common this is, how to talk to children about dementia, and how to support your own health during this time. Christy Yates is the author…

Laura and Gail discuss the importance of advocacy such as important things to know about advocating during the pandemic. She shares practical tools and language that can be helpful to use as you act as your loved ones voice. We discuss the concept of 'brain-failure' and the helpful perspective this can have when caregiving. Gail wrote a fabulous bo…

Welcome to Life on Repeat: a podcast for those caring for someone with dementia. You host, Laura Vaillancourt, MA, LMHC, GMHS, explores the vision of this podcast as a platform to explore helpful caregiving tips, practical resources and most importantly, how to care for yourself through this journey.…