Your Brain on Mom

Aflalo Communications Inc.

Your Brain on Mom, sibling co-hosts open up about the unexpected beginning of their mother’s dementia journey — a journey that didn’t start with obvious memory loss, but with a broken ankle. What followed were strange behaviors, unexplained shifts, and subtle cognitive changes that signaled something deeper was happening. As a brother-and-sister caregiver team, we share the real-life dementia storyof how we first encountered our mom’s cognitive decline. From unusual reactions in the hospital to confusing days at home, we walk through the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and how they can appear differently than you might expect. We also discuss the differences between dementia vs. Alzheimer’s and how confusing it is to understand the distinction.  This podcast highlights the emotional side of becoming sibling caregivers — the frustration, the gut instinct, and the bond that forms when adult children team up to care for a parent. We also share how we use humor as a survival tool, because sometimes the only way through the fear and confusion of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is to laugh together. By telling our caregiving story, we hope to normalize the chaos, confusion, and unexpected moments that caregivers face, and to create a space where others feel seen. We explain why we decided to start this podcast — to document the earliest moments of our journey and to give a voice to other sibling caregiversnavigating similar paths. Whether you’re researching dementia vs. Alzheimer’s, searching for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, curious about sibling caregivers, or looking for real-life dementia stories to relate to, this podcast offers a candid, relatable, and hopeful look at the very beginning of the caregiving journey. Produced by Aflalo Communications Inc. (www.aflalo.com)

  1. 4d ago

    When Caregiving Becomes a Lifestyle

    When does caregiving stop being something you do... and become your entire lifestyle? In this episode of Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry explore the moment family caregiving quietly takes over your life. What starts as driving your parent to appointments, making a few extra phone calls, or checking in more often can slowly become schedules, routines, advocacy, crisis management, and decisions that shape every day. For anyone caring for a parent with dementia or another progressive illness, that shift often happens before you even realize it. The siblings share how caring for their mom transformed from "helping out" into a full-time way of life, why Wendy jokes she needs a sweatshirt that says "Advocate Like a Daughter", and whether caregiving is something we choose—or something that chooses us. They also unpack one of the biggest misconceptions about caregiving: it doesn't replace your life—it joins it. Work deadlines, parenting, marriages, home repairs, sick pets, flooded basements, birthdays, vacations, and everyday responsibilities don't stop because you're caring for someone with dementia. Instead, caregiving becomes the thread running through all of it. That's what makes it a lifestyle. Whether you're caring for a parent with dementia, supporting a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, navigating elder care, or simply wondering if your life has quietly become organized around someone else's needs, this episode will remind you that you're not alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Jun 9

    The One Where They Tried to Cancel the Podcast

    Just days after sharing a positive update about our mom's dementia care, everything changed. In this episode of Your Brain on Mom, we discuss a shocking conversation with a social worker who told us the nursing home was unhappy about our podcast and wanted us to stop talking about our experiences. The problem? The person making the accusations admitted they had never actually listened to the show. We dive into the challenges families face when advocating for loved ones living with dementia, the fear of speaking out about long-term care, and why so many caregivers feel pressured to stay quiet. We also share a series of frustrating incidents involving a room camera, communication breakdowns, and ongoing concerns about accountability inside the nursing home system. Along the way, we discuss our mom's pseudo-bulbar affect, the realities of comfort care versus behavioral care, and the emotional complexity of trying to ensure dignity, safety, and happiness for a parent living with dementia. If you've ever felt dismissed, questioned, or labeled as "difficult" simply for advocating for someone you love, this conversation will feel very familiar. About the Podcast Your Brain on Mom is a podcast hosted by siblings Wendy and Barry as they navigate the challenges, heartbreak, humor, and unexpected moments of caring for their mother living with dementia. Through candid conversations and real-life stories, they explore caregiving, dementia advocacy, family dynamics, long-term care, and the realities of supporting an aging parent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. May 12

    Dementia Caregiving, Estate Planning & End-of-Life Conversations: What Families Need to Know

    What happens when the person who helps families plan for death becomes a dementia caregiver herself? In this episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry speak with Canadian funeral director, educator, and author Minnelle Williams, founder of Ending Well with Minnelle Ending Well with Minnelle. What starts as a conversation about funeral planning quickly becomes deeply personal when Minnelle’s father is diagnosed with dementia—shifting everything she thought she knew about being “prepared.” Suddenly, estate planning isn’t theoretical. Advance directives aren’t paperwork. And end-of-life conversations aren’t optional—they’re urgent. Minnelle shares how her lived experience reshaped her work, leading her to focus on helping families navigate end-of-life planning with more clarity, less fear, and earlier conversations. She also discusses her book Plan Well. Live Well, a practical guide to documenting wishes and reducing crisis-driven decision-making. This is a conversation about what no one prepares you for—not just death, but the long emotional road leading up to it. If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia or trying to make sense of caregiving decisions before crisis hits, this episode will change how you think about planning. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe to This Is Your Brain on Mom for honest conversations about dementia, caregiving, grief, and the reality families live every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Your Brain on Mom, sibling co-hosts open up about the unexpected beginning of their mother’s dementia journey — a journey that didn’t start with obvious memory loss, but with a broken ankle. What followed were strange behaviors, unexplained shifts, and subtle cognitive changes that signaled something deeper was happening. As a brother-and-sister caregiver team, we share the real-life dementia storyof how we first encountered our mom’s cognitive decline. From unusual reactions in the hospital to confusing days at home, we walk through the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and how they can appear differently than you might expect. We also discuss the differences between dementia vs. Alzheimer’s and how confusing it is to understand the distinction.  This podcast highlights the emotional side of becoming sibling caregivers — the frustration, the gut instinct, and the bond that forms when adult children team up to care for a parent. We also share how we use humor as a survival tool, because sometimes the only way through the fear and confusion of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is to laugh together. By telling our caregiving story, we hope to normalize the chaos, confusion, and unexpected moments that caregivers face, and to create a space where others feel seen. We explain why we decided to start this podcast — to document the earliest moments of our journey and to give a voice to other sibling caregiversnavigating similar paths. Whether you’re researching dementia vs. Alzheimer’s, searching for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, curious about sibling caregivers, or looking for real-life dementia stories to relate to, this podcast offers a candid, relatable, and hopeful look at the very beginning of the caregiving journey. Produced by Aflalo Communications Inc. (www.aflalo.com)

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