Patty's Place

Lisa
  • 4.3 (7)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

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. 1d ago ·  Video

    Money Mindset For Grief And Caregiving-Interview with Paula Harris

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. One phone call can turn a normal day into a maze of grief, paperwork, and decisions you never wanted to make. I sit down with Paula Harris, co-founder of WH Cornerstone Investments and author of Rise Up, a Widow’s Journal and Rise Up, a Grief Journal, to talk about what actually helps when dementia, caregiving, or sudden loss collides with money and responsibility. We start with the hidden force behind so many choices: your money mindset. Paula explains how the beliefs you absorbed from parents can quietly shape what you earn, spend, and avoid. We unpack how to spot those scripts, question them, and reconnect finances to your values so you are not making decisions from fear, spite, or impulse when you need stability most. Then we get intensely practical about preparedness and estate planning. We talk healthcare proxy, power of attorney, updated beneficiaries, and why a trust can protect privacy and reduce probate delays. We also cover what to do if you do not have children, how to choose the right decision makers, and why “now” is the best time to get your documents and conversations in order. Finally, we focus on widowhood and caregiving realities: the first overwhelming days, the importance of a trusted team, the headache of digital accounts and passwords, and how to protect your own financial life while caring for someone else. We also share what real support looks like during holidays: show up, keep inviting her, and say his name. If this resonates, subscribe, share Patty’s Place with someone who needs it, and leave us a review so more caregivers and grieving families can find these tools. Support the show

  2. Jul 29 ·  Video

    How To Protect A Parent’s Finances As Dementia Advances-Interview with Dr. Fred Rouse

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. The hardest part of dementia caregiving is not always the hands-on care. Sometimes it is the moment you realize the bills are not getting paid, the mail is piling up, and your parent cannot explain what is going on. That is where money stress collides with grief and turns a family crisis into a full-blown scramble for information, access, and time.  We sit down with Dr. Fred Ramos, a longtime certified financial planner with a PhD in taxation, a nine-time best-selling author, and a Vietnam-era Coast Guard veteran. After four decades in financial services, he walked away from the traditional model because he believes the industry is often built to generate commissions, not protect people. Together, we talk about why early dementia can make someone the most exploitable person in the country, how “help” can become pressure, and why even well-meaning institutions can block caregivers from doing basic tasks like checking a credit card balance or managing a bank account.  We also get painfully practical: what to look for first (hint: it starts with the mail), how to track statements and subscriptions, why liquid cash matters more than paper assets during a crisis, and what memory care really costs. We break down estate planning essentials like power of attorney, trust vs will, probate realities, and why you may want 15 to 20 certified death certificates when you are settling accounts or dealing with a mortgage. Dr. Ramos also shares how to vet an advisor using FINRA BrokerCheck and the kinds of red flags that signal someone is not on your side.  If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a caregiver who needs it, and leave us a review so more families can find support when dementia turns money into an emergency. Here's the link if they want the 10 min check; https://drrousenow.com/check/ Support the show

  3. Jul 22 ·  Video

    What If The Most Spiritual Thing Is Presence-Interview with Matt Wolfe-Hospice Chaplain

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Hospice is one of the most misunderstood words in health care, and that confusion can leave dementia caregivers carrying fear and guilt they never needed to hold. We’re joined by Matt Wolf, hospice chaplain at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness in Joliet, Illinois, for a real conversation about what chaplains actually do when families hit the hardest moments. Matt explains his guiding principle in plain terms: he doesn’t do as much as he “be,” showing up with calm, attention, and support when the right words don’t exist. We talk about spirituality and end-of-life care without forcing neat answers. Matt shares why existential questions (Why is this happening? Why doesn’t faith erase fear?) are often a sign of honesty, not weakness, and why many patients open up more easily to someone outside the family. From there, we dig into the emotions caregivers know too well: anger that’s often rooted in fear, and guilt that shows up around starting hospice or not being present at the exact moment of death. We also touch on what families sometimes observe near the end of life, and how simple choices, like music and a peaceful room, can bring comfort. Along the way, we clear up hospice misconceptions, including the idea that hospice means “tomorrow,” and we come back to what matters most: you should not have to walk through grief, dementia, and caregiving alone. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with someone who needs support, and leave a review so more caregivers can find Patty’s Place. Support the show

  4. Jul 15 ·  Video

    Healing Headsets For Dementia Care-Interview with Kelly Willenborg

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. A song can do what arguments, reminders, and “just try” sometimes can’t: reach your loved one when dementia has made everything else feel impossible. We sit down with Kelly Willenborg, a brain health gerontologist and the founder of My Memory Works, to talk about why personalized music can spark connection, ease agitation, and bring back flashes of identity even in moderate to advanced stages. Kelly explains her drug-free Healing Headsets program, including what makes these devices senior-friendly (simple oversized buttons, built-in player, micro SD playlists) and why access matters when music therapy isn’t available to everyone. We also get practical about caregiving: how to build a meaningful playlist, how many songs families can expect, and when to turn music on so it actually helps rather than becoming background noise. We dig into real-world challenges like sundowning and bathing resistance, with a clear strategy many care partners can try immediately: start the right music about 15 minutes before the tough moment. Along the way, we talk memory cafes, peer support, Music Bingo, and how these tools can support people living with dementia or Parkinson’s while also giving caregivers a bit of much-needed respite and hope. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with a caregiver friend, and leave a review so more families can find these dementia caregiving resources. mymemoryworx Support the show

  5. Jul 8 ·  Video

    What If Your Loved One Is Still Your Light-Interview with Grief Counselor Nicollette Vazquez

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Grief can make you feel like you have to be “fine” for everyone else, even when you are falling apart in the quiet moments. We wanted a conversation that cuts through the clichés and actually helps, so we invited Nicolette Vasquez, Team Leader of Grief Support at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet, Illinois, to walk with us through what grief counseling looks like in real life and why it can be such a relief to have someone simply hold space. We talk about the core purpose of grief counseling: not getting over the loss, not moving on, and not trying to fix what cannot be fixed. Instead, we focus on learning your grief, normalizing the roller coaster of emotions, and finding ways to keep a comforting bond with your loved one. We also dig into grief triggers and the surprising way they can change over time, like a song, a scent, or a familiar item in the grocery store that first knocks you over and later becomes a source of connection. Then we tackle grief myths that add pressure, including the idea that grief is linear, that grief is only sadness, and that time alone heals everything. Nicolette explains how grief support can include one on one bereavement counseling, support groups, grief education workshops, and community events and why connecting with other grievers can reduce isolation in a way nothing else can. We also share practical resource tips, including how hospice programs can be a smart starting point and how to search by zip code through national hospice networks, plus options like telehealth grief counseling for added access. If you are navigating loss, dementia caregiving, anticipatory grief, or the aftermath of a death, listen along and take what you need. Subscribe, share this with someone who could use a steadier hand, and leave a review so more caregivers and grievers can find this support. Support the show

  6. Jul 1 ·  Video

    Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Early Dementia Support-Interview with Jill Aitken

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Forgetting a name once can feel like a warning siren, especially if dementia has touched your family. We sit down with Jill Agin, founder of Four Better Minds, to talk about what actually helps brain health as we age and what caregivers can do when they feel helpless watching cognitive changes unfold. Jill explains Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), an evidence-based, non-drug approach for mild cognitive impairment and early to mid-stage dementia. CST is not a quiz and it is not about right answers. It is structured, conversation-based therapy that builds cognitive confidence, communication, and quality of life through guided topics like food, art, music, creativity, and gentle orientation to the world. We dig into the specific skills it can support, including memory, word finding, language fluency, executive function, following directions, and oral comprehension. We also talk about the bigger picture of healthy aging and dementia prevention: why “aging well” is an active process, not something that just happens. Jill shares practical brain health pillars you can start in your 50s and 60s, including physical exercise, social engagement, and cognitive engagement, plus nutrition strategies like the MIND diet (inspired by the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet) to reduce dementia risk. We get real about caregiver burnout, patience, and how small changes like turning off distractions and truly listening can make conversations feel safer and more successful. If you want more support, Jill offers CST through Zoom for English-speaking clients across the US, Canada, and Europe. Subscribe, share Patty’s Place with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more caregivers can find these tools. https://forbetterminds.com/ Support the show

  7. Jun 24 ·  Video

    Cooking Can Carry You Through Grief-Interview with Patti Comeau-Simonson

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. The worst part of grief is not only the pain, it’s the awkward silence around it. People want to help, but they reach for the same tired lines, and you’re left holding heartbreak while also managing everyone else’s comfort. We talk with Patty Camo Simonson, a peer grief specialist and bereavement professional, about what actually supports a grieving person and why “they’re in a better place” can land so wrong when you’re just trying to get through the next hour. Patty shares her own lived experience with stacked losses, including losing her mom and then her husband to cancer, and how hospice care became a turning point for her family. We dig into what hospice and bereavement services can offer, why caregiver respite matters, and how peer-led grief support groups work when they are set up with real training and clear boundaries. One of the most memorable threads is healing through the kitchen. Patty’s book, Recipes for Healing: Working Through Grief One Plate at a Time, is part teaching memoir and part cookbook, built on the idea that cooking can ground you, give you a small sense of control, and bring loved ones close through memory and ritual. We also talk about the words that help, the words that sting, and why you should never stop saying the person’s name. If you’re navigating grief, dementia, caregiving, or bereavement counseling decisions, you’ll leave with practical language, clearer options, and hope that feels honest. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the support they’ve been missing. Support the show

  8. Jun 19 ·  Video

    Light As Medicine-Interview with Sarah Turner

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Your energy, sleep, and brain might be running on something you barely think about: light. We talk with Sarah Turner, founder and CEO of Sarah Thrive (CERAThrive), about why modern indoor life can create a real “light deficiency,” especially when we miss the red and near-infrared wavelengths our bodies evolved with at sunrise and sunset. Sarah breaks down how light influences hormonal signals, mood, and circadian rhythm, and why the timing of blue light from phones can quietly tell your body it’s midday at the exact moments you need to feel calm and ready for rest.  We also get practical and specific about mitochondrial health. If mitochondria make ATP and ATP powers everything, what happens when your environment is sending the wrong signals all day long? Sarah shares what she saw firsthand in neurodegeneration research and Parkinson’s clinical trials using near-infrared light delivered close to the head, including meaningful changes that ripple into daily function and caregiver relationships. She explains photobiomodulation in plain language, why it’s gaining traction in both clinical and wellness settings, and how it may support brain blood flow, oxygenation, sleep quality, and overall resilience.  We connect the dots to the gut-brain axis too, including inflammation, the vagus nerve, and why supporting the gut can matter for long-term cognitive health. You’ll leave with simple, low-cost steps you can try today: get outside for sunrise before you touch your phone, reduce evening screen time, and make your light environment work for you instead of against you. If this helps, subscribe, share the episode with a caregiver or friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. https://www.cerathrive.com/ Support the show

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4.3
out of 5
7 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
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Patty's Place
  • Show Website
    Patty's Place