Alzheimer’s Caregiving: Ambiguous Loss and the Slow Grief of Dementia

In this episode of Becoming Real with Dr. Lori, Dr. Lori talks with Dr. Melodie Yates about the emotional reality of Alzheimer’s caregiving and the slow grief of dementia.After spending 16 years caring for her husband through Alzheimer’s disease, Melodie brings an honest, deeply human voice to a journey that is often loving, lonely, exhausting, and sacred all at once.Together, Dr. Lori and Melodie talk about ambiguous loss, the grief of losing someone while they are still physically here, the instinct to protect a loved one’s dignity, the loneliness caregivers often carry, and why no one should walk this path alone.They also discuss caregiver burnout, family conversations, support groups, personality changes, and the painful recalibrating caregivers do again and again as dementia progresses.This episode is for Alzheimer’s caregivers, dementia caregivers, family members, and anyone who needs to hear that caregiving is both an honor and a heartbreak — and that support is not optional. It is how we survive the journey.Guest: Dr. Melodie Yates, author of Love Is an Action Verb: A Caregiver’s JourneyIf you're caring for someone with dementia, this free audio guide is for you: https://drloristevic.com/caregiver-circle-freebie-2/Join the Caregiver Circle™Are you a caregiver for somebody you love, particularly someone with dementia, and you feel overwhelmed and isolated? Consider joining our online, live supportive community. We are here to share the journey with you.https://drloristevic.com/caregiver-circle/