Caring for others often means putting your own needs on the back burner but you can’t give your best if you're running on empty. Self-care is crucial to avoid burnout and stay healthy. This episode has tips to help you find time for yourself while in the chaos of caring. If you’d like personalised support, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day, or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email with whatever is on your mind. To hear how ...
Jun 30, 2025•6 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Vicki’s pain wasn’t going away and she couldn’t figure out why. She was healthy, ate well, exercised regularly...but the pain just wouldn’t let up, even keeping her from sleeping sometimes. Finally, she realised it might be the culmination of years of stress. She’d cared for her husband, Michael, for over a decade and he’d only just transitioned into permanent residential care. For the first time, she felt relief – but her body was catching up after years of pushing through exhaustion. Caring fo...
Jun 30, 2025•28 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Managing paid work and caring for your loved one with dementia is a delicate juggling act, with many balls in the air at a time. While it’s tricky to keep from dropping any, it doesn’t always have to be an either/or decision between caregiving and your career. This episode will give you practical strategies for approaching your employer and finding ways to balance both roles without losing yourself in the process. If you’d like personalised advice on how to balance both worlds, you can contact t...
Jun 23, 2025•4 min•Season 2Ep. 5
If you’re caring for someone living with dementia, you know it can take just as much work as any formal job... but many carers need to continue paid work while caring. So how do you manage that juggle? Wendy loves her work, especially the intellectual challenges it presents, so didn’t want to give up her career when she took on caring duties for her dad. Instead, she moved to part-time employment so she could have more flexibility and control over her and her dad’s schedules. Find out how to bal...
Jun 23, 2025•30 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Caring for someone with dementia means you’re constantly learning—how to navigate healthcare, manage family dynamics and balance work with caregiving. You quickly become an expert in so many areas, often without realising it. But how do you share that wisdom with others? And what happens to all that knowledge once your loved one passes? Sharing your experiences with other carers can be incredibly valuable, not just for them but for you as well. It helps you to connect with others and can give yo...
Jun 16, 2025•6 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Caring for someone living with dementia requires you to learn so much so quickly. From navigating a complex healthcare system, to managing family dynamics, to balancing caring duties with paid work – you’ll have to become an expert in a lot of areas very fast. But what do you do with all that knowledge after the person you cared for passes away? Miriam’s mum lived with dementia and, in her community in the Northern Territory, the condition wasn’t well understood and rarely talked about. But Miri...
Jun 16, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 4
People often think of grief as sadness felt when a loved one passes away. But grief can surface at many stages of caring for someone living with dementia, often in ways that you don’t expect. There are ways to care for yourself, find comfort and reconnect with what brings you happiness. This episode offers simple, practical ways to process those emotions while still embracing joy, connection and the things that make you feel like you. If you’d like personalised support, you can contact the Natio...
Jun 09, 2025•4 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Jenny started grieving well before her husband passed away. After Noel was diagnosed with dementia, Jenny knew their life together would never be the same. But the grief she felt about that gave her strength and purpose too... Grief will be a major part of your journey if you’re caring for someone living with dementia. You might grieve the relationship you had before their diagnosis and you might be grieving after the person you cared for has passed away. It’s a natural part of the process and i...
Jun 09, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Navigating the healthcare system on behalf of someone living with dementia can be challenging, especially when the different systems you’re engaging with don’t speak to each other. This episode offers simple tips to streamline the process. If you’d like personalised support on how to approach appointments or figure out the health care systems, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email with w...
Jun 02, 2025•5 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Nick’s in a pretty unique position as a carer. “I can’t fix the problem with my mum but as an engineer, I can problem-solve. I can advocate for her and give her a voice when she can’t navigate the system,” Nick said. As an engineer, Nick’s used to untangling complex systems. He’s about as tech-savvy as they come but even he found it frustrating trying to access support for his mum, who’s living with Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia Australia Executive Director Services, Advocacy and Research Dr Kae...
Jun 02, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Whether you're new to caring or have been supporting someone with dementia for a while, it’s not always clear where to turn to for help. Every carer’s path is different, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. This episode offers straightforward advice on where to get help, what support services are available and why it’s never too early to reach out. If you’d like tailored support, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callba...
May 26, 2025•4 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Rachel Corbett couldn’t afford to put her life on hold, even when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She was in her 20s, her career wasn’t established and she wanted to have kids, so spent the next few years looking after her mum while juggling everything else in life. Then her dad was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. Rachel would go on to spend her 30s supporting and caring for her parents. “I did have a difficult time with both my parents because of this, but it connected us ...
May 26, 2025•35 min•Season 2Ep. 1
"As carers of people living with dementia, we all have a public face and a private face." When someone you love is diagnosed with dementia there’s a lot you take on – physically, mentally and emotionally. So how do you even start to process all these changes? On Hold the Moment, you’re not alone. Join Jim, who was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, and his co-host Hamish Macdonald, whose dad lived with Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia, as they learn how their peers are managing their ne...
May 21, 2025•3 min
Over the last few months, the Hold the Moment team has been hard at work... Your response to our first season was incredible, and luckily you won’t have to wait long for more episodes. Hamish and Jim are back for a quick announcement. +++ Hold the Moment is a podcast from Dementia Australia, produced by Deadset Studios and hosted by Jim Rogers and Hamish Macdonald. Follow Dementia Australia on Instagram and find support resources online . This episode was produced by Gia Moylan. The executive pr...
Apr 30, 2025•3 min
A dementia diagnosis has a ripple effect across families. So where can you turn for information and support? This bonus episode is packed with tips for families who want to know more about how to support themselves and a family member living with dementia. Whether you live close to your loved one or further afield, Dementia Australia has many helpful resources and programs specially tailored to family members of any age, including children. If you’d like personalised support, you can contact the...
Sep 23, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 7
When Millie Rogers first discovered her dad, Jim Rogers (co-host of Hold the Moment), had received a diagnosis of younger onset dementia, she felt like a rug had been pulled from beneath her feet. “I just froze. I just couldn’t believe what he was saying.” In this candid episode, Millie and her sister Daisy open up to journalist Hamish Macdonald about the initial shock of the diagnosis, Jim’s role as a grandfather to their young children, and how it can be hard to be vulnerable when everyone wan...
Sep 23, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 7
If you’re looking for new ways to get around town or travel further afield with a dementia diagnosis, this episode is full of tips and resources on how you can do just that. If you’d like tailored support on travelling with dementia, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email with whatever is on your mind. You can also find some information here . In this episode you'll hear about a Dementia ...
Sep 16, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Jim Rogers was once ‘captain organised’ when planning overseas trips with his husband Tyler. But after his diagnosis of younger onset dementia, he’s learnt to get Tyler to assist with online check-in, packing and itinerary planning. And it’s not just setting off overseas that’s changed. Getting around town has become trickier now that Jim’s lost his driver’s licence. Like Jim, Juanita wishes she could zip over to the shops to do her weekly groceries. But since being diagnosed with frontotemporal...
Sep 16, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Getting a restful night’s sleep when you’re living with dementia can be an elusive task. This episode contains tips on managing your changing sleep patterns. If you’d like tailored support to tackle sleep issues, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email. Dementia Australia has plenty of resources relating to sleep on its website here . And for more discussion about sleep and dementia, liste...
Sep 10, 2024•4 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Ann, a former nurse, struggles to sleep because of the symptoms of her Lewy body dementia. Most nights, Ann experiences intense, multi-sensory hallucinations. Meanwhile, Jim Rogers takes us through some of the long nights he’s experienced since his diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Sleep is vital to both mental and physical health, and it’s disrupted for many people living with dementia. Associate Professor Stephanie Rainey-Smith, a neuroscientist from Murdoch University, explains disturbances i...
Sep 10, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Your close relationships enter new territory once you’ve been diagnosed with dementia. Roles change, people might pull away but, for the most part, your loved ones just want to know how to be there for you. This episode helps you navigate these changes. If you’d like tailored support you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email with whatever is on your mind. The Dementia Australia website has r...
Sep 02, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Anthony was by himself when he first learned he had dementia. He didn’t feel like he had a close-knit family or a group of friends to turn to for support. But now, Anthony’s not only made new friends and become closer with his three siblings – he’s also found love again. So much changes after being diagnosed with dementia, including your relationships. But it doesn’t mean you have to let go of them. When Dom’s father was diagnosed with dementia, she took on some of the caring duties, but she did...
Sep 02, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Whether you’ve always been a marathon runner or just love getting out in your garden, staying active is an important way to manage symptoms of dementia. Here’s your quick guide on building physical activity into your routine in a way that suits your lifestyle. If you’d like support to stay active with dementia, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat, or send an email with whatever is on your mind. If you ...
Aug 26, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 3
If you take a long walk around Bealiba in regional Victoria, you might spot the occasional water bottle, perched under a tree. Those would be Heather’s. Heather’s always been a keen athlete and, even now at 80 years old, she loves long-distance running. That hasn’t changed since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but she’s had to adapt her training to make sure she stays safe and on the right track. The water bottles, strategically placed every four kilometres along her usual running ro...
Aug 26, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of writing or updating a will? Want to better understand things like power of attorney and enduring guardianship? Help is at hand! This episode breaks it down so you can start planning with confidence. Dementia Australia also has a webinar on ‘Future Planning’ you can watch online and other resources to help get your affairs in order. If you’d like tailored support, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or ...
Aug 21, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 2
“I was diagnosed early, so I got what I call my ‘active dying plan’ out of the way. And now I’m on my ‘active living plan’ and my adventure with dementia.” Pam was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia in her late 50s. Although the diagnosis at such a young age was a shock, Pam wasted no time making arrangements for her own funeral so that when the time comes, her family can celebrate her life the way she prefers. For Hold the Moment co-host Jim Rogers, the process of getting his paperwork ...
Aug 19, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 2
A dementia diagnosis can be a shock and it also can be a relief. If you’re looking for support, resources and guidance on what to do after you or someone you love has been diagnosed with dementia, this bonus episode is your simple how-to guide. If you’d like personalised support on what to do once you’ve been diagnosed, you can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. You can call 24 hours a day or request a callback, start a webchat or send an email with whatever is on your mind....
Aug 19, 2024•5 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Jim Rogers didn’t see it coming. “It was almost like an out-of-body experience,” he says. “It was as though time stood still.” Only a few months earlier, life for Jim was as it had always been. He and his husband Tyler were both busy, focused on their careers and very social. But Jim’s colleagues noticed he would occasionally forget important details at work. Little did he know this seemingly innocuous symptom would lead to a dementia diagnosis. In the first episode of Hold the Moment, Jim share...
Aug 19, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 1
"You could’ve knocked me off my chair. It was like time stood still." Jim Rogers was blindsided by his diagnosis of younger onset Alzheimer’s disease in his 50s. He didn’t see a dementia diagnosis coming, and yet it changed almost everything. The way you sleep, exercise, travel around, and even how you interact with your loved ones will change after a diagnosis. So how do you even start to process all these changes? On Hold the Moment, you’re not alone. Join Jim and his co-host, journalist and b...
Aug 06, 2024•6 min
