Dementia Caregiver’s Corner

Episode Title: I Can’t Smell My Coffee or Taste My Food Anymore: What’s Dementia Got to Do with It? 

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Dementia Caregiver’s Corner Podcast, we explore a lesser-known but deeply important aspect of dementia: olfactory impairment also known as the loss of smell.

 

My guest, Duncan Boak, co-founder and CEO of SmellTaste, the UK’s leading charity for people affected by smell and taste disorders, shares his lived experience of losing his sense of smell after a head injury. Together, we discuss the critical links between smell loss and dementia, safety concerns, emotional wellbeing, and the vital support networks available to those living with sensory changes.

 

Duncan also talks about his contribution to the new book A New Approach to Dementia: Examining Sensory and Perceptual Impairment, shedding light on how changes in smell and taste impact older adults and people living with dementia.

 

3 Main Discussion Points

 

His Personal Journey – Duncan shares his lived experience of losing his sense of smell after a severe head injury and how it shaped his advocacy work.

 

Smell, Memory & Dementia – Exploring the link between olfactory impairment, taste changes, and dementia, including risks, hallucinations, and daily challenges.

 

Support & Advocacy – The work of Smell Taste and Duncan’s contribution to a new book highlighting sensory impairments in dementia care.

 

3 Key Takeaways

 

Smell is more than a sense – it shapes memory, emotions, safety, and quality of life.

 

Olfactory impairment is common in dementia but often overlooked, leading to risks like unsafe eating, missed dangers (fires, gas), or hallucinations.

 

Support is available – TasteSmell provides resources and advocacy for people with smell and taste disorders, including those living with dementia and their caregivers.

 

Resources Mentioned

https://www.smelltaste.org.uk/team/duncan-boak/

 

A New Approach to Dementia: Examining Sensory and Perceptual Impairment (a Well researched book edited by Professor. Andrea Tales, Professor. Jan Kremláček and Dr. Emma Richards 

 

Episode Title: Early Signs of Dementia, Family Challenges, and Preparing for Memory Care with Shari Ross

 

Episode Summary: Making decisions about senior living and memory care is one of the toughest challenges families face when supporting a loved one with dementia. In this episode, I’m joined by Shari Ross, author of Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E.™ and founder of the brand of the same name. Shari has guided countless families through this emotional journey, providing clear steps and compassionate advice to help them navigate caregiving, safety, and memory care choices with confidence.

 

We discuss how families can recognise early signs of dementia, manage safety concerns at home, navigate disagreements between siblings, and prepare both emotionally and financially for memory care. Shari also shares practical strategies for reducing caregiver burnout and explains the myths and realities of memory care communities.

 

 Main Points Discussed

 

Recognising early signs of dementia and the first practical steps families should take when memory concerns appear.

 

When home care may no longer be enough and how to address safety risks before a crisis occurs.

 

Family dynamics, myths, and finances — navigating disagreements, preparing for costs, and understanding what memory care really means.

 

Key Takeaways

 

Start early — when memory lapses appear, seek assessment and make a plan rather than waiting for a crisis.

 

Caregiver wellbeing matters — stress and burnout are warning signs that more support is needed.

 

Memory care isn’t “giving up” — the right community can provide safety, engagement, and dignity for loved ones living with dementia.

 

• Website: www.seniorlivingmadesimple.com
  (Listeners can also directly book Senior Living Navigation Calls here.)
• Book – Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E.™
  Available on Amazon, Walmart.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and Goodreads.
  • Amazon – Book https://a.co/d/94JE1bC
  • Amazon – Workbook https://a.co/d/94cI2sA
• Etsy Shop – SeniorLivingShop
  Downloadable checklists, toolkits, and resources:
  https://www.etsy.com/shop/SeniorLivingShop
• Instagram: @seniorlivingwithshari
• Facebook: Facebook  www.facebook.com/SeniorLivingMadeSimple.com
• TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@calm_care_corner
• LinkedIn: (1) Shari Ross | LinkedIn  www.linkedin/sharitravels.com

 

 

Episode Title: Having Compassion And Understanding for Those Living With Dementia -

Nduduzo, South Africa

 

Repost. An enlightening and touching episode this week as your Host Juliah Ratladi talked down with Nduduzo, from Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa.

 

Nduduzo discovered his Grandmother was unwell when he came home for his mother’s funeral and soon discovered that she was living with dementia. He decided to do something really special and gave up his work to look after his Grandma because he felt he owed it to her to give back after she had looked after him.

 

Nduduzo has no training, but did extensive research into the needs of, and care for, those with dementia and his compassion and patience is inspiring.

 

Grandma also joins the call so you will get an opportunity to see what it takes to patiently work with someone who doesn’t always understand the world around them.

 

Find Nduduzo and follow along with his journey here:

 

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@nduduzo_kay

 

Follow Juliah Ratladi/Dementia Caregivers Corner Podcast on social media:

 

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Do you want to be a guest? email us on: dementiacaregiverscorner@gmail.com

 

Dementia caregivers` Corner Podcast is available on the following platforms

 

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dementiacaregiverscorners-podcast/id1710778347

 

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Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3517995

 

 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/dementiacaregiverscorners-podc-5494017

Episode Summary:

Most families don’t fully understand dementia until it affects their own loved ones. For award-winning documentary filmmaker Kimberley Littlemore, that moment came when both her parents were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Realising how little she knew about dementia—and how few films captured the lived experience—she turned the cameras on her parents’ journey, creating a powerful series that blends personal stories with expert insights.

 

In this conversation, Kimberley opens about her parents’ diagnosis, what she learned as both a daughter and a filmmaker, and why films based on lived experience are so vital in raising awareness and reducing stigma around dementia. She also reflects on her work with the BBC, her contribution to a new book on dementia and sensory changes and offers advice on which mediums—film or documentary—might create the biggest impact in regions like Africa where dementia is still widely misunderstood.

 

Main Points Discussed

Kimberley’s journey from filmmaker to daughter documenting her own parents’ Alzheimer’s diagnosis and lived experience.

 

The importance of sensory and perceptual changes in dementia, and her contribution to A New Approach to Dementia.

 

A candid discussion on the impact of films vs. documentaries in creating dementia awareness in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Key Takeaways

Lived experience matters — Films showing real family journeys can raise awareness and break stigma in ways textbooks and statistics cannot.

 

Dementia isn’t just memory loss — Sensory changes and behavioural symptoms are often overlooked but deeply affect daily life.

 

Storytelling is powerful — Whether through documentaries or feature films, visual storytelling helps families, caregivers, and communities better understand dementia.

 

Resources Mentioned

Visit https://pocketmedic.org/dementia to watch Kimberley’s parents’ raw, real-life dementia journey unfold on film.

Still Alice (Drama-Film)

A New Approach to Dementia: Examining Sensory and Perceptual Impairment

Slipping Away: One Man`s Battle with Alzheimer’s` Disease

 

In this episode of Dementia Caregivers Corner, we’re joined by Dr. Éthelle Lord, a leading expert in dementia care, Master Dementia Coach, and creator of the Transactional Dementia Intelligence (TDI) model. We explore the critical challenges in long-term care, including staff-to-resident ratios and communication gaps between families and care providers, and discuss how these impact both residents and caregivers. Dr. Lord also explains her Lord’s Theory on the psychology of the dementia brain, and how new care models like TDI are shaping better outcomes in dementia care.

 

Key Points Discussed

 

Staffing Challenges: How low staff-to-resident ratios affect residents’ emotional and physical care.

 

Communication Gaps: The importance of effective communication between families and care teams.

 

Innovative Care Models: Introduction to the Transactional Dementia Intelligence (TDI) model and how it differs from traditional approaches.

 

Key Takeaways

 

Consistent staffing improves relationships, understanding, and wellbeing for both residents and caregivers.

 

Engaging families and caregivers in care planning enhances quality of care and reduces stress.

 

Learning and applying new models, like TDI, helps approach dementia care holistically and personally.

 

Let me take this time and Thank you, our dear listeners, for tuning in to this episode! If you enjoyed our conversation with Dr Lord or are passionate about dementia care, please consider leaving a review and sharing this episode with someone who might benefit from it. Your support helps us reach more people and raise awareness about dementia-related issues

Repost: In this inspirational episode Juliah sat down with Andrias Mungundu, an newly registered nurse and an advocate for dementia rights and education in Namibia.

 

Since his mother’s experiences with dementia Andrias has worked with organisations and government to overcome the stigma of dementia in African communities where people are often accused of witchcraft.

 

His mother’s experiences with lack of understanding and treatment had massive impacts on the family, but Andrias was determined to support his family

 

He espouses very human and sympathetic ways to care for people with dementia, arguing that they need the same sort of patience we have for small children as they need to be cared for how they cared for their families in life.

 

So listen in and be inspired by Andrias and his journey.

 

Find Andrias here:

 

LinkedIn:

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mangundu-andrias-54b91a246/

 

Follow Juliah Ratladi/Dementia Caregivers Corner Podcast on social media:

 

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https://twitter.com/DementiaCorner

 

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https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087493920768

 

 

 

 

Do you want to be a guest? email us on: dementiacaregiverscorner@gmail.com

 

Dementia caregivers` Corner Podcast is available on the following platforms

 

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dementiacaregiverscorners-podcast/id1710778347

 

 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6JeVOQteK08zsc7PTkRNTT

 

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iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/125013574

 

Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3517995

 

 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/dementiacaregiverscorners-podc-5494017

Episode Summary:

 

In this episode of Dementia Caregiver’s Corner, Donna, daughter of dementia activist Agnes Houston, shares her experience supporting her mother through early-onset Alzheimer’s. She reflects on the early signs, challenges, and the emotional journey of caregiving, offering insights into maintaining family bonds and navigating gaps in support systems.

 

3 Key Points:

 

Recognizing early signs matters: Identifying behavioral changes early can lead to timely diagnosis and better planning for care.

 

Caregiving shapes relationships: Dementia care can both challenge and strengthen family bonds when approached with compassion and communication.

 

Support systems are crucial: Families often face gaps in formal support, making community, healthcare, and social support vital.

 

3 Takeaways for Listeners:

 

Observe and document early behavioral changes to help with timely dementia diagnosis.

 

Maintaining patience, empathy, and communication strengthens caregiver-patient relationships.

 

Seek support from family, community, and professionals to prevent caregiver burnout and improve the quality of care.

 

This episode provides insight, practical advice, and hope for families, caregivers, and anyone navigating dementia care.

 

#dementiacare, #Alzheimerscare, #early-onsetdementia, #caregiverssupport #caregivertips, #BPSD, #familycaregiving #SensoryImpairment

 

If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share it with someone who might benefit. Your support helps raise awareness about dementia and improves support for caregivers worldwide.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Dementia Caregivers’ Corner Podcast, we explore the often-overlooked sensory and perceptual challenges faced by people living with dementia. Our guest, Agnes Houston MBE, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2006, shares her lived experience and international research through her Churchill Fellowship and her books Talking Sense and A New Approach to Dementia. Agnes opens up about how sensory changes affect daily life, why the voices of people with lived experience matter, and how her work continues to shape dementia care and awareness worldwide.

 

3 Key Topics Discussed

 

The sensory and perceptual challenges people with dementia face, from sight and sound to touch and taste.

Agnes Houston’s lived experience, research journey, and recognitions such as the MBE and Churchill Fellowship.

The importance of including voices of people with lived experience in dementia research and care practices.

 

3 Takeaway Points

 

Sensory changes are a significant but often overlooked aspect of dementia that can greatly affect daily life.

Practical strategies—like awareness, family support, and informed care—can help manage these challenges.

Empowering people with dementia to share their experiences is vital for shaping better services, understanding, and policies.

 

Resources Mentioned

A New Approach to Dementia: Examining Sensory and Perceptual Impairment.

Agnes Houston`s eBook: Talking Sense: Living With Sensory Changes and Dementia

https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/honouring-jennifer-josey-1944-2024-a-journey/id1710778347?i=1000686624853