Patty's Place

Lisa
  • 3.8 (4)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

A place to talk about grief, dementia and caregiving. A place to find comfort when you are going through a difficult time. A place to know you are not alone as you go through this difficult time.

  1. 17H AGO

    End Of Life Can Teach Us How To Live With More Love-Interview with Christa McDonald

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. The hardest part of grief often shows up after everyone else goes home. The service is over, the texts slow down, and you’re left holding silence, memories, and a thousand details you never asked to manage. We wanted to talk about what actually helps in that stretch, so we invited Christa McDonald, a hospice nurse with more than 20 years of end-of-life care experience, to share what she’s seen in countless homes and what she learned the hard way in her own losses. We get honest about dementia caregiving, why presence matters when words fade, and the belief that hearing is one of the last senses to go. Christa explains why you should keep talking, keep playing the music, and keep saying what you need to say, even when someone looks unreachable. We also dig into the complicated question so many families carry: why do some people seem to choose their moment to die, like waiting until a loved one falls asleep? Her perspective is comforting and practical, especially if you’re wrestling with guilt. From there we explore end-of-life visions, “signs after death,” and the idea of continuing bonds, plus the reality that grief can take a minimum of a year and can impact your health. Krista also shares her new project, GLAD (Grieving Loss After Death and Dying), designed to meet people where they are with a 24/7 bereavement line and online grief support classes. We close by clearing up hospice myths, what hospice really provides, and why getting help sooner can change everything for families facing dementia and terminal illness. HOME - Christa MacDonald If you’re navigating grief, hospice care, or dementia caregiving, subscribe to Patty’s Place, share this with someone who needs support, and leave a review so more families can find these conversations. Support the show

    31 min

  2. MAR 12

    Words That Save Lives-Interview with Lisa Sugarman

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. The hardest grief stories aren’t always the ones we expect, sometimes they’re the ones we learn late. I’m joined by Lisa Sugarman, author, nationally syndicated columnist, crisis counselor with The Trevor Project, and a three-time survivor of suicide loss, for an honest conversation about what happens when the “official” version of a loved one’s death turns out not to be true. Lisa shares how she grew up believing her father died of a heart attack, then discovered decades later that he died by suicide, a truth that reshaped her grief, her identity, and her purpose as a mental health advocate.  We dig into why telling our stories can be both cathartic and lifesaving, and why suicide loss grief often carries extra weight: the relentless why, the what if loop, guilt, and the stigma that keeps families quiet. We also talk about language and dignity, including why many advocates recommend moving away from the phrase committed suicide and choosing terms like died by suicide. Words don’t just describe what happened, they shape how survivors heal and whether people feel safe asking for help.  Finally, we get practical. Lisa explains what to do if you think someone is suicidal, how to ask directly without fear, how 988 works (including third-party calls), and why crisis lines aren’t only for suicidal moments. If you’re a caregiver navigating dementia, burnout, or isolation, you’ll hear a clear message: your crisis counts, and support is allowed. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the one takeaway you want more people to understand about grief and mental health. https://www.thehelphub.co/ Support the show

    32 min

  3. MAR 4

    Healing Teams After Loss With Dr. Angela Fassaro

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. What if burnout isn’t laziness but accumulated disappointment we never named? We sit down with Dr. Angela Fassaro—emergency physician and startup founder—to unpack the quiet reality of grief at work: the missed launch, the teammate who vanished after a reorg, the promotion that didn’t land, the identity shift no one can see. Angela brings hard-won insight from high-stakes medicine and early-stage companies to show why skipping the conversation about loss stalls teams, and why clear acknowledgment becomes the fastest route back to trust and performance. We walk through a practical Healing Protocol that any leader or teammate can use without turning standups into therapy. First, acknowledge what happened and name the loss plainly. Then validate that the impact is real, even if you don’t know someone’s full story. Normalize the messiness—grief is a signal of what matters, not a weakness to hide. Finally, practice real appreciation: not cheerleading, but specific, contextual recognition that links effort to meaningful outcomes. That shift helps people feel irreplaceable in an era when AI and churn whisper the opposite. Angela also shares ER lessons that translate far beyond the hospital: control effort, not outcomes; pride in how you showed up outlasts any single result. We talk about “toxic gratitude,” why forced positivity amplifies shame, and how cultural currency shapes recognition—what feels honoring in one team can land tone-deaf in another. The throughline is simple and human: assume the person across from you might be living their worst day. Offer grace. Name the loss. See the effort. If this conversation resonates, share it with a manager, a teammate, or a friend who’s navigating change. Subscribe for more honest talks about grief, caregiving, and the work of being human—and leave a review to tell us: what loss needs naming on your team today? Join the Patty's Place Podcast Facebook Group Support the show

    32 min

  4. FEB 26

    Saving Family Stories With Reflekta.ai co-creator Miles Spencer

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. What if the family stories you love didn’t fade with time, but stayed close enough to talk to? We sit down with Reflecta AI founder Miles Spencer to explore how digital legacies become living, conversational presences—comforting a grandchild at bedtime, guiding a pie crust at Thanksgiving, and keeping a family’s wisdom from gathering dust in an attic box. Miles shares the personal spark behind Reflecta and why he calls it soul tech. We talk about designing for the emotional load of grief, bringing in experts from hospice, suicide support, the military, and spiritual care to build humane guardrails. You’ll hear how a 10-second voicemail can seed a father’s voice, how a same-sex sibling can stand in when no recordings exist, and why a reflection’s perfect memory makes scattered photos and letters feel whole again. For caregivers facing dementia, this approach can be a gentle bridge—meeting loved ones in the stories and timelines where they feel most at home. We get practical too: default-private reflections controlled by a family “keeper,” strict privacy and rights management, and pricing that scales from a single loved one to wider family or public sharing. Miles addresses common concerns head-on—from “digital necromancy” fears to data security—and explains how Reflecta monitors for unhealthy use, nudging users to take breaks when grief loops too tightly. The heart of the conversation is continuity: a library of experiences that doesn’t burn when someone passes, but remains accessible as a spontaneous, dynamic conversation. Ready to imagine your family’s legacy as more than a box of keepsakes? Listen now, then try a conversation with Arthur or Virginia at Reflekt.ai to feel how a story becomes a presence.  If this resonated, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Support the show

    32 min

  5. FEB 21

    Understanding Dementia Types And What Caregivers Need To Know

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. We break down the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s, then walk through real signs, major types, and what caregivers can do right now. We share our family stories, the limits of diagnosis, and how to meet loved ones with calm, dignity, and practical steps. • dementia as an umbrella term and why it matters • Alzheimer’s as the most common cause of dementia • mixed dementia and overlapping symptoms • vascular dementia links to stroke and blood flow • Lewy body features including hallucinations and REM sleep issues • early red flags at home and on the road • why diagnosis is clinical and imperfect • caregiver mindset, validation, and safety planning • resources from the Alzheimer’s Association “Hopefully you find some comfort in this and knowledge because knowledge is power” Support the show

    27 min

  6. FEB 10

    Becoming An Orphan: Interview with author Ingrid Hanson-Popp

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. What happens when the person who once guided you now needs your guidance? We invited author Ingrid Hansen Pop to talk about the hidden pressures of caregiving, why smart problem‑solvers still feel stuck, and how small mindset shifts can lower stress fast. From the myth of “I must fix everything” to the hard truth that plans fall apart under medical uncertainty, we get honest about what actually helps when a parent’s health changes. We dig into sibling dynamics without sugarcoating them. Some of us rush to lead; others freeze or avoid. Instead of chasing perfect consensus, we map clear lanes—medical, financial, logistics—so responsibilities are shared and expectations are real. Ingrid offers gentle scripts for raising tough topics with parents who won’t ask for help, using specific observations and empathy rather than judgment. We also highlight the quiet tells that support is needed: spoiled food, unread mail, trouble with steps, and favorite hobbies that no longer click. Caregiving gets lighter when you build a team. Think like migrating geese: no one flies alone. We show how to recruit neighbors, church friends, and community services for rides, check‑ins, and errands, and why every caregiver needs one friend designated for venting. For holidays and milestones, we share practical tweaks—earlier start times, shorter visits, daylight driving—that honor dignity while reducing risk. Throughout, Ingrid points to resources from her book, Becoming An Orphan, and a supportive online group that helps you problem‑solve in real time. If you’re feeling the weight of reversed roles, this conversation offers clarity, language, and next steps you can use today. Listen, take what fits, and share it with someone who needs a little less guilt and a little more team. If this helped, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it on to a friend who’s navigating care right now. Go to barnesandnoble.com to purchase Becoming An Orphan, and visit becominganorphan.com for resources and our online support group. Support the show

    32 min

  7. FEB 3

    Why Grief Has No Timeline: Interview with Grief Educator Lisa Rites

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. We sit with grief educator Lisa Wrights to explore anticipatory grief, workplace expectations, holiday triggers and the myth of a timeline. Stories from dementia caregiving ground the advice, while journaling and groups offer real relief. • why anticipatory grief wears down caregivers • why repeating stories can comfort the person with dementia • how workplaces mishandle grief and simple fixes • myths about stages, timelines and “moving on” • practical tools including journaling and support groups • planning exits and boundaries for holidays and events • differences between a grief educator and a therapist • delayed grief and how to spot it • resources, ebooks and where to find help Purchase Lisa’s book on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com. Visit lisaritesgrief.com for free resources, a monthly blog, a newsletter and to book a free consultation Support the show

    27 min

  8. JAN 27

    Navigating Dementia Together: Interview with Janice Goldmintz

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. The first signs often feel small—too much food in the fridge, unopened bills, a story on repeat—and then the worry sets in. We invited gerontologist Janice Goldman to help us turn that worry into a plan you can actually use, from decoding what “dementia” really means to knowing when to call the doctor, how to prepare legal documents, and what to do when the family can’t agree on next steps. We start with clarity: dementia is the umbrella, Alzheimer’s is one type. Not every red flag points to Alzheimer’s, and we break down reversible causes like hearing loss, B12 deficiency, and medication issues. Janice shares a practical home checklist for spotting meaningful changes and explains how to work with physicians—using past baselines and integrated screenings—when a loved one refuses formal memory tests or denies there’s a problem. We dig into power of attorney essentials, including the difference between financial and medical POA and why “joint and several” structures can prevent dangerous delays during crises. Care isn’t one-size-fits-all, so we map decisions across four pillars: finances, available supports, medical thresholds, and social life. You’ll hear realistic options for aging in place, day programs, and residential care, plus how to evaluate trade-offs without losing sight of dignity and safety. Family dynamics matter just as much as budgets; we offer ways to split responsibilities by strength, protect against caregiver burnout, and bring in neutral third-party help when old roles and resentments block progress. Most of all, we get practical about communication. Learn gentle language shifts that lower conflict—meeting your loved one where they are, using positive prompts, redirecting stress, and stepping away before frustration boils over. These everyday moves can turn battles into moments of connection and help you create more calm, meaningful time together. Visit talkaboutaging.com for free resources and contact options. Follow on Instagram at Aging Parent Journey for short videos and tips. If this conversation helps, share it with someone in the thick of caregiving. Subscribe for future episodes, leave a review to support the show, and tell us: what’s your biggest caregiving challenge right now? Support the show

    32 min
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3.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

A place to talk about grief, dementia and caregiving. A place to find comfort when you are going through a difficult time. A place to know you are not alone as you go through this difficult time.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Patty's Place
  • Show Website
    Patty's Place