Ep.1718: Caregiving for Dementia 1719: A Marriage Sabbatical Wednesday, December 11, 2024 Dr. Macie P. Smith

Kathryn interviews Author Dr. Macie P. Smith.The holidays can be a joyful but challenging time when a loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia. Keeping surroundings familiar, letting your loved one help in ways they can, and connecting through meaningful conversations are all ways to include your loved one in the celebration, says gerontologist and licensed social worker Dr. Macie P. Smith. For more than 24 years she has been helping family caregivers and their loved ones navigate a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and dementia. She now shares the logical progression of a dementia care experience, beginning with how to recognize potential symptoms before the diagnosis and what questions to ask the individual’s primary care physician. She also describes what to expect after the diagnosis. At the helm of Diversified Training Consultants Group, Smith spearheads a dynamic Geriatric Care Management company committed to enhancing education and training standards for both healthcare professionals and family caregivers.Kathryn also interviews Author Leah Fisher.She wants to travel the world; he wants to keep working. At sixty, Leah Fisher is ready to love,honor and negotiate. The result is a long-married couple’s decision to commence an unconventional experiment. She takes readers on two journeys: an intriguing global journey—her year of solo travel—and the relational journey she and her husband embark upon as they skillfully negotiate their different priorities and preferences. We accompany them through a series of reunions and poignant farewells as they stay connected and gradually grow comfortable being together and apart. After the marriage sabbatical is over, both spouses are surprised by the outcome of their daring experiment. Leah Fisher worked for thirty-five years as a psychotherapist, marital counselor, and corporate work/family consultant. During this time, she brought her expertise to The Oprah Winfrey Show and to media outlets, including Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal.