Turning Alzheimer’s Pain into Purpose: J Smiles on Georgia Focus

Season seven starts with the part of my story that still catches in my throat, even after 14 years: my dad died, and within months my mom began to fall apart in ways that grief alone couldn’t explain. People around her told me I was overreacting, that it was depression, that it was mourning. I had to trust what I knew about my mother, push for testing, and brace for the avalanche of becoming responsible for her care, her safety, and the life she used to run with ease.John from Georgia Focus asks the questions a lot of families quietly carry: how do you balance this, how do you keep going, and what does Alzheimer’s caregiving look like when someone can’t reliably tell you what they need? I talk through late stage realities like limited speech, incontinence, assisted walking, and why caregivers can’t wait for “I’m hungry” or “I need help.” We also get honest about the emotional whiplash, the isolation, and the strange moments that become funny later, because humor isn’t disrespectful, it’s survival.We dig into Alzheimer’s vs dementia, why the terminology matters, and how Parenting Up blends real caregiver stories with the right medical experts, especially clinicians who’ve done caregiving themselves. I also share why I’m cautious about endless research headlines, and what gave us hope after diagnosis: practical changes, including nutrition and treatment, that helped us fight for more good years.If you care for someone with dementia, or you love someone who does, subscribe, share this with your caregiver group chat, and leave a review so more families can find us when they need it most.Support the show"Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!"IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingupFB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingupYT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingupTEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi!Be sure to leave us a review!