Patty's Place

Lisa
  • 4.2 (6)
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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

    A Grief Doula Explains What Helps After Loss-Interview with Cindy Burns

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Grief can make the world feel smaller overnight, and widowhood can make you wonder who you even are without the person you built your days around. We’re joined by Cindy J. Burns, a grief coach, grief doula, and self-described widow coach, for an honest conversation about what helps when you’re tired of pretending you’re fine and you just want to breathe again. We talk through the difference between a death doula and a grief doula, including how support changes from anticipatory grief at end of life to the raw, lonely weeks after the loss. Cindy breaks down a powerful reframe: moving from living in grief, where grief colors every moment, to living with grief, where it stays with you but doesn’t control every hour. Along the way, we dig into the practical realities people don’t warn you about like eating alone in a restaurant, walking back into a house that feels wrong, sorting belongings at your own pace, and learning tasks your spouse used to handle, from finances to car maintenance. Cindy also gives permission to feel what you feel, including anger and even rage, and she shares simple ways to find micro-moments of joy without guilt. We close with gratitude as a daily practice, plus how to connect with Cindy at cindyjburns.com, including a free consult and her short quiz for widows to help pinpoint what’s keeping you stuck. If this conversation helps, please subscribe, share it with someone who needs steady support, and leave a review so more grieving caregivers, widows, and widowers can find Patty’s Place. Support the show

    32 min

  2. APR 29

    Living With Alzheimer’s-Interview with Samuel Simon

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Alzheimer’s doesn’t just change memory. It can change time, language, confidence, and the simple feeling of being anchored in the world. We talk with Sam Simon, author of *Dementia Man: An Existential Journey*, and his wife Susan about what it really means to keep choosing life after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and how to push back on the damaging belief that a life with cognitive disease isn’t worth living. Sam shares the moments that scared him most, including what he calls the “nothingness place,” when he feels like he drops out of the world while searching for a word or thought. We also unpack why getting an accurate dementia diagnosis can take years, how symptoms get brushed off as “normal aging,” and the small practical systems that reduce daily chaos at home. Susan adds the caregiver perspective, including what it takes to support independence while keeping life steady and safe. From there we widen the lens to advocacy and accessibility. If ramps and braille are standard ADA accommodations, why do airports, grocery stores, and other public spaces offer so little support for cognitive disability? We dig into dementia-friendly design, the sunflower lanyard used for hidden disabilities, and the idea of a “cognitive navigator” who can help without taking away dignity. We also share communication tools like improv-style “Yes, And,” plus the hard truth of anticipatory grief when someone is still here, yet changing. If you find this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs it, and leave us a review so more caregivers and families can find Patty’s Place. Support the show

    45 min

  3. APR 22

    What If Caregiver Injuries Are Not Inevitable-Interview with Ben Couch

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. A lot of caregivers learn transfers the hard way: you get through today, you wake up sore tomorrow, and you tell yourself it’s just the price of loving someone. I’m joined by Ben Couch, creator of Eastern Ergonomics and a longtime healthcare educator with decades of martial arts training, to challenge that belief with practical, body-safe tools you can use right away. We dig into why caregiver injuries happen so often during bed-to-wheelchair and chair-to-toilet moves, and why “better equipment” still isn’t enough without better ergonomics. Ben breaks down the mindset shift that changes everything: the transfer starts when you walk into the room. From there, we talk simple mechanics like posture, breathing, center of gravity, and stance. His explanation of balance and “triangulation” makes it clear why small foot placement changes can protect your back, shoulders, and knees over hundreds of transfers. We also zoom out to the emotional side of dementia caregiving. Agitation is often a need that can’t find the right words, and we explore de escalation skills that help you get on the same team as the person you’re caring for. Ben shares real stories from caring for his own mom with Alzheimer’s and what he wishes more hospitals and facilities understood about dementia communication and safe handling. If you’re a home caregiver or you lead a team in senior living, you’ll walk away with a clearer, safer way to think about movement, conflict, and care. Subscribe, share this with a caregiver who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find Patty’s Place. Support the show

    34 min

  4. APR 15

    Therapy Is Not Scary And Your Brain Is Lying-Interview with Dr. Kathryn Brzozowski

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Dementia caregiving can break your heart in a way most people don’t understand: you’re grieving someone who is still here. We sit down with psychotherapist Dr Katherine Brasowski, who has 25+ years of experience in grief counseling, anxiety, chronic illness, and major life transitions, to name what so many families feel but rarely say out loud, the loneliness of “already losing them,” the exhaustion after visits, and the guilt that shows up the moment you try to take a breath for yourself. We get practical about mental health, too. We talk small daily habits that actually work for real life, not just perfect routines, and why emotional burnout is not weakness. Dr Brasowski reframes self-care as building the scaffolding of a life that can withstand difficulty: supportive relationships, doable routines, and tiny moments that bring you back to the present. We also unpack caregiver guilt through a cognitive behavioral therapy lens, showing how thoughts drive feelings and how shifting the inner script can change everything. If therapy feels intimidating, we clear that up. We discuss common misconceptions about the therapy process, why the therapist-client relationship matters so much, and why good therapy is more than venting. You’ll also hear about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, grief as waves, and what it means to live a full life that includes sadness. Dr Brasowski shares her practice, Speak Easy Counseling and Therapy, plus “Now And Then” one-time therapy sessions designed for people who want focused support without an ongoing commitment. If this resonates, subscribe, share this with a caregiver who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find Patty’s Place. Support the show

    34 min

  5. APR 8

    A Better Dementia Journey-Interview with Amy Shaw

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Dementia doesn’t just change memory, it changes the rules of the relationship. When a person still looks like the mom, dad, or spouse you’ve always known, it’s easy to assume they’re choosing to be difficult, hiding things, or “not trying.” That misunderstanding can turn caregiving into a daily argument and it burns families out fast.  We’re joined by Amy Shaw, founder of BetterDementia.com and a dementia clinician, educator, and author, to unpack a brain-based way to make sense of what’s happening. We talk about why many people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias truly cannot see their own decline, how to translate confusing behaviors back to brain function, and why the typical “mild, moderate, severe” labels often don’t help when you’re the one managing finances, meds, safety, and day-to-day care.  We also get honest about the caregiver experience: anticipatory grief, guilt, resentment, burnout, and even anticipatory relief. Amy shares practical dementia communication strategies that protect dignity, plus ways to simplify visits and social situations so your loved one can still feel capable and in control. We close with planning tips for memory care transitions, palliative care, and hospice so families can make hard decisions outside a crisis.  Better Dementia | Support for Dementia Caregivers — Families and Professionals If this helped you feel less alone, subscribe, share this with a caregiver friend, and leave a review so more families can find Patty’s Place. Support the show

    40 min

  6. APR 3

    Empowerment In Grief-Interview with Marie Alessi

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Grief doesn’t just break hearts, it also exposes the parts of us that are strongest, rawest, and most alive. Lisa sits down with best-selling author, speaker, and grief coach Marie Alesi to talk about what happens when the worst phone call becomes real: Marie’s husband Rob leaves for a business trip and never comes home, passing from a brain aneurysm and leaving her to parent two young boys through shock, sorrow, and sudden change. Marie shares the moment she finally falls apart after holding it together for the funeral and a major family milestone, and how that collapse leads her to an unexpected word for grief: empowerment. We talk about choosing love over fear, letting emotions move through the body, and why “doing it right” in grief is often just noise from the outside world. Marie also explains her “happiness filter” for decision-making and how creating new memories, including travel, gave their family space to breathe when home felt heavy with absence. The conversation expands into what a true Celebration of Life can look like when it’s built on stories, laughter, music, and language that fits the person, not a template. Marie breaks down the services she offers through mariealesi.com, including ceremonies, one-on-one grief coaching, family bereavement sessions, and a grief literacy workshop designed for schools and teachers. If you’ve ever felt alone in grief, supported a grieving child, or wondered how to honor someone without being swallowed by sadness, you’ll find practical guidance and real-world hope here. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a softer landing, and leave a review with one takeaway you’re trying this week. Support the show

    37 min

  7. MAR 27

    You Are Not Broken You Are Grieving-Interview with Jane Dye

    I would love to hear from you. Send me questions or comments. Grief can make you feel like you’re failing at something you never asked to do. Today we sit down with Jane K. Dye, RN, holistic health coach, and certified grief educator trained in David Kessler’s approach, to talk plainly about what helps after loss and what quietly makes it harder. Jane shares how the death of her son Christopher pushed her to serve people living in a grief-illiterate culture that avoids discomfort, rushes timelines, and rewards “looking okay” instead of being real.  We dig into the difference between grief (the internal experience) and mourning (the outward expression), why there is no cure for grief, and why comparing losses is a dead end. You’ll hear practical language for supporting a grieving friend without trying to fix them, plus the phrases many people mean well by but often regret later. We also talk about grief bursts, memory triggers, and how comfort can come from unexpected rituals like a favorite candy, an old TV show, or a familiar recipe.  Because grief lives in the body, we explore simple holistic grief support tools: hydration, gentle nourishment, walking, stretching, meditation, and grief yoga as ways to move emotion through your system when words fall short. Jane also explains how her counseling and grief education work, including a free initial consultation and personalized resources based on readiness. Subscribe for more conversations about grief, dementia, and caregiving, then share this episode with someone who needs it and leave a review with the one thing you wish people understood about grief. https://janekdye.com/ Support the show

    37 min

  8. MAR 19

    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
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4.2
out of 5
6 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
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Patty's Place
  • Show Website
    Patty's Place