Behind the Mask: COVID, Kids and Caregiving

Caregiver Andrea Couture juggles young children, caregiving during the COVID 19 pandemic, and stigma to share her father's Alzheimer's journey, seeking connection and support in a rural community. Andrea Couture, the author of "Embracing What Remains," brings a unique perspective to the podcast with her firsthand experience caring for her father, a surgeon diagnosed with dementia, while also raising young children. Her background in journalism and heartfelt storytelling offer valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of her caregiving journey, especially navigating through the complexities of providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrea's willingness to share her family's journey with openness and honesty provides comfort and support to others who may be facing similar experiences. Her memoir and active involvement within the Alzheimer's community showcase her dedication to raising awareness and creating a sense of community among caregivers. In this episode, you will be able to: Uncover the impact of COVID-19 on Alzheimer's caregiving and learn strategies to navigate through it.Understand the importance of sharing Alzheimer's experiences and how it can positively impact caregivers and families.Explore writing as a powerful form of Alzheimer's advocacy and its potential to make a difference. Impact of COVID-19 on Alzheimer's Caregiving Amid the global pandemic, Alzheimer's caregivers have faced more unique hurdles. As Andrea explained, managing in-home caregivers during COVID-19, the resulting anxieties, and ensuring safety gave rise to much distress. Understanding these challenges can provide viewpoints for creating effective strategies to assist caregivers in navigating similar situations now and in future crises. As a new member of the AlzAuthor sTeam, Andrea now serves as an Acquisition Editor and moderator of a new collaboration with Aging & Amazing - AlzAuthor's Books & Chit Chat," which will feature her book during the inaugural event on January 30, 2024. Purchase Embracing What Remains, which is available as a paperback, Kindle edition and on Audible. After the Podcast Register for AlzAuthors Books & Chit Chat on January 30, 2024 Purchase Embracing What Remains, which is available as a paperback, Kindle edition and on Audible. Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission on book sales at no cost to you. Read Andrea’s AlzAuthors post See Andrea on When Dad Has Dementia on YouTube Andrea Couture is an author and mother of three children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. Embracing What Remains is her first memoir and book. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, children, and dog. Connect with Andrea Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter About the Podcast AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. We are a WCN Featured Podcast. Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network. Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know. Shop our Store