Steve and Virginia sit down with Andrea Hughes, a dedicated caregiver whose mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Featured in the PBS documentary Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s , Andrea shares her personal journey navigating the challenges of caregiving at a young age, balancing work and family responsibilities, and finding strength through community and storytelling. To learn more, visit the PBS documentary page , follow Andrea on Instagram @itsandreakrystal , and explore h...
Jun 25, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Steve and Virginia explore the vital role that geriatricians play in diagnosing and managing dementia and other cognitive symptoms in older adults. The co-hosts are joined by Valerie George, a certified physician assistant with UCI Health, and Sonia Sehgal, MD, a board-certified geriatrician and internist with UCI Health, who discuss how geriatric care should take a whole-person approach—addressing cognitive impairment, chronic conditions, and social factors while actively involving caregivers. ...
Jun 03, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode, Steve and Virginia explore the emotional and practical differences between caring for a parent versus a spouse with dementia. Virginia emphasizes the role reversal and challenges of managing her mother’s daily needs and finances, while Steve opens up about the loss of companionship and adapting intimacy in his relationship with his wife, Patty. They discuss the importance of communication with family members, the struggle of accepting help, and the emotional weight of caregiving...
Apr 16, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Virginia and Steve are joined by Ruth Ann Rousseau, a caregiver and support group leader, to discuss the vital role that support groups play for dementia caregivers. Ruth Ann highlights how these groups provide resources, confidence, and community while addressing the challenges of participation. She compares online and in-person meetings and encourages caregivers to seek support, stay open to learning, and prioritize self-care. The discussion concludes with a reminder to persist in finding the ...
Mar 11, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this episode of Spotlight on Care, Steve and Virginia explore the complex and often distressing experience of delusions in dementia with David Sultzer, MD, the Clinical Research Director at UCI MIND and professor of Psychiatry & Human Behavior. Dr. Sultzer explains how and when delusions, such as paranoia and misidentification, develop in individuals with dementia and the impact they have on caregivers. He discusses practical approaches for managing these false beliefs, including reassura...
Feb 11, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Virginia and Steve discuss the legal concerns that arise after a dementia diagnosis with Orange County probate attorney, Stephen Magro, JD, who has 30 years of experience in elder law. Mr. Magro outlines the legal steps needed to help protect loved ones with dementia including setting up a will and trust and establishing an advanced health care directive. For more information about Stephen Magro’s law firm, visit www.smagrolaw.com . What would like to hear about next? Email us at mwitbrac@uci.ed...
Jan 17, 2025•36 min
Co-hosts Virginia and Steve are joined by Renée Brown Harmon, MD, a retired family physician, who shares her eight-year journey as a caregiver for her husband, Harvey, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at age 49. Dr. Harmon discusses the challenges of caregiving, the stages and types of grief, and the coping strategies she used. She also highlights the emotional and physical toll caregiving can take. Her book, Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer's: Principles of Caregiving that Kept Me Upright ,...
Dec 10, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 45
(From the Archives) Virginia and Steve speak with Dr. Galindo, who cared for her father with Alzheimer's disease and helps the listeners understand the importance of simplifying the holidays to maximize enjoyment for everyone. She gives tips on focusing on one or two traditions and recruiting help instead of trying to balance caregiving with all of the pressures of maintaining family traditions. For more caregiver resources at the holidays and throughout the year visit www.alzoc.org or call the ...
Nov 19, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 29
(From the Archives) Dee Ransom joins Steve and Virginia to discuss some of the adjustments she has had to make being a caregiver for her husband, John, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease. Dee shares her experience learning to advocate for her husband, adapting to changes in their relationship and the difficulty and hidden blessings involved in placing him in a residential facility.
Oct 17, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this episode of Spotlight on Care, co-hosts Steve and Virginia are joined once again by caregiving expert Pamela D. Wilson to discuss the challenges adult children face when caring for parents who were absent, abusive, or neglectful. They explore emotional struggles, complicated family dynamics, the importance of setting boundaries, and the question of whether total forgiveness is necessary. Pamela also provides practical advice on navigating these difficult caregiving situations and emphasiz...
Sep 17, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode, Diana Marquez-Siemers and Rachel Smyth from the Caregiver Resource Center (CRC) provide expert insights on the challenges and solutions for families caring for loved ones with dementia. Join Steve and Virginia as they learn about the CRC’s commitment to supporting caregivers. They also discuss the development of their personalized care plans to address each caregiver’s unique needs, offering coaching, training, and ongoing support to ensure quality care. With over 60% of caregiv...
Aug 21, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Virginia and Steve are joined by Pamela D. Wilson, MS, BS/BA, NCG, CSA.– an international resource for caregivers with over two decades of experience in aging and caregiving– known for her consultations, advocacy, and her book, "The Caregiving Trap: Solutions for Life's Unexpected Changes," as well as her own podcast called “The Caring Generation.” Together, they discuss the challenges of caregiving for parents with dementia, where Pamela delves into common issues such as resistance to advice, n...
Jul 17, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Virginia rejoins Steve in this concluding 2 part series on caregiving strategies. In this episode, they provide insights into activities and products that can be utilized to enhance daily living and simplify routine tasks. Tune in for valuable information that aims to elevate the day-to-day experience for both caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Jun 25, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Steve interviews Virginia about tips she has compiled over the years to improve the caregiving journey. Listen along as they delve into topics on healthcare visits, money matters, safety, and mood changes. This is part 1 of a 2 part series of tips and tools that can help improve quality of care for loved ones living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Mentioned Episode in Podcast with Stephen Magro, an elder law attorney, can be found here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1589794/episodes/8...
May 09, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Virginia and Steve are joined by Nathaniel Chin, MD, a geriatrician, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine, Medical Director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and host and creator of the popular Dementia Matters podcast. Dr. Chin recounts how his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis and dementia journey inspired his career choice. He discusses the importance of getting an early diagnosis, keeping records, and the critical role that caregivers pla...
Apr 11, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Steve and Virginia sit down with Ahmad Sajjadi, MD, PhD, associate professor of Neurology at UC Irvine and research clinician at UCI MIND, to discuss some of the recent advances that have been made in Alzheimer’s disease research and care. He discusses the newly approved drugs, diagnostic tests and coverage of some of those tests, and care navigator programs.
Feb 08, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Steve and Virginia are joined by Dr. Michelle McDonnell, a neuropsychologist at UCI MIND, who discusses the importance of cognitive testing. She discusses the process involved in the testing, tips to encourage your loved one to participate, and the benefits of tracking Alzheimers as it progresses.
Dec 07, 2023•32 min•Ep. 37
Susan Papiri, Community Relations Director for Dignity Memorial. She discusses involving loved ones earlier regarding their wishes, preferences and religious traditions. These conversations can give honor to their legacy and reduce family stress. If you are in the Orange County/San Diego area and wish to learn more about services offered, you can call their toll-free number at (949)-622-7171
Nov 16, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Steve and Virginia are joined by Elizabeth Lonseth, an author and caregiver, who discusses the dangers of denial in Alzheimer’s caregiving. She touches on the many ways that both patients and caregivers can suffer when caregivers do not come to terms with the realities of the disease. Elizabeth also gives listeners a few tips to help improve the caregiver journey. To learn more about Elizabeth visit https://elizabethlonsethnovels.com/...
Aug 17, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Virginia is joined by Dr. Natali Edmonds, a board certified Geropsychologist and founder of Dementia Careblazers, an online resource for dementia caregivers. Dr. Edmonds talks about 4 mistakes caregivers make when dealing with their loved ones, and the steps we can take to avoid these behaviors. You can learn more about Dr. Edmonds and Dementia Careblazers at www.careblazers.com...
Jun 15, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Virginia and Steve are joined once again by Lisa Up de Graff, one of their first guests, who gives an update on her mother’s Alzheimer's disease journey. Lisa describes new challenges she has faced as the disease has progressed and recounts how she has dealt with transitioning her mother into hospice care.
May 18, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Virginia is joined by Irene Olson, author of the book, “Requiem for the Status Quo'' and a state long-term care Ombudsman. Irene shares tips and challenges she faced with being a long distance caregiver for her father. She emphasizes the importance of building a strong relationship with the staff at the care facility, which in her case, allowed her to remain involved in her father’s care, even at a distance. Irene Olson is a member of AlzAuthors, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves a...
Apr 20, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Dr. Joshua Grill, PhD, is a professor at UC Irvine in the departments of Psychiatry & Human Behavior and Neurobiology and Behavior, as well as the director of UCI MIND. Dr. Grill joins Steve to discuss risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, steps people can take to lower their risk and the promising investigational therapies. He also cautions listeners about the prevalence of pseudomedicine for dementia.
Mar 09, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Virginia and Steve are joined by Patti Davis, author of the book, Floating in The Deep End , and daughter of former United States President, Ronald Reagan. She recounts several different experiences she had while caring for her father who publicly lived with Alzheimer’s disease. She also provides the listeners with sage advice she learned from her caregiver journey and from her time with Beyond Alzheimer’s, a caregiver support group she started at UCLA. To learn more about Patti’s experience, pu...
Jan 17, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Erin Light, MA, is a gerontologist and a senior administrator at Silverado Senior Living, a memory care company based in Southern California. She joins Steve and Virginia to discuss how to manage wandering in a loved one with dementia. Erin begins by giving an overview of what wandering is and provides some early signs to look out for. She also discusses what precautions caregivers should take to help keep their loved ones who wander, safe.
Nov 10, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Steve and Virginia are joined by Lindsay Hohsfield, PhD, a neuroscientist at UCI and co-founder of a non-profit organization called Youngtimers, to discuss the role that our genes play in Alzheimer’s disease. She helps the audience understand the difference between sporadic and familial Alzheimer’s, early- versus late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and gives advice to those who are concerned about their genetic risk of developing the disease. To learn more about Lindsays organization, Youngtimers, p...
Oct 27, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Steve and Virginia are joined by Heather Kruse, a licensed RN who specializes in dementia and hospice services. Heather was the hospice nurse for Steve’s wife, Patty at the time of her passing. She discusses the different services offered during hospice care and the things to keep in mind when deciding on hospice for a loved one.
Sep 20, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Our hosts are joined today by LA Times writer Jeanette Marantos and Virginia's brother, lawyer Bob Simpson, to tell us how they knew it was time to stop their loved one with Alzheimer's Disease from driving. They share stories on the challenges they faced and the clever ways they were able to get around them.
Sep 08, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Jeanette Marantos joins Virginia and Steve to discuss her experiences traveling with her husband, Steven, who had Alzheimer's disease, as well as sharing her tips on making travel manageable.
Aug 25, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 23
In this episode, Virginia and Steve are joined by Cindy Weinstein, Ph.D., who co-authored a book with neurologist, Dr. Bruce Miller titled, Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief, and the Brain. Dr. Weinstein talks about the guilt and grief she dealt with after her father was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease. She describes the challenges of being away from him while in graduate school, and the different strategies she used to stay connected and to manage her sadness....
Jun 16, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 22
